The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert

Produced by: Jim Beach and Queen
Recorded live at: Wembley Stadium, London. 20 April 1992
UK Picture Music International VHS: 23 November 1992 MVB 4910623
USA Hollywood Records VHS: 1993 1780
UK Parlophone/Capitol 10th Anniversary DVD: 13 May 2002 7243 4 90162 9 3
UK Eagle Vision Blu-ray: 2 September 2013 ERSBD3007
US Eagle Vision Blu-ray: 22 October 2013 EVSBD309939

Blu-ray
1. Stage Preparations
2. Brian May/Roger Taylor/John Deacon - Introduction
3. Metallica - Enter Sandman
4. Metallica - Sad But True
5. Metallica - Nothing Else Matters
6. Freddie Mercury Video Montage 1
7. Extreme - Queen Medley
8. Freddie Mercury Video Montage 2
9. Def Leppard/Brian May - Now I'm Here
10. Queen Montage
11. Bob Geldof - Too Late God
12. Guns N' Roses - Knocking on Heaven's Door
13. Guns N' Roses - Paradise City
14. Elizabeth Taylor - Speech
15. Freddie Mercury Montage 3
16. Queen + Joe Elliot/Slash - Tie Your Mother Down
17. Queen + Roger Daltrey/Tony Iommi - I Want It All
18. Queen + Zucchero - Las Palabras De Amor
19. Queen + Gary Cherone/Tony Iommi - Hammer To Fall
20. Queen + James Hetfield/Tony Iommi - Stone Cold Crazy
 
21. Queen + Robert Plant - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
22. Brian May - Too Much Love Will Kill You
23. Queen + Paul Young - Radio Ga Ga
24. Queen + Seal - Who Wants To Live Forever
25. Queen + Lisa Stansfield - I Want To Break Free
26. Queen + David Bowie/Annie Lennox - Under Pressure
27. Queen + Ian Hunter/David Bowie/Mick Ronson - All The Young Dudes
28. Queen + David Bowie/Mick Ronson - Heroes
29. Queen + George Michael - '39
30. Queen + George Michael/Lisa Stansfield - These Are The Days Of Our Lives
31. Queen + George Michael - Somebody To Love
32. Queen + Elton John/Axl Rose - Bohemian Rhapsody 33. Queen + Elton John/Tony Iommi - The Show Must Go On
34. Queen + Axl Rose - We Will Rock You
35. Queen + Liza Minelli/Cast - We Are The Champions
36. God Save The Queen

Concert Info

Following the death of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury on November 24, 1991, the remaining members of Queen organized a charity concert to raise money for AIDS research and awareness. Announced by Roger Taylor at the BRIT Awards, The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert was held on April 20, 1992 at Wembley Stadium in front of a sell out crowd of 72,000 and over a billion television viewers around the world. Legendary rock artists united with the hottest stars of the time to pay tribute to Mercury.

The concert was released multiple times on various formats over the years, however the full, unedited concert has never been made available commercially. A double VHS release was released in Europe at the end of 1992 with a laserdisc to follow shortly thereafter. Hollywood Records in the US released an edited single VHS version the following year. A 10th Anniversary DVD was released in 2002 that only contained the Queen related performances. The most complete version was released in 2013 on DVD and Blu-ray featuring most of the opening acts and Queen set.

Queen and George Michael's performances of Somebody To Love and These Are The Days Of Our Lives (with Lisa Stansfield) were released a year later on the Five Live EP with additional George Michael live performances. Procedes from the EP went to The Mercury Phoenix Trust. Not surprisingly, the EP landed at number 1 in the UK charts.

Other performances from the concert appeared on various compilations and CD singles over the years including releases from Metallica, Def Leppard, Extreme, and Guns n' Roses.

Metallica

Enter Sandman
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)


Enter Sandman (Live CD Single Version) 5:39
Appears on: UK Live At Wembley Stadium CD single

Metallica's performance of all three tracks from The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert were released throughout Europe on CD single. All proceeds benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Sad But True
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)


Sad But True (Live CD Single Version) 5:30
Appears on: UK Live At Wembley Stadium CD single

Metallica's performance of all three tracks from The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert were released throughout Europe on CD single. All proceeds benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Nothing Else Matters
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)


Nothing Else Matters (Live CD Single Version) 6:17
Appears on: UK Live At Wembley Stadium CD single

Metallica's performance of all three tracks from The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert were released throughout Europe on CD single. All proceeds benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Extreme

Queen Medley
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Love Of My Life
Appears on: Unreleased


More Than Words
Appears on: Unreleased

Def Leppard

Animal
Appears on: Unreleased


Let's Get Rocked
Appears on: Unreleased


Now I'm Here (with Brian May)
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)


Now I'm Here (with Brian May - Single Version) 6:05
Appears on: UK Tonight 7" vinyl, UK Tonight 12" vinyl, UK Tonight CD single, UK Adrenalize Deluxe Edition (2009), US Adrenalize Deluxe Edition (2009)

All proceeds of this CD single went to the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Bob Geldof

Too Late God
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Spinal Top

The Majesty Of Rock
Appears on: Unreleased

U2

Until The End Of The World (Live Via Satellite from Sacramento, California)
Appears on: Unreleased

Guns n' Roses

Paradise City
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)


Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Live Single Version) 7:18
Appears on: UK Knockin' On Heaven's Door 12" vinyl, UK Knockin' On Heaven's Door CD single


Elizabeth Taylor

AIDS Prevention Speech
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Queen + Joe Elliott / Slash

Tie Your Mother Down
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Queen + Roger Daltrey / Tony Iommi

I Want It All
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

A brief intro of Heaven and Hell is played while Tony Iommi takes the stage, and the intro to Pinball Wizard is played while Roger Daltrey is introduced. The single version arrangement to I Want It All is the version that is performed. Lead vocals are provided by The Who's Roger Daltrey. Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi plays rhythm guitar.

