On April 13, 1985, during the final leg of Queen’s ‘The Works’ tour, Freddie Mercury took to the stage in Auckland, New Zealand, in a state of intoxication. The band had just finished recording their eleventh album, which had been a commercial success in the UK but had failed to make an impact in America. They were also facing criticism for performing in apartheid South Africa and had been booed in Rio de Janeiro.
Despite these challenges, Queen delivered a solid performance that night, showcasing the diversity of their music. The setlist included hits like ‘Radio Ga Ga,’ ‘I Want to Break Free,’ and ‘We Will Rock You.’ However, Mercury’s behavior overshadowed the performance, leading to speculation about the band’s future.
‘The Works’ was a pivotal album in Queen’s career. It marked a departure from their traditional hard rock sound and incorporated elements of pop and dance music. The album was a commercial success, reaching number two in the UK and number 23 in the US. However, it also divided critics and fans, who were unsure how to react to Queen’s new direction.
The ‘The Works’ tour was equally controversial. The band’s decision to perform in South Africa drew criticism from anti-apartheid activists, and their appearance in drag in the video for ‘I Want to Break Free’ was banned by MTV. Despite these setbacks, the tour was a financial success, grossing over $100 million.
After the ‘The Works’ tour, Queen took a year off. During this time, Mercury released his first solo album, which was a departure from Queen’s sound and featured dance music influences. The rest of the band wondered if they had lost him for good. However, Mercury eventually returned to Queen, and the band reunited for Live Aid in 1985. Their performance at Live Aid was a triumph and helped to re-establish them as one of the biggest bands in the world.
‘The Works’ was a challenging album for Queen, but it ultimately helped to define their sound and cement their legacy as one of the most successful and innovative rock bands of all time.
