Live Solos and Improvisations

Live Solos and Improvisations

This page features details of instrumental tracks and solos that were only ever performed live.

Freddie Vocal Singalong
These improvised 'you sing what I sing' were performed at virtually every show. Some performances feature a singalong, but with the words to 'Now I'm Here' so these are entered under 'Now I'm Here'
Part of Freddie's 'Wembley' singalong is included in 'The Eye' - click here for details
Versions Available:
1. Live In Rio Version (0:18) (before 'Now I'm Here')
2. Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl Version (0:14) (at the end of 'Play The Game')
3. Final Concert Live In Japan Version (1:19) (before 'Now I'm Here')
4. Rare Live Version (0:28) (at the start of the video, from Live Aid 1985, editing out some of the middle section)
5. Live Aid Version (0:38) (on the 'Live Aid' DVD, from Live Aid 1985, and on the double DVD 'Queen Rock Montreal And Live Aid')
6. Montreux Pop Festival Version (0:47) (from 1986, on 'Greatest Video Hits II')
7. Live In Budapest Version (0:59) (after 'A Kind Of Magic') (first part features Freddie rehearsing, then cuts to concert)
8. Live Magic Version (0:51) (after 'Another One Bites The Dust'; recorded at Knebworth on 9 August 1986)
9. Live At Wembley Version 1 (1:30) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' DVD, recorded on 11 July 1986)
10. Live At Wembley Version 2 (1:49) (on all 'Live At Wembley' releases, recorded on 12 July 1986) (starts approximately 6:46 into the 'A Kind Of Magic' CD track)
11. Knebworth Mix (0:23) (included at the start of the 'Knebworth Mix' of 'Under Pressure', recorded on 9 August 1986)
12. 'Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert' version (1:11) (a compilation of 'Budapest', 'Live Aid' and 'Wembley' singalongs)

Brian May Guitar Solo
Brian's guitar solo has featured various elements over the years, mainly along the 'Brighton Rock' theme, but also adding elements from other tracks such as 'Get Down Make Love' and 'Chinese Torture'. Some solos feature a minor drumming contribution from Roger, usually towards the finale.
Versions Available:
1. Live At The Rainbow Version (4:38) (between 'Son And Daughter' and it's reprise)
2. Live Killers Version (8:26) (performed as part of 'Brighton Rock', starts at 2:36 into the CD track)
3. We Will Rock You Version (5:10) (later re-released on the 'Queen Rock Montreal' album/DVD) (after 'Keep Yourself Alive')
4. Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl Version (5:42) (notable because there is a problem with Brian's guitar during the solo. The CD version has a 3 second break in the middle, whilst the DVD release is approximately 17 seconds longer).
5. Live In Japan Version (5:04) (after 'Save Me')
6. Live In Rio Version (1:56) (after 'Love Of My Life', as part of 'Brighton Rock') (an edited version, fading in at the start)
7. Live In Budapest Version (5:40) (after 'I Want To Break Free') (much quieter in the middle but still complete)
8. Live At Wembley Version (9:01) (titled 'Brighton Rock Guitar Solo')
9. Live At Wembley Excerpt (0:25) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' DVD song selection screen; an edit of the above version from 1:20 to 1:45) 10. Live At Brixton Academy Version (6:06) (titled 'Guitar Extravagance')
11. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 1 (6:39) (an official download, recorded in Firenze on 7 April 2005) (click here for full details)
12. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 2 (7:20) (an official download, recorded in Vienna on 13 April 2005) (click here for full details)
13. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 3 (6:55) (on 'Return Of The Champions', recorded in Sheffield on 9 May 2005) (click here for full details)
14. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 4 (10:10) (on 'Super Live In Japan', recorded in Tokyo on 27 October 2005) (click here for full details)
15. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 5 (3:58) (on the 'Live In Ukraine' CD/DVD, recorded in Kharkov on 12 September 2008) (click here for full details)
16. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 6 (4:35) (an official download, recorded in Paris on 24 September 2008) (click here for full details)

