Queen Rock Montreal isn’t just a concert film; it’s a time capsule capturing one of the world’s most iconic rock bands, Queen, at the zenith of their electrifying live performances. Originally recorded in 1981 and recently resurrected as a groundbreaking digitally restored IMAX concert film, this pivotal moment in Queen’s illustrious history is now available for home audiences in stunning double Blu-Ray, double 4K Ultra High Definition packages, as well as double CD and triple vinyl editions.
This release, Queen Rock Montreal, throws viewers headfirst into the raw energy of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon in their prime. As Brian May himself aptly puts it, this is Queen “live and dangerous,” a testament to their unparalleled stage presence and musical prowess. For fans seeking the ultimate Queen live experience, this release is essential.
Both the 4K UHD and Blu-ray packages are meticulously crafted as two-disc sets. Disc one delivers “Rock Montreal” in its original full-frame format alongside their historic Live Aid performance. Disc two broadens the view with “Rock Montreal” in widescreen, further enriched by an exclusive 11-minute Live Aid rehearsal featurette. This bonus includes captivating interviews from the era leading up to Live Aid, interwoven with rare rehearsal footage, providing deeper insight into this legendary performance. The 4K package goes a step further, presenting “Queen Rock Montreal” in both SDR and HDR formats across both discs, ensuring an optimized viewing experience regardless of your display technology.
To achieve unparalleled visual fidelity, the original 35mm negative was scanned with meticulous care to guarantee the highest possible resolution. Each frame was then painstakingly examined and digitally remastered to eliminate any imperfections – dirt, damage, or splices – ultimately enhancing the picture’s sharpness and overall visual quality. This restoration process ensures that Queen Rock Montreal looks better than ever before, allowing fans to experience the concert with newfound clarity.
Disc one of the 2x4K package showcases Queen Rock Montreal in the Full Frame screen format, staying true to the original cinematic vision, coupled with the legendary Live Aid performance, now presented for the first time in upscaled HD with immersive Dolby Atmos audio. Disc two offers the Montreal concert in widescreen format and includes a fascinating behind-the-scenes featurette. This bonus content provides a glimpse into Queen’s Live Aid rehearsals, interspersed with contemporary interviews with the band members recorded just before their iconic Live Aid appearance. Crucially, both screen formats of Queen Rock Montreal in the 4K version are available in both HDR and SDR. Audio options for both Queen Rock Montreal and Live Aid performances are comprehensive, featuring LPCM Stereo, DTS-HD Master Audio, and, for the first time, state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos. Additionally, Queen Rock Montreal includes an engaging commentary track from Brian May & Roger Taylor, where they share their reflections and insights on the film.
The double Blu-ray release mirrors the 4K package in content. Disc one presents Queen Rock Montreal in Full Frame, as originally intended, alongside the upscaled HD Live Aid performance with Dolby Atmos audio. Disc two features the widescreen concert version and the same insightful behind-the-scenes featurette detailing the Live Aid rehearsals and band interviews. The audio and commentary options are identical to the 4K release, ensuring a premium experience for Blu-ray viewers.
Bonus Features elevate this release beyond a mere concert film:
- Audio commentary by Brian May and Roger Taylor: Gain unparalleled insight into the concert and Queen’s perspective.
- Performance footage of Queen rehearsing for Live Aid: Witness Queen preparing for their historic Live Aid set with rehearsals of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Radio Gaga,” and “Hammer To Fall,” alongside a pre-Live Aid band interview.
4K – Disc 1 Track Listing:
Queen Rock Montreal (full frame version) SDR/HDR
- Intro (Taylor)
- We Will Rock You [Fast] (May)
- Let Me Entertain You (Mercury)
- Play The Game (Mercury)
- Somebody To Love (Mercury)
- Killer Queen (Mercury)
- I’m In Love With My Car (Taylor)
- Get Down Make Love (Mercury)
- Save Me (May)
- Now I’m Here (May)
- Dragon Attack (May)
- Now I’m Here [Reprise] (May)
- Love Of My Life (Mercury)
- Under Pressure (Queen / Bowie)
- Keep Yourself Alive (May)
- Drum and Tympani Solo (Taylor)
- Guitar Solo (May)
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury)
- Jailhouse Rock (Leiber / Stoller)
- Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury)
- Tie Your Mother Down (May)
- Another One Bites The Dust (Deacon)
- Sheer Heart Attack (Taylor)
- We Will Rock You (May)
- We Are The Champions (Mercury)
- God Save The Queen (Trad. arr. May)
Queen Rock Montreal Commentary from Brian May & Roger Taylor
LIVE AID CONCERT
- Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury)
- Radio Ga Ga (Taylor)
- Ay-Oh (Mercury)
- Hammer To Fall (May)
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury)
- We Will Rock You (May)
- We Are The Champions (Mercury)
- Is This The World We Created…? (Mercury / May)
4K Disc 2 Track Listing:
Queen Rock Montreal (widescreen version) SDR/HDR
- Intro (Taylor)
- We Will Rock You [Fast] (May)
- Let Me Entertain You (Mercury)
- Play The Game (Mercury)
- Somebody To Love (Mercury)
- Killer Queen (Mercury)
- I’m In Love With My Car (Taylor)
- Get Down Make Love (Mercury)
- Save Me (May)
- Now I’m Here (May)
- Dragon Attack (May)
- Now I’m Here [Reprise] (May)
- Love Of My Life (Mercury)
- Under Pressure (Queen / Bowie)
- Keep Yourself Alive (May)
- Drum and Tympani Solo (Taylor)
- Guitar Solo (May)
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury)
- Jailhouse Rock (Leiber / Stoller)
- Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury)
- Tie Your Mother Down (May)
- Another One Bites The Dust (Deacon)
- Sheer Heart Attack (Taylor)
- We Will Rock You (May)
- We Are The Champions (Mercury)
- God Save The Queen (Trad. arr. May)
Queen Rock Montreal Commentary from Brian May & Roger Taylor
LIVE AID REHEARSAL
- Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury)
- Radio Ga Ga (Taylor)
- Hammer To Fall (May)
