QUEEN @ Elland Road 29th May 1982

Zephead2112 · Post by **Zephead2112** » Wed 21 Mar, 2012 12:57 pm

Hello Everybody,I was 15 years old in 1982 when I attended my first ever concert, Queen's amazing show at Elland Road. Having been to so many gigs since, I can honestly say that there is nobody who has been able to top Queen live; I was lucky enough to see the band five times between 1982 and 1986, including Wembley Stadium and their very last show at Knebworth. Brian May has since stated that he thought that the Leeds show was one of, if not their best performances ever. Now in my 40’s, I still love the band and I’m trying to hunt down some reminders of that hot sunny day. Surprisingly, there are hardly any photos on the internet. In fact, I’ve only ever found one of the crowd with Julian Cope (from support band The Teardrop Explodes) signing autographs on the West Stand. For those that are interested, there are a few here;http://queenlive.ca/queen/82-05-29.htmAs such, I'm trying to search out amateur photos taken on the day and also cine/video film, etc. I’ve been trying to find the concert poster for a few years now too if anyone has one they may wish to sell. It would also be nice to hear other member's recollections of the day.If anyone is able to help, please send me a PM. It would be very much appreciated! Keith.************************************************** *************************P.S. If anybody is interested, I wrote the following for one of the Queen sites;I was 15 years old in 1982 when I attended my first ever concert. Fortunately for me, it was QUEEN's show at Leeds AFC ground in the North of England.I remember when my ticket arrived in the post, possibly 2-3 months before the concert, as was often the case in those days. I stuck my ticket on a cork notice board in my bedroom and could barely contain my excitement over the coming weeks. Every morning, I would wake up and look at the yellow ticket, wishing the days away. I imagined everything that could go wrong would. Queen would cancel the gig, I would break my leg, the family pet would die on the morning of the concert and it would be too insensitive of me to go, the transport wouldn't turn up or would break down, there would be a pile up on the motorway, I'd lose my ticket en route, etc, etc.As it turned out, May 29th 1982 was a hot and sunny day, perfect weather for an outdoor gig. I was CRAZY about Queen and had been since the age of 9 but I really didn't know what to expect on that day. Myself and three friends took a coach organised by my Dad's company from Lancashire across the M62 motorway to Leeds. Our excitement began to really take a hold when we arrived at the football ground and we followed the droves of people towards the turnstiles. To me, this was something on a really big scale and I could already hear the hum of the crowd inside. Not really believing that we were actually about to witness a Queen concert, we found our seats on the West Stand, offering a great view of the stage. I remember marvelling at Queen's new lighting rig and the equipment that adorned the stage, shining in the afternoon sunshine. The ground was almost full at this point and the pitch was heaving with people. The atmosphere was relaxed as people bathed in the sunshine. I remember two guys climbing the fence from the stand and attempting to get a better spot by running into the crowd and losing themselves on the pitch. Their efforts were in vain however as they were quickly located and ejected back into the stand by two security guards.We bought some black Hot Space tour shirts (I wore mine with pride until it literally fell apart) and a programme from a vendor inside the ground and waited for the first band to take the stage. A guy near us shouted and punched his way through Heart's set and then left just as they vacated the stage. Obviously not a Queen fan! The Teardrop Explodes suffered at the hands of the Queen congregation and found themselves battling against a shower of bottles and assorted missiles. Other than that, I don't really remember much about the support bands. I think that Bow Wow Wow were billed to play (an odd choice) but I can't recall if they actually turned up. No matter, we were about to witness what is still one of the best gigs I have ever attended.As the dusk descended upon us, the giant floodlights were extinguished one by one and the memory of the roar that followed still sends shivers down my spine. Dry ice drifted across the heads of the crowd on the pitch as the intro tape of Flash thumped out of the PA and the strange 'grating' noises added to the recording created a foreboding atmosphere. Two of our party were on the pitch and to this day remember their chests thumping in unison to the powerful rhythm. A sea of hands clapped in perfect time to the beat. To me, this was already an amazing experience. And then the big moment. Freddie, resplendent in dazzling white made his entrance to The Hero and the blaze of the lights. An apt number to start with. Before he had even sung a note, the audience were locked tightly in the palm of his hand. Such an entrance, such a showman. "You're a F***in amazing crowd", he exclaimed after the first rush. The beginning of the gig is, in truth, my strongest memory of the show itself. In particular, the "Flash!!!" vocals cutting through the night air with so much volume. I recall being shocked at the sheer power of Queen's performance and the clarity of the huge sound they harnessed. Morgan Fisher's keyboards during 'Action This Day' sounded bright and hypnotic. Freddie's intro to Fat Bottomed Girls caused quite a response too; "the bigger the t*t the better it is!". I also remember the follow spots darting wildly over the crowd during 'Tie Your Mother Down' and everybody going crazy. As kids, we talked endlessly about our experience for months to come and one of my biggest regrets is not jumping on a train to attend the filmed Milton Keynes show a week later.Having been to so many gigs since, I can honestly say that there is nobody who has been able to top Queen live; I was lucky enough to see the band five times between 1982 and 1986, including Wembley Stadium and their last show at Knebworth. Their performance at the NEC in Birmingham on 'The Works' tour in 1984 was also outstanding. People were literally stood there with open mouths, unable to believe how good they were. I've often wondered if an audience shot cine film or even just photographs exist from the Leeds gig. It would be a dream come true to see my memories come to life again.