Roger Taylor Drum Solos
Roger's drum solos are often used as the introduction to other tracks, and feature only minor contributions (if any) from other members of the group. See also 'Let There Be Drums' below.
Roger also performed a drum extravaganza with Taylor Hawkins and Chad Smith at the Live Earth concert, full details are found here.
The Queen + Paul Rodgers live versions from 2008 feature a drum solo as well as a bass solo, in which Roger plays the bass with drumsticks with Danny Miranda on the frets; it includes the basslines from 'Under Pressure' and 'Another One Bites The Dust'.
Versions Available:
1. Live At The Rainbow Version (1:09) (performed as the intro to 'Keep Yourself Alive')
2. Live Killers Version (0:36) (during 'Keep Yourself Alive', approximately 2:17 into the CD track)
3. We Will Rock You Version (3:00) (both drum and Timpani solo) (after 'Keep Yourself Alive')
4. Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl Version (0:28) (included on the CD/DVD as part of 'Guitar Solo', and acts as an intro to 'Under Pressure')
5. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 1 (5:00) (on the 'Live In Ukraine' CD/DVD, recorded in Kharkov on 12 September 2008) (features a 1:38 bass solo and 3:21 drum solo) (click here for full details)
6. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 2 (6:16) (performed in Paris on 24 September 2008, features a 21 second intro, 2:05 bass solo and 3:27 drum solo) (click here for full details)
7. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 3 (7:55) (performed in Murcia on 24 October 2008, features a 37 second intro, 2:30 bass solo and 4:29 drum solo) (click here for full details)

Let There Be Drums
This track is mainly a drum solo from Roger, but also features accompaniment from the rest of the band in parts. It was performed exclusively on the 2005 Queen + Paul Rodgers tour, as an introduction to 'I'm In Love With My Car'.
This track was written by Sandy Nelson and Polodor (?), and reached number 3 in 1961 for Sandy Nelson.
The official download names this track as 'Let There Be Gene'.
Versions Available:
1. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 1 (3:25) (an official download, recorded in Newcastle on 3 May 2005) (click here for full details)
2. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 2 (3:40) (on 'Return Of The Champions', recorded in Sheffield on 9 May 2005) (click here for full details)
3. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 3 (3:19) (on 'Super Live In Japan', recorded in Tokyo on 27 October 2005) (click here for full details)

Improvisations
Listed here are tracks that feature all members of Queen performing, but do not resemble any album track.
Note that the 'Final Concert Live In Japan' version and 'Rock In Rio Blues' are very similar.
Versions Available:
1. We Will Rock You Version (0:58) (performed before 'Keep Yourself Alive', later released on the 'Queen Rock Montreal' album/DVD) (click here for lyrics)
2. Final Concert Live In Japan Version (4:25) (performed between 'Liar' and 'It's A Hard Life') (no lyrics are decipherable)
3. Live At Wembley Version (2:54) (titled 'Impromptu') (no lyrics are decipherable)
4. Live At Wembley Excerpt (0:25) (on 'Live At Wembley Stadium' DVD song selection screen; this is an edit of the above version, from 0:19 to 0:44)
5. Rock In Rio Blues Version 1 (4:32) (as the B-Side to 'A Winter's Tale' in the UK) (has an "instant" start of audience noise, and a slow fade out)
6. Rock In Rio Blues Version 2 (4:29) (as the B-Side to 'Too Much Love Will Kill You' in the US) (identical, but has a slow fade in and fade out)
'Rock In Rio Blues' Dialogue & Lyrics:
Ooh yeah

Oh yeah
Let's play the Rock In Rio blues baby
We've come to do Rock In Rio with you, baby

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Wow
Rock In Rio night baby
It's Rock In Rio night

Everybody
Everybody's happy
Yeah, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah

Oooh, wow
Get in tune with the Rock In Rio business, baby
Rock it, ha

Yeah
Ha
Baby I like it

Yeah

That song was especially for you, for all the Rock In Rio people. Thank you very much.

Cozy Powell Drum Solo
Only available on the 'Live At Brixton' album and video.
Part of the track features Cozy drumming to the '1812 Overture'. The whole solo is from 'Over The Top', a track on Cozy's album of the same name from 1979. His original recording has length 8:35, with this section of the drum solo nearly five minutes long.
Versions Available:
1. Live At Brixton Academy Album Version (3:08) (approximately 2:59 onwards) (performed as part of the Resurrection Medley)
2. Live At Brixton Academy Video Version (3:20) (features an additional section from 3:43 onwards)

Spike Edney Keyboard Solo
Only available on the 'Live At Brixton Academy' video.
Versions Available:
1. Live At Brixton Academy Version (1:52) (follows 'Too Much Love Will Kill You')

'The Cross' Piano Introduction
Only available on 'The Official Bootleg' cassette. This is a slow piano solo, used as the 'build up' before the concert. It is also features some drum, bass and guitar towards the end of the track, which seems to be the band just 'warming up'. Presumably the track was pre-recorded, and therefore probably performed by Spike Edney
This track is very similar to 'Watermark' by Enya, although I am ensure of the true origins.
Versions Available:
1. The Official Bootleg Version (2:19) (before 'Top Of The World Ma')