Queen revisit their iconic early encore cover of the Elvis Presley classic "Jail House Rock" for this week's edition of their The Greatest Live streaming video series. Hollywood Records sent over these details:
While Queen shows of the mid-'70s led rock 'n' roll into a new era, the band often saluted their formative influences as a parting shot. Prior to May 1978, when "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" took up permanent residence on the setlist's closing straight, the band were known to dive into the songbooks of the great US pioneers, including Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock."
Penned by songwriting/production duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller - and recorded by the King for his 1957 film of the same name - the original "Jailhouse Rock" had been a hip-swaying rave-up, telling of a raucous "party in the county jail" where "the prison band began to wail".
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in their childhood homes, Queen's future members were listening intently. "I think it's impossible to have been a kid at that time and not been influenced by Elvis," reflected Brian May in 2021. "Freddie in particular though, of course. He was one of Freddie's great heroes. For me, his guitarists were a great inspiration. Scotty Moore was one, James Burton the other. So, yeah, Elvis was definitely an influence."
But as we see in this archive footage from the Hammersmith Odeon on 24th December, 1975, Queen's ferocious reboot of "Jailhouse Rock" was anything but reverent, adding rocket fuel and proto-punk energy. With Roger Taylor revving the tempo, Brian pulling out his best supercharged Scotty Moore guitar licks and Freddie throwing flowers to the crowd - while balloons and blow-up dolls float through the air - it's the most anarchic encore imaginable.
As Roger recently reflected: "On "Jailhouse Rock," we could go a bit mad..."
The Felice Brothers Announce New Album With 'Crime Scene Queen'
Oceanhoarse Return With 'Killer & The Queen'
Black Sun Debut New Lineup With 'Slay The Queen' Video
Josh Homme Addresses Possibility Of Them Crooked Vultures Reunion
Travel News, Trips and Tips: More Road Trip Essentials
Sites and Sounds: Mutants Fest Coming to North Little Rock
Caught In The Act: Judas Priest Rocks Chicagoland
Root 66: New Riders of the Purple Sage- Gene Clark- More
Robert Plant, Yes and Willie Nelson Among Stars Coming to Ozarks Amphitheater
Kings of Leon Release 'Seen' Visualizer
Richie Kotzen Shares 'Cheap Shots' Video And Announces Fall Tour
Hardcastle Deliver 'Hostage' Video
Crossfaith Recruit Wargasm For 'God Speed'
Future Palace Premiere 'The Echoes of Disparity' Video
Tristan Tritt Shares Male Perspective Of Breaking Up With 'Sick Of It'
Polar Return With 'We Won't Sleep' Video
Ana Popovic Shares Live 'Queen Of The Pack' Video