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Today in Music History: Freddie Mercury Performs His Last Concert With Queen

August 09, 2013

Queen
Queen: Brian May, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon and Roger Meddows
Publicity photo

History Highlight:

Today in 1986, Queen played their last live concert with Freddie Mercury at the Knebworth Park Festival in England. An audience of 120,000 heard them close out with "We Will Rock You"/"We Are The Champions" and "God Save The Queen." Mercury died in 1991 of complications related to AIDS. Freddie Mercury is considered one of the greatest performers in the history of rock, for years coming in near (or at) the top of polls of the greatest rock singers of all time.

Also, Today In:

1964 - Bob Dylan and Joan Baez shared the stage for the first time, singing "With God On Our Side" at the Newport Folk Festival.

1964 - The crowd of over 3,000 at Rolling Stones gig in Manchester, England, proved too hard to control, accidentally breaking the ribs of one policeman and causing another two to faint in the crush.

1978 - The great Muddy Waters played at a White House picnic at the request of President Carter

1996 - The Ramones officially broke up.