Live Solos and Improvisations

This page features details of (mostly) instrumental tracks and solos that were only ever performed live by Queen and solo artists.

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Freddie Vocal Singalongs
Brian May Guitar Solos
Roger Taylor Drum Solos
Improvisations
Cozy Powell Drum Solo
Spike Edney Keyboard Solo
The Cross Piano Introduction

Freddie Vocal Singalong
These 'you sing what I sing' improvisations were performed at virtually every show. This list includes only general singalongs, so singalongs as part of other songs, such as Now I'm Here, are included elsewhere.
Part of the singalong from Wembley 12 July 1986 is also included within 'Queen: The Eye', click here for details.
Available Versions:
1. Queen On Fire - Live At The Bowl (0:14) (recorded in Milton Keynes, England, on 5 June 1982, at the end of 'Play The Game')
2. Tokyo 1982 (0:50) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 3 November 1982, available on the 'Hot Space' 2011 double disc reissue, after 'Action This Day')
3. Live In Rio (0:18) (recorded in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, on 12 or 19 January 1985, before 'Now I'm Here')
4. Final Concert Live In Japan (1:19) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985, before 'Now I'm Here')
5. Live Aid (0:38) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 13 July 1985, available on the 'Live Aid' DVD, and on the double DVD 'Queen Rock Montreal And Live Aid')
6. Live Aid Edit (0:28) (available on 'Rare Live'; this is an edit of the above version, editing out some of the middle section)
7. Montreux Golden Rose Pop Festival (0:47) (recorded in Montreux, Switzerland, on 11 May 1986; available on the 'Greatest Video Hits II' DVD)
8. Live At Wembley, First Night (1:29) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 July 1986; available on the 2003 and 2011 DVD's)
9. Live At Wembley, Second Night (1:49) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 12 July 1986; starts at approximately 6:46 into the 'A Kind Of Magic' CD track)
10. Live In Budapest (0:59) (recorded in Budapest, Hungary, on 27 July 1986, after 'A Kind Of Magic'; the first part features Freddie rehearsing, it then cuts to the concert)
11. Live Magic (0:51) (recorded at Knebworth Park, England, on 9 August 1986, after 'Another One Bites The Dust')
12. Knebworth Mix (0:23) (included at the start of the 'Knebworth Mix' of 'Under Pressure')
13. Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Insert (1:11) (a compilation of the Live Aid 1985, Budapest 1986, and Wembley 1986 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 bits from other tracks such as 'Get Down Make Love' and 'Chinese Torture'. Some solos also feature a minor drumming contribution from Roger, usually towards the finale.
Available Versions:
1. Live At The Rainbow (4:38) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 20 November 1974, performed after 'Son And Daughter')
3. We Will Rock You / Queen Rock Montreal (5:10) (recorded in Montreal, Canada, on 24/25 November 1981, after 'Keep Yourself Alive')
4. Queen On Fire - Live At The Bowl (5:42) (recorded at Milton Keynes, England, on 5 June 1982, this version is 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 (5:04) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 3 November 1982, after 'Save Me')
6. Live In Rio (1:56) (recorded in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, on 12 January 1985, after 'Love Of My Life', as part of 'Brighton Rock; this is an edited version, fading in at the start)
7. Live At Wembley, First Night (7:08) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 July 1986; available on the 2011 DVD only; titled 'Brighton Rock Solo')
8. Live At Wembley, Second Night (9:01) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 12 July 1986; titled 'Brighton Rock Solo')
9. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt (0:25) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD song selection screen; an edit of the above version from 1:20 to 1:45)
10. Live In Budapest (5:40) (recorded in Budapest, Hungary, on 27 July 1986, after 'I Want To Break Free'; this version is much quieter in the middle but still complete)
11. Live At Brixton Academy (6:06) (recorded at the Brixton Academy, London, on 15 June 1993; titled 'Guitar Extravagance')
12. Official Download, Firenze 2005 (6:39) (recorded in Firenze, Italy, on 7 April 2005)
13. Official Download, Vienna 2005 (7:20) (recorded in Vienna, Austria, on 13 April 2005)
14. Return Of The Champions (6:55) (recorded in Sheffield, England, on 9 May 2005)
15. Super Live In Japan (10:10) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 27 October 2005; not released on the Highlights CD/DVD)
16. Live In Ukraine (3:58) (recorded in Kharkov, Ukraine, on 12 September 2008)
17. Official Download, Paris 2008 (4:35) (recorded in Paris, France, on 24 September 2008)

