Playback Live will present a restored 4K version of Queen’s 1986 Budapest concert at London’s Roundhouse on Oct. 3. Two screenings are scheduled. The band’s final filmed performance with Freddie Mercury will appear on a giant LED screen with surround sound and synchronized lighting.
The film captures the band’s performance at Budapest’s Népstadion on July 27, 1986, during The Magic Tour. Queen became the first Western rock band to perform behind the Iron Curtain at this show. It sold 80,000 tickets. An estimated 45,000 people listened outside the stadium.
The group played only five more concerts after Budapest, ending their touring at Knebworth Park in England on Aug. 9, 1986.
Sir Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post Production facility in New Zealand restored the original 35mm footage in 4K. The band’s studio team remixed the audio from the original multitrack recordings.
“Peter Jackson’s team have done a magnificent job of restoring the original film footage, at the highest resolution ever; it’s pristine and the quality is breathtaking,” said Brian May in a press release. “For the sound, we’ve been able to do some top quality restoration work as well. Now, in IMAX and movie theatres, it’s going to be definitively the most real experience ever of us, Queen, in our glory days.”
The Roundhouse event will feature original band memorabilia from the group’s archive on display during a pre-film DJ set. Photo opportunities, a merchandise pop-up, and bars will be available throughout both screenings.
Tickets start at £35, excluding venue fees. Prices vary by standing or seated location. VIP packages include drinks tickets and merchandise like a tote bag, laminate, lanyard, poster, commemorative ticket, and a Freddie Mercury-style sweatband.
Legacy Recordings will release a multi-format package on October 30, including Blu-ray, DVD, CD, and digital editions alongside a 3LP vinyl set. Fans can pre-order it from Queen’s official website.