Editing Queen (band) (section)

===1985–1986: Live Aid, ''A Kind of Magic'' and tours===
In January 1985, Queen headlined two nights of the first [[Rock in Rio]] festival at [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, and played in front of over 300,000 people each night.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YRYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA6|title=Billboard 27 May 2006|date=27 May 2006|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-date=5 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305150821/https://books.google.com/books?id=YRYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA6#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' described it as a "mesmerising performance".<ref name="globe"/> Highlights from both nights were released on VHS as ''Queen: Live in Rio'', which was broadcast on MTV in the US.<ref name="globe">{{cite web|url=http://www.queenarchives.com/index.php?title=Queen_-_02-15-1986_-_Boston_Globe_-_Rock_in_Rio|title=Queen: Rock in Rio|publisher=Queenarchives.com|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-date=22 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822005927/http://www.queenarchives.com/index.php?title=Queen_-_02-15-1986_-_Boston_Globe_-_Rock_in_Rio|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/39837/Queen-Live-in-Rio/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308013019/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/39837/Queen-Live-in-Rio/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 March 2008 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2008 |title=Queen: Live in Rio (1985)|access-date=16 January 2011}}</ref> In April and May 1985, Queen completed the Works Tour with sold-out shows in Australia and Japan.<ref>Grein, Paul. Billboard 4 May 1985. p. 42. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Retrieved 2 June 2011</ref>
{{quote box
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 | source = —[[Bob Geldof]], on Queen's performance at [[Live Aid]].<ref>{{cite news |title=QUEEN's Iconic 'Live Aid' Performance To Be Recreated On 'The Simpsons' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/queens-iconic-live-aid-performance-to-be-recreated-on-the-simpsons/ |access-date=14 September 2020 |agency=Blabbermouth |archive-date=16 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916155036/https://blabbermouth.net/news/queens-iconic-live-aid-performance-to-be-recreated-on-the-simpsons/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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At [[Live Aid]], held at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] on 13 July 1985, in front of the biggest-ever TV audience of an estimated 400 million, Queen performed some of their greatest hits. Many of the sold-out stadium audience of 72,000 people clapped, sang, and swayed in unison.{{sfn|Blake|2010|pp=1-3}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/01/liveaid.memories/index.html |title=Live Aid 1985: A day of magic |publisher=CNN |access-date=2 June 2011 |archive-date=11 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411235204/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/01/liveaid.memories/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The show's organisers, [[Bob Geldof]] and [[Midge Ure]]; other musicians such as [[Elton John]] and [[Cliff Richard]]; and journalists writing for the [[BBC]], [[CNN]], ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', [[MTV]], ''[[The Guardian]]'' and ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', among others, described Queen as the highlight.<ref name="BBC - Queen win greatest live gig poll">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4420308.stm|title=Queen win greatest live gig poll|publisher=BBC|access-date=28 September 2014|date=9 November 2005|archive-date=19 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319042957/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4420308.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-queen-steal-the-show-at-live-aid-20130205 "Flashback: Queen Steal the Show at Live Aid"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029013749/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-queen-steal-the-show-at-live-aid-20130205 |date=29 October 2017 }}. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. Retrieved 4 April 2013
<br/>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/8785536/Queen-their-finest-moment-at-Live-Aid.html "Queen: their finest moment at Live Aid"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331185924/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/8785536/Queen-their-finest-moment-at-Live-Aid.html |date=31 March 2019 }}. ''The Telegraph''. 24 September 2011
<br/>[http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/01/liveaid.memories/index.html "Live Aid 1985: A day of magic"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411235204/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/01/liveaid.memories/index.html |date=11 April 2020 }}. CNN. Retrieved 17 July 2013
<br/>[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/live-aid-memories-it-was-lifechanging-my-life-was-not-all-about-just-me-anymore-2025079.html "Live Aid Memories: 'It was life-changing: my life was not all about just me anymore' "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924194035/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/live-aid-memories-it-was-lifechanging-my-life-was-not-all-about-just-me-anymore-2025079.html |date=24 September 2015 }}. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 13 September 2013
<br/>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jul/05/arts.artsnews1 "Queen most loved band"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930131519/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jul/05/arts.artsnews1 |date=30 September 2013 }}. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 19 April 2009
