"You buggers can sing higher than I can ..."

Long Queen had been reluctant to release a live album, as they were afraid of being the bombastic, sophisticated sound of their studio productions live justice. 1979 was nevertheless finally come, "Live Killers" was released as a 4-LP. Unfortunately, it must be stated that the sound actually does not have the usual brilliance, but that's about the only (also verschmerzliche because small) drawback of this century work that comes as an elemental force a. Because celebrate what Queen here in the true sense is pure magic, note for note. Never before and never after that I was such a hit in its spell a live album.

I was 11 and had seen a TV documentary about Queen. My big brother played me then "Live Killers" by LP on cassette - and from then on the band was no longer an integral part of my mono cassette recorder or walkman, to exhaustion I abgenudelt it. Finally, I knew every note, every announcement, every musical comedy by heart. And was, incidentally become Queen fan, what would shape my adolescence sustainable.

"Live Killers" is the first volume of phase a huge monument, just before they were to discover the up therefore completely scorned Synthesizer for themselves and reinvent completely. Who was aware of the group as a fan later by hits like "Radio Gaga" or "I Want To Break Free", is likely to be amazed: Here dominates the rock-earthy, rougher side of the band that largely dispensed with their operatic extravaganzas and Instead, a rich Hard Rock program lets launched. If a right at the beginning the fast version of "We Will Rock You" counter blares then bordered already on Punk! In this wake swim sweaty hits like "Tie Your Mother Down", "Sheer Heart Attack" or "Keep Yourself Alive".

But the music is never one-sided. Again and again Freddie Mercury sits down at the piano - for example in the gloomy "Death On Two Legs", the great "Do not Stop Me Now" or bombastic anthem "Spread Your Wings". And of course also the largest classic missing: "Mustapha, Mustapha!" chanting fans, and Mercury gives them a taste of the song of the same name from the "Jazz" album before striking the first notes of "Bohemian Rhapsody". An absolute goosebumps moment!
A highlight chasing the next. Whether queen merge some of their greatest hits to a stunning medley, insert a so permeable as rousing acoustic set, or break the individual members to solo outings. The swelling on staggering 12 minutes, "Brighton Rock" gets a playground for Brian May and Roger Taylor - the one with his Red Special and the characteristic delay effect, the other to the timpani.

"Now I'm Here" uses Freddie "Sometimes vocals" Mercury to a vocal contest with his audience, and sings like a man of his lungs. "You buggers can sing higher than I can, I tell you," the singer stated then mischievously, before the band starts again to new heights. In "Love Of My Life", the audience assumes equal whole passages that I run now as then shiver of delight down the spine. Ever the audience from the very beginning is to part of the show, which makes up a major part of the incredible atmosphere.
Again and again amusing Brian Mays fun band idea: "On drums and tigerskin trousers, Mr. Rosie Taylor!"
And when finally unite band and the audience, to bring the "slow" version of "We Will Rock You", the hall to collapse, then no one should leave the cold, the only partially interested in rock music. "We Are The Champions" is the last hymn of the concert, and the hits the proverbial nail on the head.

Queen appear as welded unit with great stage presence, who knows how to pull out all the stops: these guys made so quickly no one thing before! It's amazing to hear again and again, what know just to make those four with their instruments and how the enthusiasm for their music skips to the audience. Here music is lived - this authenticity even after thirty years still noticeable. "Live Killers" succeeds in capturing the intensity of a Queen concert and is therefore striking proof why Queen were among the really big of her time - and remain timeless.

Pompous, dramatic, extravagant, authentic, intense, brilliant and above all, unique! This is the music of Queen, and all that is this larger than life live album. God Save The Queen ... if I already could not even be there because ...