The Works Tour facts for kids
The Works Tour was a big concert tour by the famous English rock band Queen. This tour happened after they released their album The Works. During this tour, Queen also played at the huge Rock in Rio music festival in Brazil in 1985, which was a very exciting event for them and their fans!
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Queen on Tour: Around the World!
Queen's "The Works Tour" was a massive journey that took them to many different countries. They started in Europe, then went to Africa, South America, Oceania, and finally Asia. It was a huge adventure for the band and their fans!
Europe: Kicking Off the Tour
The tour began in Europe in August 1984. Queen played many shows across different countries like Belgium, Ireland, England, Germany, Poland, Italy, France, Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, and Austria. They performed in big cities like London, Paris, and Milan, bringing their amazing music to thousands of fans.
Africa: A Controversial Stop
In October 1984, Queen traveled to South Africa to perform in Bophuthatswana. This part of the tour was quite controversial because of the political situation in South Africa at the time. They played several shows there, but some performances had to be stopped or cancelled. For example, during one show, Freddie Mercury lost his voice, and they couldn't finish the concert.
South America: Rock in Rio!
One of the most famous parts of "The Works Tour" was Queen's performance at the Rock in Rio festival in Brazil in January 1985. This was a huge event, and Queen played two incredible shows to massive crowds at the Cidade do Rock. Their performances at Rock in Rio are still remembered as some of their most legendary concerts!
Oceania: Down Under and Beyond
After South America, Queen headed to Oceania in April 1985. They played concerts in New Zealand and Australia. Fans in cities like Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney got to experience Queen's energetic live show.
Asia: Finishing Strong in Japan
The final leg of "The Works Tour" took Queen to Japan in May 1985. They played several shows in cities like Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. Japan had always been a special place for Queen, and they had a very dedicated fanbase there. The tour ended with these exciting performances in Japan.
Tour Challenges: When Shows Change
Sometimes, things don't go as planned on a big tour. During "The Works Tour," a few shows were changed or cancelled. For example, a concert in Dortmund, Germany, was moved to a different date. Also, some shows in Italy and New Zealand were cancelled. These things can happen on long tours due to various reasons, like health issues or scheduling problems.
Meet the Band: Who Played What?
The main members of Queen who performed on "The Works Tour" were:
- John Deacon – He played the bass guitar and also sang some backing vocals.
- Brian May – He was the lead guitarist and also sang backing vocals.
- Freddie Mercury – He was the amazing lead singer and also played the piano. He even played rhythm guitar for the song Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
- Roger Taylor – He played the drums and also sang backing vocals.
They also had an extra musician who helped them out:
- Spike Edney – He played keyboards, piano, sang backing vocals, and even played rhythm guitar for the song Hammer to Fall.
See also
In Spanish: The Works Tour para niños