Roger Taylor Drum Solos
Roger's drum solos were often used as the introduction to other tracks, and generally feature only minor contributions (if any) from other members of the group.
On the 2008 tour, this included a bass solo, in which he played an upright bass guitar with drumsticks, with Danny Miranda on the frets. It included the basslines from 'Under Pressure' and 'Another One Bites The Dust'.
In addition to the solos listed here, see also 'Let There Be Drums', a drum-oriented track which he performed on the 2005 tour, and also 'Drum Extravaganza', which he performed at the 2007 Live Earth concert with Taylor Hawkins and Chad Smith.
Available Versions:
1. Live At The Rainbow (1:09) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 20 November 1974, performed as the intro to 'Keep Yourself Alive')
3. We Will Rock You / Queen Rock Montreal (3:00) (recorded in Montreal, Canada, on 24/25 November 1981, this is both a drum and Timpani solo, performed after 'Keep Yourself Alive')
4. Queen On Fire - Live At The Bowl (0:28) (recorded in Milton Keynes, England, on 5 June 1982, included on the CD/DVD as part of 'Guitar Solo', acting as an intro to 'Under Pressure')
5. Live In Ukraine (5:00) (recorded in Kharkov, Ukraine, on 12 September 2008; features a 1:38 bass solo and 3:21 drum solo)
6. Official Download, Paris 2008 (6:16) (recorded in Paris, France, on 24 September 2008; features a 21 second intro, 2:05 bass solo and 3:27 drum solo)
7. Official Download, Murcia 2008 (7:55) (recorded in Murcia, Spain, on 24 October 2008; features a 37 second intro, 2:30 bass solo and 4:29 drum solo)

Improvisations
The tracks listed in this section feature all members of Queen performing, but do not resemble any album track.
'Rock In Rio Blues' and the version on 'Final Concert Live In Japan' are very similar, while the version on 'We Will Rock You' and 'Queen Rock Montreal' is a completely different track to the others.
Available Versions:
1. We Will Rock You / Queen Rock Montreal (0:58) (recorded in Montreal, Canada, on 24/25 November 1981, before 'Keep Yourself Alive') (click here for lyrics)
2. Rock In Rio Blues Version 1 (4:32) (recorded in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, on 19 January 1985, available on the 'Made In Heaven' 2011 double-disc reissue, 'A Winter's Tale' in the UK, and in the 'Queen Singles Collection 4' boxed set; this has an 'instant' start of audience noise, and a slow fade out)
3. Rock In Rio Blues Version 2 (4:29) (recorded in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, on 19 January 1985, available on 'Too Much Love Will Kill You' in the USA; this is identical but has a fade in at the start)
4. Final Concert Live In Japan (4:25) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985, between 'Liar' and 'It's A Hard Life'; this has no decipherable lyrics)
5. Live At Wembley, First Night (3:23) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 July 1986; available on the 2011 DVD only, titled 'Impromptu'; this has no decipherable lyrics)
6. Live At Wembley, Second Night (2:54) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 12 July 1986; titled 'Impromptu'; this has no decipherable lyrics)
7. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt (0:25) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD song selection screen; this is an edit of the above version, from 0:19 to 0:44)
'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
This drum solo was performed by Cozy on Brian's 1993 'Back To The Light' tour. It is based on Cozy's 8:35 solo track 'Over The Top', from the 1979 album of the same name, which is itself based on the 1812 Overture.
Available Versions:
1. Live At Brixton Academy Edit (3:08) (recorded at the Brixton Academy, London, on 15 June 1993; available on the album only, as part of the Resurrection Medley; it appears at approximately 2:59 on the CD track)
2. Live At Brixton Academy Full (3:20) (available on the video only, this features an additional section which starts at 3:43 on the CD track)

Spike Edney Keyboard Solo
This track is only available on Brian's 'Live At Brixton Academy' video, having been edited out for the album release.
Available Versions:
1. Live At Brixton Academy (3:08) (recorded at the Brixton Academy, London, on 15 June 1993; available on the video only, after 'Too Much Love Will Kill You')

The Cross Piano Introduction
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. It is very similar to 'Watermark' by Enya, although I am ensure of the true origins.
Available Versions:
1. The Official Bootleg (2:19) (recorded at the Astoria Theatre, London, on 7 December 1990)

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