Legendary Queen guitarist Brian May has announced an ambitious new project that promises to revive one of the band’s most iconic performances: a fully remastered and restored version of the 1986 concert filmed in Budapest, titled «Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest».
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Express, the 78-year-old musician described the restoration as “stupendous” and claimed it is “probably the best live document that exists of Queen,” comparable only to the historic Live Aid performance.
The original concert was recorded on 27 July 1986 at the Népstadion in Budapest during the Magic Tour, at the height of the Cold War. It was one of Freddie Mercury’s last live performances with the classic Queen line-up and one of the few times a Western rock band performed behind the Iron Curtain.
Shot on 35mm film by some of Hungary’s finest filmmakers of the era, the movie captures not only the overwhelming energy of the show — featuring anthems such as «Bohemian Rhapsody», «We Will Rock You» and «Radio Ga Ga» — but also backstage moments and the band’s interaction with the local audience.
May revealed that Peter Jackson’s team is working on the visual and audio restoration. “With today’s technology we can capture every incredible detail from the original film,” explained the guitarist. “We’ll see the band as human beings, not just on stage. It’s going to be something really stupendous.” According to the musician, the cinematic quality even surpasses the recent remastering of «Queen Rock Montreal», which was released two years ago in IMAX.
Although the release date has not yet been confirmed, the project is expected to reach cinemas in an immersive format. For the millions of Queen fans around the world, this restoration not only rescues an almost forgotten audiovisual treasure, but also pays an emotional tribute to Freddie Mercury in one of his most moving and historic performances. Brian May, the faithful guardian of the band’s legacy, once again proves that the magic of Queen remains alive, brilliant, and more relevant than ever.