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Wed 21 Mar, 2012 1:14 pm

I am a Queen fan but wasn't at Elland Road that night. What I can remember though is both my missus and me and some of our neighbours hearing the music faintly in our front gardens (it had been a warm day and the evening remained the same). We were living in Cookridge at the time!JD

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Wed 21 Mar, 2012 1:26 pm

Have you got the music from the gig?

Zephead2112 · Post by **Zephead2112** » Wed 21 Mar, 2012 1:29 pm

Yes I have the audio if anyone needs a copy and wants to drop me a mail; it's quite good by bootleg standards.

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Thu 22 Mar, 2012 9:30 am

Zephead2112 wrote: Yes I have the audio if anyone needs a copy and wants to drop me a mail; it's quite good by bootleg standards. Hi Zephead, I'd really like a copy of that please. Being only 30 I unfortunately never got to see them live, the best I have is a used concert ticket that my dad's friend gave me for Milton Keynes 1982!I've dropped you a mail also!Thanks Lee

onenorthernsoul · Post by **onenorthernsoul** » Thu 22 Mar, 2012 1:24 pm

I went too, £9 for a ticket, which I still have. Queen were superb, I went off them a bit with It's a Kinda Magic etc. Saw them twice, unbeatable in some respects I thought. Freddie was the best singer ever imho Was it Heart, Teardrop Explodes and then Joan Jett & the Blackhearts as support? Mates of mine got in for free as the staff opened the gates on Lowfields Road side, JUST AS Queen came on, I was appalled LOL.

Bruno · Post by **Bruno** » Thu 22 Mar, 2012 2:26 pm

onenorthernsoul wrote: Mates of mine got in for free as the staff opened the gates on Lowfields Road side, JUST AS Queen came on, I was appalled LOL. Hah! That's nothing.I paid more than I earned in a week for two tickets to the Rolling Stones gig in Roundhay Park in July 1982 (it was the first pop concert to be staged at Roundhay Park, they sold 80,000 tickets), then on the day the Hell's Angels battered the fence down in multiple places and an estimated 40,000 gatecrashers swarmed in for free.I saw Springsteen in the Park 3 years later, but I didn't make the mistake of paying for that one...

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 22 Mar, 2012 2:33 pm

I saw some of most of the Roundhay Park gigs (including Springsteen's) from outside. For the Madonna one though they opened a gate still with plenty of time to go and I got quite close to the stage to well see a fair bit of Madonna's act.

onenorthernsoul · Post by **onenorthernsoul** » Thu 22 Mar, 2012 4:58 pm

Bruno wrote: onenorthernsoul wrote: Mates of mine got in for free as the staff opened the gates on Lowfields Road side, JUST AS Queen came on, I was appalled LOL. Hah! That's nothing.I paid more than I earned in a week for two tickets to the Rolling Stones gig in Roundhay Park in July 1982 (it was the first pop concert to be staged at Roundhay Park, they sold 80,000 tickets), then on the day the Hell's Angels battered the fence down in multiple places and an estimated 40,000 gatecrashers swarmed in for free.I saw Springsteen in the Park 3 years later, but I didn't make the mistake of paying for that one... 5 of us sneaked under the fence for the Stones gig, I apologise for this terrible deed Nicked in for Springsteen too but I did pay for Madonna and Michael Jackson gigs

buffaloskinner · Post by **buffaloskinner** » Thu 22 Mar, 2012 11:08 pm

Kerrang concert review attached