# Live Killers

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Live_Killers.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Killers
> Source revision: 1341176084
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use British English|date=February 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Live Killers
| type       = Live album
| artist     = [Queen](/source/Queen_(band))
| cover      = Queen Live Killers.png
| alt        =
| released   = 22 June 1979
| recorded   = 26 January – 1 March 1979<br>May 1979 (overdubs)
| venue      = [Europe](/source/Europe)
| studio     = [The Manor Mobile](/source/The_Manor_Mobile)

| genre      = {{hlist|[Hard rock](/source/Hard_rock)<ref name="allmusic"/>|[arena rock](/source/arena_rock)<ref name="allmusic"/>}}
| length     = 90:08
| label      = [EMI](/source/EMI_Records) / [Parlophone](/source/Parlophone) (Europe)<br/>[Elektra](/source/Elektra_Records) / [Hollywood](/source/Hollywood_Records) (US)
| producer   = [Queen](/source/Queen_(band))
| prev_title =[Jazz](/source/Jazz_(Queen_album))
| prev_year  = 1978
| next_title = [The Game](/source/The_Game_(Queen_album))
| next_year  = 1980
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Live Killers
 | type        = live
 | single1     = [Love of My Life](/source/Love_of_My_Life_(Queen_song))
 | 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](/source/AllMusic)
| rev1Score =  {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r15976/review}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[Record Mirror](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Rolling_Stone) |date=1979-09-06 |access-date=2012-06-10}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[The Rolling Stone Album Guide](/source/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](/source/Smash_Hits)''
| rev6Score = 3½/10<ref>{{cite journal|last=Starr|first=Red|title=Albums|journal=[Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits)|issue=12–25 July 1979|page=25}}</ref>
}}

'''''Live Killers''''' is a double [live album](/source/live_album) by the British [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [Queen](/source/Queen_(band)), 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](/source/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](/source/Mountain_Studios) in Montreux, Switzerland.<ref name="Killers"/> Guitarist [Brian May](/source/Brian_May) and drummer [Roger Taylor](/source/Roger_Taylor_(Queen_drummer)) later revealed on the US radio show ''[In the Studio with Redbeard](/source/In_the_Studio_with_Redbeard)'' (which spotlighted the making of 1980's ''[The Game](/source/The_Game_(Queen_album))'') 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](/source/Rolling_Stone)|title=Album Reviews Live Killers |date=6 September 1979|author=David Fricke}}</ref> in the UK by [EMI](/source/EMI_Records) 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](/source/Parlophone), and in the US by [Elektra](/source/Elektra_Records) and [Hollywood Records](/source/Hollywood_Records).

In the territories outside of the [United States](/source/United_States), [Europe](/source/Europe) and [Canada](/source/Canada), [Elektra Records](/source/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](/source/EMI_Records) did not improve upon the quality of the previous release. It was later remastered and restored in better quality by [Peter Mew](/source/Peter_Mew) in 2001.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}

==Reception==
The album reached number 3 on the [UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart) and number 16 on the [''Billboard'' 200](/source/Billboard_200) in the United States, and is certified [double platinum](/source/RIAA_certification) 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](/source/British_Hit_Singles_%26_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](/source/AllMusic) found the initial reaction inexplicable, calling the album "an excellent document of Queen at the height of their '70s [arena rock](/source/arena_rock) powers".<ref name="allmusic" />

