[.ca] Queen Rock Montreal and Live-Aid [Blu-ray]

From Amazon.com:
Billed as "the day music changed history," the Live Aid concerts of July 13, 1985, were held to raise money to fight the horrifying famines sweeping Africa. The brainchild of Bob Geldof and representing the efforts of countless musicians and technicians, Live Aid was a genuine and inspiring effort to help the victims of an overwhelming calamity. Twenty years after the twin concerts (one in London, one in Philadelphia) were broadcast worldwide, the 4-DVD treatment furthers the cause, with proceeds going toward the Band Aid Trust. The DVD set opens with a heartbreaking documentary on the crisis, followed by videos of the two hit songs that represented the collaborative nature of Geldof's efforts—Band Aid' s "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and USA for Africa's "We Are the World." Since Live Aid was never intended to be released in a recorded format, preservation of TV footage has been unreliable, resulting in some glaring omissions. Led Zeppelin's semi-reunion doesn't appear, and neither does a legendary session with Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, and Keith Richards. Some sets by performers who were popular at the time may inspire either nostalgic glee or head-scratching (Kiki Dee fans, you know who you are). Sprinkled amid these performances are a couple real gems, including a performance by Run DMC, the event's sole representative of the ascendant rap movement. Much of the music here was a passing fad, but the sentiment that brought it all together is timeless. -- Ryan Boudinot

Live Aid - 20 Years Ago Today the one DVD version:
The Live Aid package of four DVD is certainly good but the one DVD version is not. There is no complete song on the DVD so listening to it feel like someone in the eighty keep on changing Radio station on you. This DVD is made to sale you the big package so it is not even worth the low price the sale it for.

A mandatory purchase for all music fans:
I watched this concert on TV when It was first shown & have been kicking myself ever since for not recording it. So finally we have it available on a 4 disc DVD set which is worth the cost just to see Queen, U2, Alison Moyet, & other great 80's acts. Yes! most of them were excellent live acts who could really perform live. The picture & sound quality on the USA footage especially was not perfect but hey if you read the superb booklet that comes with the box set it is understandable. This is THE standard for all others to aspire to, the producers of the "Woodstock special edition" DVD should take note...

"QUEEN ROCK MONTREAL AND LIVE AID":
There's no question Queen's musical legacy lives on more than seventeen years after their last album with Freddy Mercury was released, although they never 'officially' disbanded, and all it takes is hearing The Darkness, Miko, The Killers and Panic At The Disco, to name a few, and you'll recognize the signature Queen sound and how it's influenced new generations of musicians. That's why this 2 DVD set is such an important part of rock music history. Disc 1 features twenty-six songs recorded in Montreal in 1981 and although there was some 'tweaking' of the audio and the whole thing was re-mastered, the end result is fantastic. You get what are probably the band's best performances of "We Will Rock You", "Play The Game", "Keep Yourself Alive", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "I'm In Love With My Car". Freddy is his typical flamboyant self, part camp-part over the top, especially on "Another One Bites The Dust". At the time, Queen was enjoying what was to be arguably the best year of their career and the raw energy combined with the absolute perfection of this live performance was testament to that fact. This was the moment Queen became musical royalty. The second DVD starts off with what some fans argue is the band's best live performance ever: at Live Aid. There's no question that the entire bill that day was a once in a lifetime historic event but Queen did indeed manage to steal the show with a fervor and intensity unparalleled by any other act on the same bill. Also, for the die-hard fan, the extras include a priceless behind-the-scenes look at the Live Aid rehearsal, an interview with the band and a few extra surprises included for good measure. For the sake of popular music history and Queen fans, mere words can't adequately describe how important this DVD set is, you have to see and hear it to appreciate that fact.

Retro Fun and Memorable Perfomances:
With the recent Live 8 concerts success, it is a good time to get the original Live Aid DVD for your collection. The DVD's are great fun, especially seeing a younger U2 with Bono and Edges' hair. The lasting success of this great band are obvious when you watch them 20 years ago. Highlights are: Queen - absolutely the show stopper and best performances, bar none. RIP Freddy Mercury The Who - Watch "The Ox" on bass. Quietly standing there playing massive riffs. RIP John Entwhistle. Black Sabbath - One song only :( Forgot that Tony, Geezer and Bill all looked the same back then. Ha. Still going strong today, and Ozzy has been back in Sabbath since 1999. U2 - See above Notable mentions: The Cars - Fun stuff, and again, the hair. The Beach Boys - Good to see Brian Wilson singing with them Ultravox - Midge Ure on "Vienna". Midge helped with Bob Geldof with Live Aid and with Live 8. Thanks Midge. For you Guitar players: Dire Straits - Mark Knofler on "Sultans of Swing" The Destroyers - George Thorogood and Albert Collins on "Madison Blues" U2 - Edge, master of the texture riff. Black Sabbath - Toni Iommi, the original metal riff meister by which all others are compared. Still strong today. Queen - Brian May. 'Nuff said. There is some forgettable stuff on this four disc set, but overall its worth owning.

Freddies hot pants:
Awesome video , sound mix, Brain May rocks and solid rhythm section. The only distraction or retraction is Freddies hot pants ... a little over the top ... or under dressed shall we say ...