Hear Queen Transform “We Will Rock You” From An Anthem Into A Rough, Rowdy Power Metal Jam

Queen On Air | 1977

One of the things I love the most about Queen is the fact that just when you think you’ve heard everything there is to hear, they find a brand new and exciting way to present you with the songs you’ve spent a lifetime loving, laughing, and dancing to, and this newest release is no exception. This week saw the British rock legends unleash a brand new version of 1977’s “We Will Rock You” that sees the iconic arena anthem go from zero to sixty in a few mere seconds, transforming into a deliciously rough and rowdy power metal jam that would inspire the most taciturn of concertgoers to forego their usual raised fists and native flags in exchange for a sweaty few minutes spent in a mosh pit.

Recorded during a 1977 session for legendary DJ John Peel and hardly a surprise to Queen fans who remember the fast version of “We Will Rock You” as an integral part of Queen’s live shows, the performance on Queen on Air marks the only time the band played this rendition in the studio, making it not just a rip roaring good time but an awesome glimpse into a piece of Queen’s history that not everyone was fortunate enough to experience the first time around. It’s fast paced, gritty, and I don’t know what I love more; Brian May’s insane soloing, Roger Taylor’s drum solo at the end, John Deacon’s punk tinged bassline holding it all together or Freddie Mercury’s limitless energy, but none of that matters; when they come together, it makes for one hell of an experience for rock and roll diehards everywhere, and it’s one you’ve got to hear for yourselves!