Fans of Queen are looking forward to this release principally for the ‘fast’ version of ‘We Will Rock You’. I’m similarly looking forward to it, but not for the same reason. I’m keen to listen any version of the song that brings it to a speedier conclusion than the turgid, air-thumping original. Let’s face it, ‘We Will Rock You’ has to rank as one of the world’s most lumbering, self-aggrandising rock anthems ever. In fact, Queen have to be one of the few bands of their time that were able to match moments of heart-shattering beauty with moments of staggering mediocrity and banality: a singles band? Definitely. And on a good day they could shit over any band in the world: but tracks like ‘Action This Day’? ‘Staying Power’? Anyone? Anyone similarly care to explain how the same hand that weaved the gossamer, magical threads of ‘Now I’m Here’, ‘Under Pressure’, ‘Crazy Thing Called Love’, ‘Somebody To Love’ ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ and ‘Play The Game’ churned out the clearly lamentable ‘Flash’ and the shocking piece of funk nonsense that is ‘Back Chat’?
Their agility in moving from the crass to the sublime was as clearly flexible as Freddie’s spandex.
What the release of the memorable 1982 concert in the UK’s Milton Keynes makes clear is that Queen were a band of clear extremes both on the vinyl and off it. But let’s not take anything away from the band: they were one in a million, no doubt about it – and this live recording captures the band just before they hit their totally Ga Ga peak in 1985.
Basking in the glory of having been the first foreign band to have toured and conquered Latin America, 1981 had seen the band play football stadiums throughout Argentina and Brazil, including two sell-out concerts at Sao Paulo’s historic Morumbi Stadium. Such was the demand on the band to play arenas and stadiums throughout the world that they managed to play only 4 dates in the UK between 981 – 1983. The M K Bowl concert was one of these and the closest they came to playing London in these 3 years. The date was originally to have been played at Arsenal football ground, but when permission was turned down, the date was switched to the M K Bowl.
As a record you may have to confess to having heard tighter, more convincing live performances – but as a record of their live achievements – it’s not to be overlooked.