{{Use British English|date=February 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox album | name = Live Killers | type = Live album | artist = Queen | cover = Queen Live Killers.png | alt = | released = 22 June 1979 | recorded = 26 January – 1 March 1979<br>May 1979 (overdubs) | venue = Europe | studio = The Manor Mobile
| genre = {{hlist|Hard rock<ref name="allmusic"/>|arena rock<ref name="allmusic"/>}} | length = 90:08 | label = EMI / Parlophone (Europe)<br/>Elektra / Hollywood (US) | producer = Queen | prev_title =Jazz | prev_year = 1978 | next_title = The Game | next_year = 1980 | misc = {{Singles | name = Live Killers | type = live | single1 = Love of My Life | single1date = 29 June 1979 | single2 = We Will Rock You (Fast) | single2date = 24 August 1979 (US) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenvault.com/wewillrockyoulivesingle.html|title=Queen singles|website=Queen Vault }}</ref> }} }}
{{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r15976/review}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Record Mirror'' | rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.queencuttings.com/dblog/articolo.asp?articolo=66 |title=1979.06.xx – Record Mirror – UK – Killer Queen – QueenCuttings.com – Welcome on board! |publisher=QueenCuttings.com |access-date=2012-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001222049/http://www.queencuttings.com/dblog/articolo.asp?articolo=66 |archive-date=1 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | rev3 = ''MusicHound Rock'' | rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Graff|editor1-first=Gary|editor2-last=Durchholz|editor2-first=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|section=Queen|isbn=1-57859-061-2|pages=909–910}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev4Score = (unfavorable)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/live-killers-19790906|title=Live Killers |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=1979-09-06 |access-date=2012-06-10}}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' | rev5Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/queen/albumguide |title=Queen: Album Guide |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=2012-06-10}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Smash Hits'' | rev6Score = 3½/10<ref>{{cite journal|last=Starr|first=Red|title=Albums|journal=Smash Hits|issue=12–25 July 1979|page=25}}</ref> }}
'''''Live Killers''''' is a double live album by the British rock band Queen, released on 22 June 1979.<ref name="Killers">[http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/songs/killers.htm Live Killers] Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 11 July 2011</ref> The album was recorded live during the European leg of Queen's Jazz Tour, between 26 January and 1 March 1979.
==Recording== The album was self-produced by the band and was their first to be mixed at their own studios, Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland.<ref name="Killers"/> Guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor later revealed on the US radio show ''In the Studio with Redbeard'' (which spotlighted the making of 1980's ''The Game'') that the band had mixed ''Live Killers'' themselves and were unhappy with the final mix.
==Release== ''Live Killers'' was released as a double vinyl album<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/live-killers-191639/|magazine=Rolling Stone|title=Album Reviews Live Killers |date=6 September 1979|author=David Fricke}}</ref> in the UK by EMI on 22 June 1979,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/queen-became-live-killers/|work=udiscovermusic.com|title=When Queen Became Live Killers|author=Paul Sexton|date=14 July 2019}}</ref> in Europe by Parlophone, and in the US by Elektra and Hollywood Records.
