Queen's final concert of the Magic European tour in Knebworth 1986 would make history

Over 120,000 fans at the Queen concert in Knebworth Park, Stevenage, England, on August 9, 1986, witnessed a significant moment for the band without knowing it. This concert, the final of the tour, would also mark the last performance of Freddie Mercury.

The Magic Tour featured 26 European dates promoting the band's 12th studio album, "A Kind of Magic," of which the final was held in Knebworth Park. While many die-hard fans of the band were in attendance at this performance, so were many new fans acquired after Queen's outstanding performance one year earlier at Live Aid. Supporting acts for the tour included The Alarm, Belouis Some, Marillion, INXS, and Status Quo.

This would be the final performance for the original lineup of Queen, made up of Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass). The band would continue to record music until 1991 when Mercury retired to his Kensington home.

One significant highlight of The Magic Tour was two sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium on July 11 and 12. The second night would be filmed and released as Queen at Wembley. This performance was first released in December 1990 as a VHS but was missing nine songs. A DVD of the whole performance was released in 2003.

This tour would unknowingly be the last for Queen and proved to be very special. New songs
"One Vision" and "Who Wants To Live Forever" would be introduced, as well as the addition of some old favorites and an acoustic rock n roll medley. They would also perform the six songs from their Live Aid performance.

Mercury would enlist the talents of Diana Moseley to design stage clothes for the band, including the crown and gown he wore at the show's end.

King Of Queen / Dave Hogan/GettyImages

The crown, gown, and many other pieces of Freddie Mercury memorabilia will be sold at an auction at Sotheby's in September 2023.

The legacy of Queen and Freddie Mercury lives on. The biopic Bohemian Rhapsody introduced a new generation to the music of Queen, and both in their 70s, May and Taylor continue to tour to the delight of fans.

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