From Rumors of a Feud to Freddie’s Rage… Stories Unveiled Behind the Legendary Performance of “Queen Rock Montreal”

A concert movie capturing Queen’s most dazzling peak, 〈Queen Rock Montreal〉, is set to open in theaters on April 15, and has been drawing attention by revealing the tense feud rumors during filming, along with behind-the-scenes production details.

“Freddie, wear the same clothes.” Did the director’s order spark an outburst from Freddie Mercury?

According to the newly released behind-the-scenes account, during the 1981 performances, a considerable amount of tension was said to have simmered between director Saul Swimmer—who handled the concert direction at the time—and the members of Queen. When the crew, lacking experience filming live performances, set up cameras throughout the stage and interfered with the band’s movements, complaints from the members were reportedly constant.

In particular, when the director’s instructions came down to “wear the exact same clothes and do the exact same moves” throughout the two-day run for the sake of editing convenience, it’s said that Freddie Mercury—the perfectionist—blew up in anger. Even with it all hanging on a final push, including the manager Jim Beach, access to the backstage area was still denied. However, it’s also reported that Beach had been “restricting backstage access,” adding to the pressure. The sharp tension is now being credited with being transformed into explosive energy onstage.

Fully restored in 4K remastering, overcoming picture quality loss and sync errors

In fact, this live concert performance was first released in 1982 in a video (VHS) format titled 〈We Will Rock You〉. However, due to the technical limitations at the time, the image quality dropped sharply, and the audio and video synchronization didn’t match, leaving the members greatly dissatisfied with the result.

The 〈Queen Rock Montreal〉 released this time was reborn through 4K remastering after months of meticulous restoration work. Using IMAX and Dolby Atmos formats, it recreates even the faintest breath of Queen’s early-80s heyday, previewing the ultimate sound that will erase the disappointments of the past completely.

Brian May’s confession: “A precious record you can feel through Freddie’s perspective”

Guitarist Brian May shared special thoughts about this film. He recalled, “Back then, it was a bit bewildering that the camera focused only on Freddie as a band.” But he added, “Still, I think it was really a good thing. It’s truly moving to be able to experience the concert again through Freddie’s perspective—someone who is no longer with us in this world.” He emphasized the film’s value as both a tribute and a record.

From “Bohemian Rhapsody” to “We Will Rock You,” the showcase of Queen’s greatest hits, 〈Queen Rock Montreal〉, opens nationwide in theaters on April 15.