In the territories outside of the United States, Europe and Canada, Elektra Records re-released a shorter and edited version of the album in 1985 titled ''Queen Live''.<ref>[http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/live-killers/] {{dead link|date=June 2025}}</ref>
The 1994 issue released as part of the Digital Master Series by EMI Records did not improve upon the quality of the previous release. It was later remastered and restored in better quality by Peter Mew in 2001.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}
==Reception== The album reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and number 16 on the ''Billboard'' 200 in the United States, and is certified double platinum in the US.<ref>[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=queen&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50 RIAA – Gold and Platinum] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904041257/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=queen&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50 |date=4 September 2015 }} Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved 11 July 2011</ref><ref>Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited</ref>
The album received negative reviews from critics on release.<ref name="allmusic" /> In a retrospective appraisal, Greg Prato of AllMusic found the initial reaction inexplicable, calling the album "an excellent document of Queen at the height of their '70s arena rock powers".<ref name="allmusic" />
==Track listing== {{track listing |headline = Side one / CD Disc 1 |title1= We Will Rock You (Fast) |note1= Lyon 17 February, Unknown |writer1 = Brian May |length1= 3:29 |title2= Let Me Entertain You |note2= Unknown |writer2 = Freddie Mercury |length2= 3:04 |title3= Death on Two Legs |note3= Barcelona 20 February, Overdubs |writer3 = Mercury |length3= 3:32 |title4= Killer Queen |note4= Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs |writer4 = Mercury |length4= 1:59 |title5= Bicycle Race |writer5 = Mercury |note5= Frankfurt 2 February |length5= 1:29 |title6= I'm in Love with My Car |writer6 = Roger Taylor |note6= Zurich 4 February |length6= 2:01 |title7= Get Down, Make Love |note7= Frankfurt 2 February, Lyon 17 February, Barcelona 20 February, Paris 28 February, Paris 1 March, Unknown |writer7 = Mercury |length7= 4:31 |title8= You're My Best Friend |note8= Lyon 17 February |writer8 = John Deacon |length8= 2:07 }} {{track listing |headline = Side two |title9= Now I'm Here |note9 = Frankfurt 2 February, Lyon 17 February, Overdubs |writer9 = May |length9= 8:44 |title10= Dreamer's Ball |note10= Lyon 17 February |writer10 = May |length10= 3:42 |title11= Love of My Life |note11= Frankfurt 2 February, Paris 27 February, Overdubs |writer11 = Mercury |length11= 4:59 |title12= '39 |note12= Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs |writer12 = May |length12= 3:26 |title13= Keep Yourself Alive |note13= Unknown |writer13 = May |length13= 4:03 |all_writing=|title14=|length14=|title15=|length15=|title16=|length16=|title17=|length17=|title18=|length18=|title19=|length19=|title20=|length20=|total_length=48:06}} {{track listing | headline = Side three / CD Disc 2 | title1 = Don't Stop Me Now | note1 = Paris 27 February, Overdubs | writer1 = Mercury | length1 = 4:28 | title2 = Spread Your Wings | note2 = Zagreb 6 February | writer2 = Deacon | length2 = 5:14 | title3 = Brighton Rock | note3 = Frankfurt 2 February, Paris 28 February, Paris 1 March, Overdubs | writer3 = May | length3 = 12:13 }} {{track listing |headline = Side four | title4 = Bohemian Rhapsody (with "Mustapha" intro) | note4 = Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs | writer4 = Mercury | length4 = 5:51 | title5 = Tie Your Mother Down | note5 = Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs | writer5 = May | length5 = 3:43 | title6 = Sheer Heart Attack | note6 = Lyon 17 February | writer6 = Taylor | length6 = 3:36 | title7 = We Will Rock You | note7 = Frankfurt 2 February | writer7 = May | length7 = 2:48 | title8 = We Are the Champions | note8 = Paris 27 February, Overdubs | writer8 = Mercury | length8 = 3:27 | title9 = God Save the Queen | note9 = Rotterdam 30 January | writer9 = Trad.; arr. May | length9 = 1:33 | all_writing = | title10 = | length10 = | title11 = | length11 = | title12 = | length12 = | title13 = | length13 = | title14 = | length14 = | title15 = | length15 = | title16 = | length16 = | title17 = | length17 = | title18 = | length18 = | title19 = | length19 = | title20 = | length20 = | total_length = 42:53 }}
==Omitted tracks== *"Somebody to Love" *"Fat Bottomed Girls" (Version from Pavillon de Paris, 27 February 1979, was released on ''Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack'') *"If You Can't Beat Them" *"It's Late"
==Singles== *"Love of My Life (Live at Festhalle Frankfurt, 2 Feb '79 – edited version)"/"Now I'm Here (Live at Festhalle Frankfurt, 2 Feb '79)" *"We Will Rock You (Fast Version) (Live)"/"Let Me Entertain You (Live)" – Elektra E46532; released August 1979
