It’s hard to imagine that
72,000 people packed Wembley Stadium on the evening of Apr. 20, 1992 for a
night-long event concert that included the likes of David Bowie, Elton John,
Annie Lennox, George Michael, Axl Rose and the surviving members of Queen (and
more, many more). Putting that kind of
a line-up together for a four-hour concert celebration just seems so
mind-boggling, but that’s exactly what happened.
On Sept. 3, Eagle Rock
Entertainment will deliver a Blu-ray and a three-disc DVD set commemorating
this concert event with the remastered presentation of The Freddie Mercury Tribute
Concert.
Freddie Mercury had
succumbed to AIDs in November of the previous year and this concert was both a
tribute to him and his music and a fundraiser for the newly founded Mercury
Phoenix Trust — the event exceeded all expectations. Not only did the concert sell out on the day
it was announced (with the line up not even set), but the event itself was
broadcast worldwide (over 70 countries) and reached an audience estimated at
over one billion people. WOW!
The concert itself is
divided into two distinctive sets. It
begins with an introduction by Queen members Brian May, John Deacon and Roger
Taylor and then launches into performances by Metallica, Def Leppard and Guns
'n' Roses, with video montages used between these groups respective on-stage
performances as the roadies stage preparations for the next group.
That segment in itself
would have been enough to please concert-goers, but that was just the
beginning.
After Elizabeth Taylor’s
speech the concert took on a more personal approach … individual rock legends
took to the stage for a 20-song collection of Queen hits. These ranged from David Bowie and Annie
Lennox teaming with Queen for “Under Pressure;” Elton John and Axl Rose
delivering “Bohemian Rhapsody;” Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi on stage with The
Who’s Roger Daltrey (and of course Queen) for “I Want it All;” Led Zeppelin’s
Robert Plant serving up “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” to none other than
Liza Minnelli capping it all off with “We Are The Champions.”
It is clear throughout
the concert presentation that the 72,000 assembled were there to celebrate a
life and enjoy the proceedings. They
often joined in unison with those on stage in singing the words to Freddie
Mercury and Queen’s hits … a real “WOW” factor.
But wait, there’s
more! Bonus features include a trio of
rehearsal performances, a 10th Anniversary documentary, photo
galleries and details on Mercury Phoenix Trust.
To download this week's
complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report: DVD & Blu-ray Release Report
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