<br/>Miles, Barry (2008) [https://books.google.com/books?id=-oBzTaoZciEC&q=there+was+no+beatles+reunion&pg=PA159 "Massive Music Moments"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402143930/https://books.google.com/books?id=-oBzTaoZciEC&q=there+was+no+beatles+reunion&pg=PA159 |date=2 April 2023 }}. p. 159. Anova Books. Retrieved 21 May 2011</ref><ref name="The Mysterious Mr Mercury">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0171x1k |title=BBC Radio 4: "The Mysterious Mr Mercury" |publisher=BBC |date=12 November 2011 |access-date=25 December 2019 |archive-date=27 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427104626/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0171x1k |url-status=live }}</ref> Interviewed backstage, [[Roger Waters]] stated: "Everybody's been buzzing about Queen that I've run into. They had everybody completely spellbound."<ref>{{cite news |title=Roger Waters – Backstage Interview (Live Aid 1985) |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eo7t7jZYIXA  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/eo7t7jZYIXA| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=29 April 2021 |agency=YouTube |publisher=Live Aid}}{{cbignore}}</ref> An industry poll in 2005 ranked it the greatest rock performance of all time.<ref name="BBC - Queen win greatest live gig poll"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/books/review/the-life-and-times-of-metallica-and-queen.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=The Life and Times of Metallica and Queen|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=23 December 2013|first=Alan|last=Light|date=3 June 2011|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701072601/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/books/review/the-life-and-times-of-metallica-and-queen.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref> Mercury's powerful, sustained note—"Aaaaaay-o"—during the [[call-and-response]] ''a cappella'' segment came to be known as "The Note Heard Round the World".<ref>{{cite news |title=Aaaaaay-o! Aaaaaay-o! Why Live Aid was the greatest show of all |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/live-aid-anniversary-queen-freddie-mercury-performances-bob-geldof-a9612071.html |access-date=13 July 2020 |work=The Independent |archive-date=13 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713232607/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/live-aid-anniversary-queen-freddie-mercury-performances-bob-geldof-a9612071.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2018/11/opinions/queen-live-aid-cnnphotos/|title=33 years later, Queen's Live Aid performance is still pure magic|last=Thomas|first=Holly|date=6 November 2018|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=18 November 2018|archive-date=18 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118081506/https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2018/11/opinions/queen-live-aid-cnnphotos/|url-status=live}}</ref> The band were revitalised by the response to Live Aid—a "shot in the arm" Roger Taylor called it—and the ensuing increase in record sales.<ref name="mojo">[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]], August 1999, issue number 69. "Their Britannic Majesties Request" by David Thomas, page 87.</ref> In 1986 Mercury commented: "From our perspective, the fact that Live Aid happened when it did was really lucky. It came out of nowhere to save us. For sure that was a turning point. Maybe you could say that in the history of Queen, it was a really special moment."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Tsukagoshi |first=Midori |date= |title=An Exclusive Interview With Freddie Mercury |language=Japanese |magazine=Music Life}}</ref>

Queen ended 1985 by releasing the single "[[One Vision]]" and a limited-edition boxed set of Queen albums, ''[[The Complete Works (Queen album)|The Complete Works]]''. The package included the 1984 Christmas single "[[Thank God It's Christmas]]" and previously unreleased material.<ref>''International who's who in popular music'' p.129. Routledge, 2002</ref> In early 1986, Queen recorded the album ''[[A Kind of Magic]]'', containing several reworkings of songs written for the fantasy action film ''[[Highlander (film)|Highlander]]''.<ref name="Highlander">{{cite web |url=http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/film/tm_headline=highlander-immortal-edition-dvd-competition%26method=full%26objectid=18628009%26siteid=50061-name_page.html |title="Highlander: Immortal Edition DVD competition". Liverpool Echo |publisher=Icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk |access-date=12 May 2012 |archive-date=9 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609163450/http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/film/tm_headline%3Dhighlander-immortal-edition-dvd-competition%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D18628009%26siteid%3D50061-name_page.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The album was successful in the UK, West Germany and several other countries, producing a string of hits including "[[A Kind of Magic (song)|A Kind of Magic]]", "[[Friends Will Be Friends]]", "[[Princes of the Universe]]" and "[[Who Wants to Live Forever]]"; the latter featuring an orchestra conducted by [[Michael Kamen]]. The album was less successful in North America, reaching 46 in the US, and was described by biographer [[Mark Blake (writer)|Mark Blake]] as "a so-so album" and "a somewhat uneven listening experience".<ref>{{cite book |last=Blake |first=Mark |title=Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen |date=2011 |publisher=Aurum Press |isbn=978-1845137137 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2jvLAgAAQBAJ&q=mark+blake+is+this+the+real+life+meanwhile+america+slipped+further+away&pg=PT275 |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231043044/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2jvLAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT275&lpg=PT275&dq=mark+blake+is+this+the+real+life+meanwhile+america+slipped+further+away&source=bl&ots=1NYGe4lPHV&sig=W15FzPADrcZhaKhca2fw0yTAauE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiShdCF2cjfAhWGXRUIHUT6AJYQ6AEwB3oECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=mark%20blake%20is%20this%20the%20real%20life%20meanwhile%20america%20slipped%20further%20away&f=false |archive-date=31 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2007, ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'' ranked it the 28th greatest soundtrack album of all time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock.htm |title=Classic Rock's 49 Best Soundtrack Albums |date=October 2007 |website=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=20 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320105839/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

