Not even Queen’s colleagues knew about Freddie Mercury’s vocal improvisation at Live Aid

The presentation of the queen during the Live Aidin 1985, became one of the most emblematic events in the band’s career and in the history of rock. In the main moment, Freddie Mercury improvised a vocal duel with the audience. And no one involved expected this to happen.

In a 2023 interview with The Guardian (via Guitar Player)the guitarist Brian May remembered the moment. Between the end of “Radio Ga Ga” and the beginning of “Hammer to Fall”the audience was clapping at Freddie’s requests, who then challenged the audience to follow his vocals.

May was stunned. He said:

“We had no idea it was going to happen. It wasn’t planned. It was always up to Freddie if he wanted to do something, and he felt confident enough at that point. Freddie had an aptitude, it has to be said – he could connect. He connected with everybody. As soon as he did the ‘Ay yo,” it was history – the stadium imploded. I remember looking at Roger [Taylor, baterista do Queen] thinking, ‘It looks like it worked!”

Heard most recently on Guitar World, the musician also Bob Geldoforganizer of Live Aid, highlighted the importance of the improvisation section for the group to win over the audience. After all, those people weren’t there to see Queen.

“It was different because it wasn’t a Queen crowd. All those Live Aid tickets were sold before we were announced at the show. And yet they reacted the way they did. Seeing that happen sent shivers down my spine.”

Queen’s Live Aid show helped revitalize the group after a period of decline. In 2005, a survey carried out by the British Channel 4 chose the performance as the greatest in rock history. Record sales increased and the group released the album in 1986 A Kind of Magicwith re-recordings of the songs composed for the film Highlander — The Immortal Warrior.

That same year, the quartet completed by bassist John Deacon performed his last tour with Freddie Mercury. The singer would die in 1991 from complications related to AIDS.

The proposal to the Queen

As mentioned, Queen was not part of Live Aid when the initial lineup was announced. Bob Geldof wasn’t sure if the band had the same popular appeal as before. After convincing the prosecutor Harvey Goldsmiththe event creator decided to recruit the group.

The problem was that Queen was fresh off a grueling world tour — complete with a trip to Rock in Rio at the beginning of that year — and they had no interest in the proposal. Even so, the quartet’s manager, Jim Beachagreed to survey members regarding interest.

Bob waited for a response until one day his phone rang. It was Freddie, wanting to know the idea.

Geldof recalled:

“I said, ‘Listen, Fred. Honestly, if there ever was a stage built just for you, this is it.’ He said, ‘What do you mean by that?’ And I replied: ‘Well, my dear, the world!’ There was a pause and he said, ‘I think I know what you mean’.”

• Freddie Mercury

• live aid

• queen