==Track listing==
{{track listing
|headline = Side one / CD Disc 1
|title1= [We Will Rock You](/source/We_Will_Rock_You) (Fast) 
|note1= Lyon 17 February, Unknown
|writer1 = [Brian May](/source/Brian_May)
|length1= 3:29
|title2= [Let Me Entertain You](/source/Let_Me_Entertain_You_(Queen_song))
|note2=  Unknown
|writer2 = [Freddie Mercury](/source/Freddie_Mercury)
|length2= 3:04
|title3= [Death on Two Legs](/source/Death_on_Two_Legs)
|note3= Barcelona 20 February, Overdubs
|writer3 = Mercury
|length3= 3:32
|title4= [Killer Queen](/source/Killer_Queen)
|note4= Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs
|writer4 = Mercury
|length4= 1:59
|title5= [Bicycle Race](/source/Bicycle_Race)
|writer5 = Mercury
|note5= Frankfurt 2 February 
|length5= 1:29
|title6= [I'm in Love with My Car](/source/I'm_in_Love_with_My_Car)
|writer6 = [Roger Taylor](/source/Roger_Taylor_(Queen_drummer))
|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](/source/You're_My_Best_Friend_(Queen_song))
|note8= Lyon 17 February
|writer8 = [John Deacon](/source/John_Deacon)
|length8= 2:07
}}
{{track listing
|headline = Side two
|title9= [Now I'm Here](/source/Now_I'm_Here)
|note9 = Frankfurt 2 February, Lyon 17 February, Overdubs
|writer9 = May
|length9= 8:44
|title10= [Dreamer's Ball](/source/Dreamer's_Ball)
|note10= Lyon 17 February 
|writer10 = May
|length10= 3:42
|title11= [Love of My Life](/source/Love_of_My_Life_(Queen_song))
|note11= Frankfurt 2 February, Paris 27 February, Overdubs
|writer11 = Mercury
|length11= 4:59
|title12= ['39](/source/'39)
|note12= Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs
|writer12 = May
|length12= 3:26
|title13= [Keep Yourself Alive](/source/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](/source/Don't_Stop_Me_Now)
| note1 =  Paris 27 February, Overdubs
| writer1 = Mercury
| length1 = 4:28
| title2 = [Spread Your Wings](/source/Spread_Your_Wings)
| note2 = Zagreb 6 February
| writer2 = Deacon
| length2 = 5:14
| title3 = [Brighton Rock](/source/Brighton_Rock_(song))
| note3 = Frankfurt 2 February, Paris 28 February, Paris 1 March, Overdubs
| writer3 = May
| length3 = 12:13
}}
{{track listing
|headline = Side four
| title4 = [Bohemian Rhapsody](/source/Bohemian_Rhapsody) (with "[Mustapha](/source/Mustapha_(song))" intro)
| note4 = Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs
| writer4 = Mercury
| length4 = 5:51
| title5 = [Tie Your Mother Down](/source/Tie_Your_Mother_Down)
| note5 = Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs
| writer5 = May
| length5 = 3:43
| title6 = [Sheer Heart Attack](/source/Sheer_Heart_Attack_(song))
| note6 = Lyon 17 February
| writer6 = Taylor
| length6 = 3:36
| title7 = [We Will Rock You](/source/We_Will_Rock_You)
| note7 = Frankfurt 2 February
| writer7 = May
| length7 = 2:48
| title8 = [We Are the Champions](/source/We_Are_the_Champions)
| note8 = Paris 27 February, Overdubs
| writer8 = Mercury
| length8 = 3:27
| title9 = [God Save the Queen](/source/God_Save_The_Queen)
| note9 = Rotterdam 30 January
| writer9 = Trad.; arr. May
| length9 = 1:33
| all_writing = 
| title10 = 
| length10 = 
| title11 = 
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| length20 = 
| total_length = 42:53
}}

==Omitted tracks==
*"[Somebody to Love](/source/Somebody_to_Love_(Queen_song))"
*"[Fat Bottomed Girls](/source/Fat_Bottomed_Girls)" (Version from Pavillon de Paris, 27 February 1979, was released on ''[Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack](/source/Bohemian_Rhapsody%3A_The_Original_Soundtrack)'')
*"[If You Can't Beat Them](/source/If_You_Can't_Beat_Them)"
*"[It's Late](/source/It's_Late_(Queen_song))"

==Singles==
*"[Love of My Life](/source/Love_of_My_Life_(Queen_song)) (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](/source/Freddie_Mercury) –  lead vocals, piano
*[Brian May](/source/Brian_May) – guitars, backing vocals
*[Roger Taylor](/source/Roger_Taylor_(Queen_drummer)) – drums, tambourine, [timpani](/source/timpani), backing vocals, lead vocals on "I'm in Love with My Car", co-lead vocals on "Sheer Heart Attack"
*[John Deacon](/source/John_Deacon) – bass guitar, backing vocals, [triangle](/source/Triangle_(musical_instrument))

===Production===
*Mastered by [George Marino](/source/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](/source/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''](/source/Suomen_virallinen_lista))<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](/source/GfK_Entertainment_charts))<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](/source/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

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Live Killers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Killers) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Killers?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.