Queen is one of the most iconic and influential rock bands of all time. Formed in 1970, the British quartet of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon captivated audiences around the world with their unique blend of rock, pop, opera and hard rock sounds. Over their 20+ year career, Queen performed hundreds of unforgettable concerts filled with stellar musicianship and flamboyant showmanship. But which Queen concert stands out as their single greatest performance? Let’s examine some of their most legendary shows to determine the best of the best.
Live Aid at Wembley Stadium – July 13, 1985
Queen’s appearance at Live Aid in 1985 is often cited as one of the greatest live concert performances in history. The band played a short 20-minute set, but packed it full of their biggest hits including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “Hammer to Fall,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.” Freddie Mercury’s commanding stage presence and vocal delivery mesmerized the capacity crowd of 72,000 at Wembley Stadium and Queen received a thunderous ovation after finishing their set. This brief but electrifying Live Aid performance is arguably Queen’s most famous concert ever and demonstrated their elite ability to excel on the big stage.
Rock in Rio Festival – January 1985
A few months before Live Aid, Queen put on an epic show at the first ever Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Playing to a crowd of over 250,000, Queen delivered a superb two-hour set under difficult wet and windy conditions. Despite the weather challenges, Freddie Mercury’s vocals were top notch and the band powered through a hit-filled set featuring songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions” and “Love of My Life.” The huge Rock in Rio crowd sang along loudly in unison to classics like “Love of My Life,” providing a chilling and memorable moment. Queen’s ability to connect with the massive audience and overcome the inclement conditions ranks this as one of their greatest concerts.
Hammersmith Odeon 1975 – December 24-26, 1975
Queen played a memorable three-night stand at the Hammersmith Odeon in London in December 1975 while on tour supporting their smash album “A Night at the Opera.” The Christmas Eve opening night performance was broadcast live on BBC Radio 1 and gave the world the first live airing of Queen’s newest opus, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Freddie Mercury was in fine voice and Queen powered through a hit-heavy set including early classics like “Killer Queen” and “Stone Cold Crazy” as well as “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The band was firing on all cylinders with their overdubbed guitar harmonies and three-part vocal harmonies electrifying the venue. This Hammersmith Odeon run featured Queen at the peak of their creative powers and capture their groundbreaking new sound.
Concerts at the Rainbow Theatre 1973-1974
Queen’s early concerts at the legendary Rainbow Theatre in London’s Finsbury Park in 1973 and 1974 were crucial in establishing them as an elite live act. At the March 1974 shows, Queen recorded their landmark live album “Live at the Rainbow ’74” featuring scorching performances of songs like “Keep Yourself Alive,” “Son and Daughter,” “Stone Cold Crazy,” “Liar” and “In the Lap of the Gods.” These Rainbow Theatre performances helped cement Queen’s reputation for stellar musicianship thanks to jaw-dropping solos from guitarist Brian May and Roger Taylor’s thundering drums. Freddie Mercury’s operatic vocals and flamboyant persona also won over audiences during these breakthrough London concerts.
Madison Square Garden – February 1977
In February 1977, Queen returned to New York’s Madison Square Garden, the site of their first US arena headlining show in 1974. This time Queen recorded several nights of their MSG set for their “Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl” album. Queen delivered a bombastic set of favorites like “Tie Your Mother Down,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Prophet’s Song,” “Stone Cold Crazy,” “Keep Yourself Alive” and “Brighton Rock.” The US crowds enthusiastically embraced Queen’s diverse, progressive sound during this 1977 tour. Queen also debuted a new lighting rig with moveable lights designed by Brian May to enhance the visual spectacle of their live show. These MSG concerts featured Queen in peak form wowing American audiences with their studio-quality live performances.
Hyde Park – September 1976
In September 1976, Queen performed a very special free concert in London’s Hyde Park before over 150,000 fans. This massive homecoming show was Queen’s first UK concert in over two years and they revelled in the huge audience reception. Freddie Mercury strutted the stage with supreme confidence leading sing-alongs on “You’re My Best Friend” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Brian May wowed the crowd with an extended guitar solo during “Brighton Rock.” Queen previewed their forthcoming album “A Day at the Races” by performing the song “Tie Your Mother Down” for the first time live. The Hyde Park show was a crowning achievement as Queen successfully headlined their biggest UK gig to date.
Knebworth Park – August 1986
One of Queen’s last major concerts with Freddie Mercury was at the Knebworth Park festival in the UK in August 1986. Queen headlined two nights at Knebworth in front of over 300,000 people on a bill that also included artists like Genesis, U2, Status Quo and Madness. Queen’s Knebworth set featured big hits like “One Vision,” “A Kind of Magic,” “Under Pressure,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Will Rock You” and “Friends Will Be Friends.” Freddie Mercury delivered an extremely confident and charismatic performance as he connected with the vast crowd during the epic two-hour headline slot. Unfortunately, this would end up being Queen’s final full-length concert in England with Freddie Mercury, making it a poignant milestone.
Conclusion
Queen performed hundreds of legendary concerts during their illustrious career, making it difficult to choose one clear winner for their “greatest” show. However, strong cases can be made for their 1985 Live Aid performance, their commanding 1975 Christmas Eve show at Hammersmith Odeon and their barrier-breaking 1976 concert in Hyde Park as contenders for the best Queen gig ever. Queen consistently stepped up on the biggest stages and delivered utterly mesmerizing performances from 1973 through 1986 with Freddie Mercury as frontman. Their stunning shows demonstrated Queen’s unique musical brilliance powered by precision harmonies, ingenious songwriting and virtuosic guitars and drums. Ultimately Queen’s greatest concert is perhaps the one where everything aligned – the setlist, sound quality, venue acoustics, audience energy and that special magic that makes a show truly unforgettable.