(hennemusic) Queen salute friends on the latest episode of the weekly series The Greatest Live. Anyone attending a concert during the band's record-breaking Magic Tour in 1986 could be forgiven for thinking the grand finale of "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" was cast in stone.
The band, however, always had a few surprises up their sleeve, and the encore on this tour was no exception .... where it would take a special song to drive a wedge between those two precision-tooled, audience-igniting encores.
As Brian's guitar solo from "We Will Rock You" reaches its crescendo, rather than wait for the melodic piano entry to "Champions", Roger Taylor counts in an unexpected twist to the set list that delights the crowd...as Queen introduce "Friends Will Be Friends," the band's ode to comradeship.
Co-written by bassist John Deacon and Freddie Mercury, the song explores the human need for companionship ('When you're through with life and all hope is lost, hold out your hand, 'cos friends will be friends').
Released as a UK single in 1986 - and joining the Magic Tour setlist two days later at Leiden's Groenoordhallen in the Netherlands - this week's footage finds the Wembley Stadium crowd blissfully blindsided in July '86, as the anticipated piano intro of "We Are The Champions" is hijacked by Taylor's count-in and a twist in the tail.
Get more details and watch the latest episode of The Greatest Live here.
Queen, AC/DC, Journey Lead AXS TV New Year's Eve Concert Marathon
Josh Homme Addressed Possibility Of Them Crooked Vultures Reunion (2024 In Review)
Queen Share Story Behind Queen I Promo Videos
Queen's Brian May 'Stabilized Now' Following Stroke
Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers
Holiday Gift Guide: Health and Beauty
Holiday Gift Guide: Beatles Vinyl Box Set
Rock World Pays Tribute To Amen's Casey Chaos
Ghost Hounds Share Strings Version Of 'You'll Never Find Me'
Alex Van Halen 'Never Really Got To Say Goodbye' To Eddie
Bon Jovi Offshoot Phil X & The Drills Share 'Don't Wake Up Dead'
Anne Autumn Erickson 'Crushin' on U' With New Single
Samantha Fish Plots UK Spring Tour
AC/DC Topped Billboard Chart With Classic Track (2024 In Review)
Journey Fan Scammed Out Of Over $120,000 By Steve Perry Imposter (2024 In Review)