Freddie Mercury thought Live Aid would be ‘chaotic’ with band rivalry ‘friction’ – WATCH

FREDDIE MERCURY thought Live Aid would be "chaotic" with bands trying to outdo one another, while Brian May admitted Queen had an unfair advantage.

By George Simpson, Senior Film and Arts Reporter

Live Aid: Freddie Mercury warms up the crowd in 1985

This week’s episode of Queen The Greatest looks back at the band’s most iconic performance. On July 13th, 1985, Queen joined other rock legends performing at Live Aid, a charity concert raising awareness and money for the Ethiopian famine. But before the show, Freddie Mercury thought it would be “chaotic” with band rivalry “friction”.

In a throwback interview, is heard saying: “I think it’s going to be chaotic, yes, it has to be. I mean we’re the nice part of it actually, there’ll be lots of friction and we’re all going to try and outdo each other I guess.”

Of course, on the actual day, such thoughts of rivalry vanished and egos were put aside for the memorable charity gig.

Even so, it was clear Queen really stood out from the crowd of performing artists with their 20 minute set.

Brian May said before Live Aid: “It’s pretty hard to make the choice [which songs to do].”

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freddie and brian

Freddie Mercury thought Live Aid would be ‘chaotic’ with band rivalry ‘friction’ – WATCH (Image: GETTY)

queen performing at live aid

Queen performing at Live Aid (Image: NEAL PRESTON)

While Roger Taylor said: “Yes, we don’t really know quite what to do, whether to play the hits or to try and do something new. 

“But I think in 20 minutes really, we’ve got to play things that people know, and will recognise in Turkey or wherever they’re watching. Maybe. Hopefully.”

Freddie added: “So we’re still squabbling over that fact, that’s what he’s trying to say.”

And when Queen actually came to performing, broadcaster Paul Gambaccini remembered: “It was as if all the artists backstage had heard a dog whistle, and their heads turned and the frisson you felt was ‘They’re stealing the show!’”

freddie singing

Freddie Mercury 1946-1991 (Image: GETTY)

Roger remembered: “I remember looking up and seeing the whole place going completely bonkers in unison and thinking ‘Oh, this is going well.’”

As for why Queen were performing so well, Brian put it down to the huge sporting arenas the band had played.

The guitarist said: “We did have an unfair advantage, we had done football stadiums. 

“Freddie, particularly, learned this magical way of involving everybody in a huge football stadium, he could make everybody feel that they were in contact.”

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Looking back at Live Aid, Roger said: “People will say was it a career move?  Well, no it wasn’t a career move, but of course, that’s in the back of everybody’s mind.”

While John Deacon said: “We got a great reception from the crowd, even at Wembley, and also from the TV audience as well, so in fact, it was a great boost of confidence in a way, for the group.”

And Queen manager Jim Beach added: “To have conquered Live Aid in that way, undoubtedly breathed fresh energy into the band.”

Next week’s episode of Queen The Greatest will look back at One Vision.

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