At 6pm on April 20th, 1992, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon, the surviving members of Queen, took to the stage of London’s legendary Wembley Stadium to announce the start of one of the biggest events in rock history, organised by Queen themselves to pay tribute to their former colleague - the incomparable Freddie Mercury. The atmosphere of emotion, mixed joy and sadness, shared by stadium audience, worldwide television viewers, and performers alike, was an experience that will never be forgotten.
Queen had invited some of the greatest musical talent in the world to join them in paying tribute to Freddie, who tragically died of AIDS on 24th November 1991. The aim of the concert was to celebrate Freddie's life and work, but also to increase public awareness of the awful disease which prematurely ended his life. A bonus result was a huge and still growing sum of money raised by the event and its spin-offs which has provided funds to help fight AIDS worldwide ever since. All the guest artists offered their participation for free. The concert was broadcast live on television and radio to 76 countries, from the USA to Russia, and all proceeds, then and now, go to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a charity formed at the time whose charter is the relief of suffering from AIDS throughout the world.
The 72,000 people who were fortunate enough to see the concert live did so in glorious Spring weather in front of a stage 370 ft wide and 90 ft deep. The stage was flanked by scaffolding towers over 80 ft tall, and crowned at the centre of the proscenium arch by a giant Phoenix - a symbol from Queen's crest designed by Freddie in 1969, and now the emblem of the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
The second half of the event, featuring Brian, Roger and John joined by a glittering array of guest vocalists and players, is captured here on specially remastered Digital Video with surround sound. In addition the DVD contains many extras including unseen rehearsal and backstage footage. It is a lasting tribute to be shared by all. Profits from this DVD will be donated by the Mercury Phoenix Trust to AIDS charities; thank you for buying it.