Music Legends Queen Special Edition 2019

for, but I feel we did a lot of bridge building. We met musicians
of both colours. They all welcomed us with open arms. The only
criticism we got was from outside South Africa.’ He also added,
‘We’ve thought about the morals of it a lot, and it is something
we’ve decided to do. The band is not political, we play to anybody
who wants to come and listen. The show will be in Botswana in
front of a mixed crowd.’ John Deacon was also quick to stick up
for the group’s decision to play there, stating, ‘Throughout our
career we’ve been a very non-political group. We enjoy going to
new places. We’ve toured America and Europe so many times
that its nice to go somewhere different. Everybody’s been to South
Africa, it’s not as though we are setting a precedent. Elton John’s
been there, Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard. I know there can be a bit
of fuss, but apparently we’re very popular down there... Basically
we want to play wherever fans want to see us.’
The band would return to their beloved South America soon
thereafter, performing at the Rock in Rio festival in Brazil, in front
of a record 250,000 people. Taking to the stage to near-deafening
applause, the response of the crowd was incredible, and all was
going well until the band’s performance of ‘I Want to Break Free’.
A democratic anthem across the whole of the continent, the crowd
began to boo and throw things at the band when Mercury entered
the stage wearing stockings and suspenders just as in the video,
seen to be degrading the piece. He was soon to whip these off after
the response, but this just seemed to be another example of Queen
not quite getting it right of late, as they seemed to be losing touch
with their audience.
More sold out concert dates were quick to follow in Australia
and New Zealand, however, as well as a number of gigs in Japan,
which was fast becoming like a second home to the band.
Queen were invited to perform at the benefit concert Live Aid
in 1985, and proceeded to steal the show in front of a worldwide
audience of millions, wowing all with their showmanship and