HOT SPACE NORTH AMERICAN Tour '82(or, as it was promoted, the QUEEN Hot Space ROCK 'N AMERICA TOUR)
A total of 29 shows performed (many more were originally planned) from July through September. Whether it was entirely the new album, Paul Prenter’s not so friendly dealings with promoters, the press, etc., this tour was fraught with diminished sales, causing many planned multi night shows to be lowered in number (NYC and LA from four to two, Detroit and New Jersey from two to one). And rather than sellouts, arena capacities often ranged from 60-90%. The European shows ran anywhere from 95 to 105 minutes. By the end of this tour, the shows were down to 85 minutes, with the band seemingly rushing through them, and the encore was singular, down to a segment of three songs.
The set list would change throughout, with various songs from the new album added and removed as the tour went on. The big change was the beginning. After the ‘Flash’ tape, rather than the superb entrance and beginning of ‘The Hero’ (as seen from the Milton Keynes concert), Freddie would stand front and center under the white spotlights singing the intro of ‘Rock It’. The band would appear when the song began to ‘rock it’. It was visually stunning, but it just didn’t make sense to me then (or now).
Along with ‘The Hero’, ‘Love Of My Life’ and ‘Sheer Heart Attack’ are also dropped (so much for Brian's speech). The first live performances of ‘Calling All Girls’. ‘Body Language’ is played along with ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ during the first encore a couple of times.
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Montreal Forum, Montreal, July 21st, Attendance: 18,000 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ySsq8hBBRM&t=4108s Quality/ A-/B+ Flash (tape) / Rock It / We Will Rock You (fast) / Action This Day / Play The Game / Staying Power / Now I'm Here / Dragon Attack / Now I'm Here (reprise) / Save Me / Calling All Girls / Back Chat / Get Down Make Love / guitar solo / Under Pressure / Fat Bottomed Girls / Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Bohemian Rhapsody / Tie Your Mother Down Encore 1: Body Language / Another One Bites The Dust Encore 2: We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions / God Save The Queen
EDIT: Jan 23 2023 upgrade Quality: A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJkWvEeRCWM&t=1152s This is a new transfer of the Montreal 82 recording, kindly put out by The Real Wizard. (
www.queenlive.ca ) Here are his original notes: "This is a merge of both audience sources to best complete the show. Dare I say this is now the definitive document from the North American leg of the Hot Space tour !? Thanks to onedunpark, Brian's Wig, manymilesaway, and riku for their part in getting these tapes out there."
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Boston, July 23rd
On this day, Kevin White, Mayor of Boston, had chosen to formally make July 23rd "Queen Day" for the city of Boston. This announcement can be heard at the beginning of this recording, read to by DJ Mark Parenteau from WBCN Radio. With this intro in mind, the band don't play Flash on tape to start the show, but instead, immediately begin with Brian's opening chords to ‘Rock It’. The band put in an enthusiastic albeit sloppy performance tonight. 'Back Chat' is dropped until October.
(I'm sure you've seen this view a few times, Tim)
Boston Garden, Boston, July 23rd, Attendance/ 15,900 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgHEqgnRzjA Quality/ A- (I’d give it an A)Queen Day" declaration / Rock It / We Will Rock You (fast) / Action This Day / Play The Game / Staying Power / Now I'm Here / Dragon Attack / Now I'm Here (reprise) / Save Me / Calling All Girls / Get Down Make Love / guitar solo [cut] / Under Pressure / Fat Bottomed Girls / Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Bohemian Rhapsody / Tie Your Mother Down
Encore 1: Body Language / Another One Bites The Dust Encore 2: We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions / God Save The Queen
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The Spectrum Philadelphia, July 24th, Attendance: 18,200 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLd_SgerimM&t=3277s Quality: A- only available about three years ago
Back Chat is dropped, and no 'Somebody To Love'. The shows are now down to just one encore segment of 'Another One Bites The Dust', 'We Will Rock You', 'We Are The Champions', and 'God Save The Queen', as ‘Body Language’ is dropped. Per a reviewer, Freddie's 'cokey voice' is returning.
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On to Landover, Maryland, (just down the road from me now), and the long ago levelled Capital Centre
Madison Square Garden New York City, July 27th, Attendance: 20,000 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1a_p35tGUw Quality: B The first of two sold out shows at THE Garden (four were originally scheduled) 'Body Language' and 'Staying Power' are in, as is the 'disappointing' intro of 'Somebody To Love' before 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
A somewhat off night for both Freddie (voice again) and Brian.
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Madison Square Garden, second night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrRI_LIoKQQ Quality: A- 'Somebody To Love' replaces 'Staying Power'' Good but ‘rushed’ performance.
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Maple Leaf Gardens Toronto, August 2nd, Attendance: 12,000 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW1hqhY_2dY Quality: C+ 75% capacity, and Freddie’s voice is showing even more wear and tear.
A second show was added in Toronto, though Maple Leaf Gardens was only at 75% capacity
And then, finally.....
A second night was planned, but not enough sales. When first announced, a couple of us were definitely going to both shows.
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, August 6th, Attendance: 18,000 https://youtube.com/watch?v=GKgYise0iZ0&t=31s Quality: C+Flash (tape) / Rock It / We Will Rock You (fast) / Action This Day / Play The Game / Somebody To Love / Now I'm Here / Dragon Attack / Now I'm Here (reprise) / Save Me / Calling All Girls / Get Down Make Love / guitar solo / Body Language / Under Pressure / Fat Bottomed Girls / Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Bohemian Rhapsody / Tie Your Mother Down cut <sigh>.
Encore 1: Another One Bites The Dust We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, God Save The Queen
Includes 'Somebody To Love', 'Body Language', and 'Calling All Girls'
We rented a van, I drove, and eight of us left about five hours before the show for the two hour trip. Upper deck seats, about ten rows up, John’s side, center ice. Billy Squier was absolutely fantastic!. During intermission, I saw more than a few on the lower floor leave to be replaced by empty seats. That was a first!
I've already mentioned my disappointment regarding the intro. The built up excitement to the tape, the lights, the band appearing..to a 'timid' intro. Also listen to the end of the guitar solo, and then the reaction at the beginning of ‘Body Language’. It felt like some of the air had been sucked out of the building, and once again I watched many make their way to the exits, a few returned after a beer or bathroom break.
In spite of the somewhat poor quality of the recording, I knew that ahead of time when I was finally able to purchase it about fifteen years later. Of course, 'Tie Your Mother Down' would have the ending cut.
On the rare occasion that I listen to parts of this, it always hits me hard at the end when Freddie says,
"Good night, Detroit, see you soon!" It was, sadly, the last time I saw him perform.
I do still have these memories at hand. Yeah, mine’s faded after forty years, but it fit twenty years ago for my favorite picture ever, and still fits today….
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One third of the way through this leg of the tour. I’m stopping here, as we’re heading out for a couple of days to Annapolis. This evening’s entertainment:
Jordan Rudess.... EDIT: Took a bit, but the WIP is complete
Topic: QUEEN Discography- MONTREAL '81 in theaters near you (Read 70560 times)
