120,000+ Classic Rock Album Covers Database (1948-2026): Queen - Live Killers (Live) (1979)

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Queen - Live Killers (Live) (1979) | Analysis, Fun Facts & Trivia

Queen - Live Killers (Live) (1979)

**Queen – Live Killers (Live, 1979)**

Live Killers is the first live album by the British rock band Queen, released on 22 June 1979. It captures the band during their European Tour of 1979 in support of the Jazz album, showcasing Queen’s high‑energy performances and live showmanship at the peak of their 1970s touring years.

🎤 Album Credits & Info

Artist: Queen
Album: Live Killers (Live)
Released: 22 June 1979 (UK), 26 June 1979 (US)
Recorded: 26 January – 1 March 1979 during the European Tour (various venues)
Producer: Queen (self‑produced)
Engineers: John Etchells, assisted by David Richards
Studios/Mix: The Manor Mobile & Mountain Studios (Montreux)
Label: EMI (UK), Elektra (US)
Genre: Hard rock / Arena rock
Length: ~90 min (2‑LP)

Band Personnel:

Freddie Mercury – Lead vocals, piano
Brian May – Guitar, backing vocals
John Deacon – Bass, backing vocals
Roger Taylor – Drums, backing vocals

📀 Tracklist (2‑LP / Double CD)

Disc One / Sides A–B:

We Will Rock You (Fast)
Let Me Entertain You
Death On Two Legs
Killer Queen
Bicycle Race
I’m In Love With My Car
Get Down, Make Love
You’re My Best Friend
Now I’m Here
Dreamer’s Ball
Love Of My Life
’39
Keep Yourself Alive

Disc Two / Sides C–D:

Don’t Stop Me Now
Spread Your Wings
Brighton Rock
Bohemian Rhapsody
Tie Your Mother Down
Sheer Heart Attack
We Will Rock You (Original)
We Are The Champions
God Save The Queen

This setlist pulls together hits and live favorites from Queen’s early catalogue as performed across multiple concerts, though the album doesn’t specify exact show sources for each track.

📊 Commercial Performance & Reception

UK Albums Chart: Peaked at #3 and stayed on the chart for many weeks.
US Billboard 200: Reached #16.
Certifications: Double Platinum in the US; Gold in UK.
Legacy: While the mix and sound quality received mixed opinions — even from the band themselves — Live Killers remains a classic snapshot of Queen’s 70s live power and a key live document from their pre‑1980 era.

🎨 Cover Art

The gatefold album cover features a dramatic live photo of Queen on stage, taken by Koh Hasebe during their 1979 Japanese tour dates. The image captures the band in silhouette against stage lighting, giving a powerful visual representation of their live presence and energy.

🎶 Standout Live Performances

“Now I’m Here” – Long, fiery live version with extended guitar work.
“Brighton Rock” – Extended 12‑minute jam showcasing Brian May’s virtuosic solo.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” – Crowd favorite live rendition of the masterpiece.
“We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions” – Twin anthems close the show with crowd‑participation energy.

🤩 Fun Facts

📀 First official live album: Live Killers was Queen’s first live release and their first double album.
🎤 Mixed live sources: The album stitches together performances from many different European shows, and the exact origins of some tracks aren’t officially documented.
🎸 Fast version opener: The album opens with a fast rock version of “We Will Rock You,” different from the slow anthem version listeners often know.
🎶 Omitted tour songs: Some crowd‑favorite live numbers from the tour like “Somebody to Love,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and “It’s Late” were performed often live but don’t appear on the album.

🧠 Trivia

🎙️ Despite its legendary status, band members later expressed dissatisfaction with the mix quality and how the album was assembled.
📀 Variants of this live set were released in some regions under alternate titles like Queen Live (shortened version LP) in Australia and Japan in 1985.
🎸 The album captures Queen right before they entered the 1980s with The Game, representing a peak moment in their 1970s touring power.