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A rockin' re-issue
Queen - Rock Montreal + Live Aid |
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Review by Andy Argyrakis Originally released as We Will Rock You on VHS, Queen's classic 1981 Canadian concert comes to DVD under this new title to avoid confusion with the band's musical of the same name. While it may be a re-visitation of old material, it's far from a rehashing, earning a modern day facelift thanks to enhanced picture quality, volume and overall dynamics. Aside from that extensive twenty-six track set list, this deluxe edition also includes a bonus disc loaded with the band's legendary Live Aid footage (in its entirety for the first time).As for the primary Rock Montreal program, it features Queen in its pre-keyboard, raw rock n' roll form wrapped around the performance precision of original members Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. The flamboyant front man is a ball of leather jacket clad energy from the very beginning, exploding with the instant sing-a-longs "We Will Rock You" and "Let Me Entertain You." From there, the band plows through countless other classics, including even more dramatic, Mercury's shirtless renditions of the finger-snapping "Under Pressure" and the piano swelling "Bohemian Rhapsody." Additional electricity and charisma permeate the encore "We Are the Champions," aptly summarizing Queen's early 80s pinnacle. Disc two jumps forward a few years to find the group conquering London's Live Aid charity concert, which to this day remains the marathon event's most epic performance. Unlike the original 1985 broadcast clipped with commercials and VJ dialogue, expect an expanded show loaded with attention commanding fist pumpers "Radio Ga Ga," "Hammer To Fall" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Additional insight comes courtesy of a present tense May and Taylor, rounding out an essential addition to any Queen fan's collection and a prized introduction of two major career crests for beginners. |