==Personnel== ;Queen *Freddie Mercury – lead vocals, piano *Brian May – guitars, backing vocals *Roger Taylor – drums, tambourine, timpani, backing vocals, lead vocals on "I'm in Love with My Car", co-lead vocals on "Sheer Heart Attack" *John Deacon – bass guitar, backing vocals, triangle
===Production=== *Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1979) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- !scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=243}}</ref> |align="center"|25 |- {{album chart|Austria|3|artist=Queen|album=Live Killers|rowheader=true|access-date=1 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Germany|4|artist=Queen|album=Live Killers|id=1370|rowheader=true|access-date=1 August 2020}} |- !scope="row"|Finnish Albums (''Suomen Virallinen'')<ref>{{cite book|first=Jake|last=Nyman|year=2005|title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja|edition=1st|publisher=Tammi|location=Helsinki|isbn=951-31-2503-3|language=fi}}</ref> |align="center"|28 |- {{album chart|Netherlands|9|artist=Queen|album=Live Killers|rowheader=true|access-date=1 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|21|artist=Queen|album=Live Killers|rowheader=true|access-date=1 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Norway|10|artist=Queen|album=Live Killers|rowheader=true|access-date=1 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|15|artist=Queen|album=Live Killers|rowheader=true|access-date=1 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|UK|3|artist=Queen|album=Live Killers|rowheader=true|access-date=2 August 2020}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|16|artist=Queen|album=Queen Live Killer|rowheader=true|access-date=2 August 2020}} |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1992) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- {{album chart|Switzerland|34|artist=Queen|album=Live Killers|rowheader=true|access-date=1 August 2020}} |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2006) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- {{album chart|Italy|99|artist=Queen|album=Live Killers|rowheader=true|access-date=1 August 2020}} |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2026) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- ! scope="row"| German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/metal/for-date-1770367070000|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts Top 20 Rock/Metal-Charts – 6 Februar 2026|publisher=GfK Entertainment charts|access-date=9 February 2026|language=de}}</ref> | 18 |}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Austria|artist=Queen|title=Live Killers|award=Gold|certyear=1993|relyear=1979|access-date=27 November 2019}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1979|region=Canada|artist=Queen|title=Live Killers|certyear=1981|award=Platinum|certref=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/freddie-mercury-a-world-of-his-own-crazy-little-things-2/queen-freddie-mercurys-commemorative-canadian-in|date=18 August 2023|title=Queen - Freddie Mercury's commemorative Canadian in-house sales award - 'Queen Rules Canada', 1992|website=Sothebys.com}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Germany|artist=Queen|title=Live Killers|award=Gold|certyear=1980|relyear=1979|access-date=27 November 2019}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1979|region=Japan|artist=Queen|title=Live Killers|certyear=1980|award=Gold|certref=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/freddie-mercury-a-world-of-his-own-crazy-little-things-2/queen-freddie-mercurys-japanese-in-house|date=18 August 2023|title=Queen – Freddie Mercury's Japanese in-house presentation awards|website=Sothebys.com}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Netherlands|artist=Queen|title=Live Killers|award=Gold|certyear=1980|relyear=1979|access-date=27 November 2019}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1979|region=South Africa|artist=Queen|title=Live Killers|certyear=1982|award=Gold|certref=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/freddie-mercury-a-world-of-his-own-crazy-little-things-2/queen-freddie-mercurys-in-house-south-african|title=Queen – Freddie Mercury's in-house South African sales award for multiple albums|website=Sothebys.com}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Switzerland|artist=Queen|title=Live Killers|award=Gold|certyear=1992|relyear=1979|access-date=27 November 2019}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Queen|title=Live Killers|award=Gold|certyear=1979|relyear=1979|access-date=27 November 2019|id=3926-1614-2}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Queen|title=Live Killers|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2002|relyear=1979|access-date=27 November 2019}} {{Certification Table Bottom}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/live-killers/ Queen official website: Discography: Live Killers]: includes lyrics of "'39". * [http://www.queenlive.ca/livekillers.htm Queenlive.ca: "Live Killers" Analysis] – an analysis of the edits and overdubs on the album
{{Queen}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Queen (band) live albums Category:1979 live albums Category:Elektra Records live albums Category:Hollywood Records live albums Category:Parlophone live albums