[[File:Freddy Mercury jacket designed by Diana Moseley.jpg|thumb|upright|Mercury's yellow military jacket (one of three designed by Diana Moseley) worn during the 1986 [[Magic Tour (Queen)|Magic Tour]]]]
In mid-1986, Queen went on the [[Magic Tour (Queen)|Magic Tour]], their final tour with Mercury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenconcerts.com/live/queen/magic.html|title=Queen on tour: Magic tour 1986|publisher=Queenconcerts.com|access-date=4 June 2011|archive-date=15 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715135349/http://www.queenconcerts.com/live/queen/magic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They once again hired Spike Edney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/biography/spike.htm|title=Spike 'The Duke' Edney Biography|publisher=Ultimatequeen.co.uk|access-date=2 June 2010|archive-date=5 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005021924/http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/Biography/spike.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themodsband.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=34|title=The Mods – A Tribute to an Era 1964–1970 – Spike Edney, Keyboards/Guitar – Special Guest|publisher=Themodsband.com|date=11 April 2007|access-date=2 June 2010|archive-date=6 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106142114/http://www.themodsband.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=34|url-status=live}}</ref> Queen began the tour at the [[Råsunda Stadium]] in Stockholm, Sweden, and later performed a [[Slane Concert|concert]] at [[Slane Castle]], Ireland, in front of an audience of 95,000, which broke the venue's attendance record.<ref>Musician, Issues 93–98. p.44. Amordian Press, 1986. Retrieved 5 June 2011</ref> The band also played behind the [[Iron Curtain]] when they performed to a crowd of 80,000 at the [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium (1953)|Népstadion]] in [[Budapest]] (released in the concert film ''[[Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest]]''), in what was one of the biggest rock concerts ever held in Eastern Europe.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4SQEAAAAMBAJ&q=queen+80,000+budapest+1986&pg=PT85 |title=Billboard |date=16 August 1986 |access-date=19 November 2020 |archive-date=5 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305150822/https://books.google.com/books?id=4SQEAAAAMBAJ&q=queen+80,000+budapest+1986&pg=PT85#v=snippet&q=queen%2080%2C000%20budapest%201986&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> More than one million people saw Queen on the tour—400,000 in the UK alone, a record at the time.<ref name="hotshotdigital" />

The Magic Tour's highlight was at Wembley Stadium and resulted in the live double album ''[[Queen at Wembley]]'', released on CD and as a live concert VHS/DVD, which has gone five times platinum in the US and four times platinum in the UK.<ref name="RIAAC" /><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.queenzone.com/news/queen-wins-3-dvd-platinum-awards.aspx|title=Queen Wins 3 DVD Platinum Awards|publisher=Queenzone.com|date=13 June 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930145956/http://www.queenzone.com/news/queen-wins-3-dvd-platinum-awards.aspx|archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> The demand for tickets saw extra dates added to the tour, with concert promoter [[Harvey Goldsmith]] stating "they seem to have an endless market."<ref name="Goldsmith">{{cite news |title=Helicopters, stabbings and smashed guitars: Freddie Mercury's last stand |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/helicopters-stabbings-and-smashed-guitars-freddie-mercurys-last-stand |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=Louder Sound |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727191151/https://www.loudersound.com/features/helicopters-stabbings-and-smashed-guitars-freddie-mercurys-last-stand |url-status=live }}</ref> Queen could not book Wembley for a third night, but played at [[Knebworth Festival|Knebworth Park]] in Hertfordshire on 9 August. The show sold out within two hours and over 120,000 fans packed the park for what was Queen's final performance with Mercury.<ref>{{cite news|title=30 years since Queen's majestic farewell tour|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/30-years-since-queens-majestic-farewell-tour/|work=The Sunday Post|date=21 March 2018|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321193205/https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/30-years-since-queens-majestic-farewell-tour/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium|publisher=WLIW|url=http://wliw.org/productions/queen.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428052918/http://wliw.org/productions/queen.html|archive-date=28 April 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the end of the concert the band appeared on stage for the final time to an encore of "God Save the Queen", with Mercury, in his crown and gown, bidding the crowd "goodnight and sweet dreams".<ref name="Goldsmith"/> Roadie Peter Hince states, "At Knebworth, I somehow felt it was going to be the last for all of us"; Brian May recalled Mercury saying "I'm not going to be doing this forever. This is probably the last time."{{sfn|Blake|2016}}