Queen + Zucchero

Las Palabras De Amor (The Worlds Of Love)
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Lead vocals performed by Italian rock singer Zucchero.

Queen + Gery Cherone / Tony Iommi

Hammer To Fall
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Gary Cherone of Extreme (and later the third incarnation of Van Halen) sings lead vocals. Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi plays rhythm guitar.

Queen + James Hetfield / Tony Iommi

Stone Cold Crazy
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

James Hetfield of Metallica sings lead vocals. Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi plays rhythm guitar. Also of note, Metallica released a studio version of Stone Cold Crazy in 1990.

Queen + Robert Plant

Innuendo
Appears on: Unreleased

This live version of Innuendo featuring Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant remains unreleased on all of the video versions of The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Apparently, Plant did not like his performance on the track. Part of the Led Zeppelin classic Kashmir are incorporated into this verison.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (with 'Thank You' intro)
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

The Led Zeppelin classic 'Thank You' is performed as an intro into Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Robert Plant handles lead vocals.

Brian May

Too Much Love Will Kill You
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Brian May sings and plays keyboard for this yet to be released solo track. The studio version is released in August of the same year. A Queen studio version later appears on 1995's Made In Heaven. Spike Edney accompanies Brian for this performance and is introduced at the beginning of the song.

Queen + Paul Young

Radio Ga Ga
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Lead vocals are performed by 1980's UK teen idol Paul Young. Young is best known for his hit "Everytime You Go Away".

Queen + Seal

Who Wants To Live Forever
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

London born soul and R&B singer/songwriter Seal sings lead vocals on this 1986 Queen hit.

Queen + Lisa Sansfield

I Want To Break Free
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Lisa Stansfield, best known for the hit "All Around The World" sings lead vocals for this performance.

Queen + David Bowie / Annie Lennox

Under Pressure
Appears on:
UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)
Annie Lennox of Eurythmics fame sings Freddie's part and David Bowie reprises his lead vocal performance.


Queen + Ian Hunter / David Bowie / Mick Ronson / Joe Elliott / Phil Collen

All The Young Dudes
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Ian Hunter from Mott The Hoople sings lead vocals on this Bowie penned Hoople hit. David Bowie plays saxophone, Mick Ronson (from the Spiders From Mars) plays guitar, and Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and Phil Collen sing backing vocals.

All The Young Dudes (Heaven And Hull Version) 3:47
Appears on: Heaven And Hull CD

The live performance of All The Young Dudes from the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert was released on Mick Ronson's posthumous album Heaven And Hull.

Queen + David Bowie / Mick Ronson

Heroes
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Lead vocals are provided by David Bowie and Mick Ronson plays lead guitar. At the conclusion of the song, David Bowie recites The Lord's Prayer in honor of Freddie.

Queen + George Michael

'39
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Lead vocals by Wham singer and solo artist George Michael.

These Are The Days Of Our Lives (with Lisa Stansfield)
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

These Are The Days Of Our Lives is performed as a duet between George Michael and Lisa Stansfield.

These Are The Days Of Our Lives (Live at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert) 4:43
Appears on: Five Live, Five Live EP

This is a nice duet version. Michael and Stansfield's lead vocals work very well together. They do mess up some of the lyrics however.

Somebody To Love
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

This is an excellent performance of Somebody To Love, featuring vocals by George Michael. This was later released as a single and on the Five Live EP.

Somebody To Love (Live at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert) 5:17
Appears on: Five Live, Greatest Hits 3, Five Live EP, George Michael and Queen Somebody To Love CD promo

This is the stand-out performance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. George Michael's vocals are great and well suited to the song. This performance was the centerpiece of the Five Live EP, which reached number one on the UK charts. Highly recommended.

Somebody To Love (Live at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Promo Edit) 4:37
Appears on: George Michael and Queen Somebody To Love CD promo

Nice, tight edit of the track. Some of the middle has been removed to lower the running time.

Queen + Elton John / Axl Rose

Bohemian Rhapsody
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Elton John and Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose share singing duties on this performance of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Queen + Elton John

The Show Must Go On
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Elton John provides lead vocals.

Queen + Axl Rose

We Will Rock You
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose sings lead vocals.

Queen + Liza Minnelli / Cast

We Are The Champions
Appears on: UK The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1992), US The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert VHS (1993), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2002), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD (2013), The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray (2013)

American actress/singer/dancer Liza Minnelli is joined by the other performers to close the show with We Are The Champions.