# We know Queen Live Aid is the greatest rock set of all time.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2020, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-know-queen-live-aid-is-the-greatest-rock-set-of-all-time/849880 "2020-03-20T08:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-know-queen-live-aid-is-the-greatest-rock-set-of-all-time/849880/21 "2020-03-21T03:30:26Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Please do not forget the **Kinks** 1979 tour of the US northeast. Astonishing. Much of it is available on YouTube. I saw that tour in Providence RI, excellent show. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-know-queen-live-aid-is-the-greatest-rock-set-of-all-time/849880/22 "2020-03-21T19:09:58Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > The thing about Queen’s Live Aid performance was that they had started a slow decline in popularity since “Under Pressure” and were sort of regarded as washed-up. Their performance was not only singular but led to a revival. I get it. I do. Queen played at LiveAid and people WANTED them to be great. But I have a few hundred Queen live shows. That show was fun, and competent. But I’ve never thought it was the world-beating set everyone seemed to think it was. Hell, U2’s set was much, much better and they only played two songs. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-know-queen-live-aid-is-the-greatest-rock-set-of-all-time/849880/23 "2020-03-21T20:40:57Z")
Queen at Live Aid is, indeed, the pinnacle. But remember it is even more remarkable because that day had numerous outstanding performances by other bands as well. If Queen had not been there we’d be talking about how awesome U2 was (to name one). But then Freddie just stole the show with a world class performance. Truly a rock legend. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-know-queen-live-aid-is-the-greatest-rock-set-of-all-time/849880/24 "2020-03-21T22:08:56Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > The Who at Live Aid were very good too. Isn’t most of it lost due to technical difficulties? And U2 kicked ass at Live Aid. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-know-queen-live-aid-is-the-greatest-rock-set-of-all-time/849880/25 "2020-03-21T23:48:13Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > I get it. I do. Queen played at LiveAid and people WANTED them to be great. > > But I have a few hundred Queen live shows. That show was fun, and competent. But I’ve never thought it was the world-beating set everyone seemed to think it was. > > Hell, U2’s set was much, much better and they only played two songs. There were a lot of great performances that day. If you could travel back in time to visit one concert this has to be on the top 10 list. Perhaps Queen had better shows at other times. Some of it is subjective. But Queen certainly knocked it out of the park at Live Aid. Not just a really great performance but (I think) their biggest audience ever (so big I have seen video of seeing the soundwave pass over the crowd…people in front jump before people behind them). Add to that this was all for charity lending to the feeling you weren’t just listening to good music but helping people at the same time. Queen’s performance was electric and pumped the crowd in a way no one else did. Which is remarkable since other bands also brought their A-game. It was an awesome concert. Those who got to be there truly got to see/listen to one of the best concerts in history. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-know-queen-live-aid-is-the-greatest-rock-set-of-all-time/849880/26 "2020-03-22T04:40:56Z")
_Leeds_’s “Young Man Blues” and the “My Generation” jam rocked me all iggeldy-piggeldy, but I thought this Queen Wembley offering, alone, (a year after LiveAid), [truly gave’er](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iCY-noGbas). Of course I’m gonna wierd everyone out again and go with [The Bruford Tapes.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzY5CqNQh3U&list=OLAK5uy_kR9OG5UX-Jki3fG3Wzi-Rh1UY28hxf8q4) I would’ve walked miles to this gig in those ancient foot-binding shoes if I had the chance. Somewhat rambunctious crowd - great for the intimate, small venue. Perhaps a looser definition of “rock”, here, but still loud-volumey and in-your-face enough to rock a room just fine. And Bill’s ‘electric chat’. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-know-queen-live-aid-is-the-greatest-rock-set-of-all-time/849880/27 "2020-03-22T19:04:15Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > …Zeppelin at Knebworth… You know about the 1969 [Denmark](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-WSbMW7BPc) concert, right? No snark intended; just asking if you’ve seen it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-know-queen-live-aid-is-the-greatest-rock-set-of-all-time/849880.md?page=1)