During Queen's previous visit to Japan, they had announced a tentative date for ticket sales in Fukuoka, but ultimately they only played in Tokyo. But this time in '82 it seemed like they were really going to show up. That said, the name of the event organizer was one I'd never heard of before, so I wondered if it was going to be legit. It was with these worries that I began looking forward to the Fukuoka 1982 gig. At the time, I was a member of an unofficial fanclub that called itself "Darjeeling" and I took it upon myself to make calls here and there to see if this event organizer was really a proper one. Half of me believed it and half of me didn't. I remember lining up to buy tickets preparing to be possibly hoodwinked.
The performance was on October 19th, 1982. At that time time, Kyuden Kinen Gymnasium wasn't used as a venue for live performances much anymore. The hall went dark, and Flash's Theme began to play. On either side of the stage there were operators with earpieces manning spotlights that looked like the heads of dragons. Thin white streaks of light beamed from them onto the stage. The sound got louder, the light beams grew thicker and brighter, and spotlights chased around the hall and stage, stirring up the crowd.
The sound and light suddenly disappeared, and at that moment the intro to Rock It began. And then there he was—Freddie onstage! Smoke swirled up his body, and he appeared bathed in a blue light. He looked like a scene from a painting. Since it was the first night, his voice was in good condition. During the "I still love you~" part of Love of My Life, he enthusiastically instructed the audience to raise their hands and sing louder. John, on the other hand, seemed more reserved than usual, which was a bit concerning. But overall the four of them sounded good.
I was really touched when Freddie said, "It's been three years since we last saw you, Fukuoka!" But the audience response wasn't that great, and I saw Freddie's brow crease when he realized this. Apart from that and the fact that the keyboardist that joined this time sat at Freddie's piano, it was an absolutely ecstatic two days. Incidentally, I heard that the light system used for this tour was developed in America or something, and it seems they provided Queen with the system relatively cheaply to use as a promotional tool for their company; but it turns out that no one else ended up ordering it because they were intimidated and didn't think they could utilize it as well as Queen did.
Also, something that kind of bothered me was that Freddie always wore a short-sleeved shirt during his off-days in Fukuoka. It must've been pretty cold for that in late October.
Queen in Japan, November 3rd, 1982
by Mutsuko
The Seibu Stadium show of the Queen Japan '82 tour was actually the first concert I ever went to. When I try to think back on it, it feels like it happened in another lifetime... (such a bold statement!). When I read the reports that others have pulled together of their recollections from this show, it seems that they had a pretty good time and it was a good show; but since it was my first concert ever, I didn't really have anything to compare it to, and so I don't really remember whether it was a good or bad show—rather, what I remember vividly is how excited I was, the excitement in the air.
Not to mention, this was way back in the day when people would camp out overnight in front of ticket booths to get the best tickets, but I was just a green schoolgirl who didn't know anything about that world; I would just look for the release date in the paper and dash out after school let out to get my ticket.
Like everyone else who scored floor tickets, I was feeling pretty satisfied. That was, until the concert actually began... the four of them came out to Flash Gordon, and we all thought, "Wowwww here we go!! It's really happening!!!" But the feeling was fleeting as I realized that even though I theoretically knew who was who, I wasn't able to see the details of their faces! Once I utilized my opera glasses I remember I was able to reconfirm my impressions. I remember that John's hair was a strange orange color, and very fluffy...
Thinking back on it, I could only really hear the bass drum well, as the treble end of everything flew right out of the stadium... and the vocal and drums were out of sync! It's a stadium so I guess it couldn't be helped, but still... One song that had a lot of expectations riding upon it for me was Under Pressure because I loved it so much, but as it ended up I was a bit disappointed, as the top end of Roger's vocals got lost. Ohhh yes and I remember something else: they played a lot of boring songs from Hot Space, and there were a lot of fans who didn't like that album... that's right, I remember seeing groups of people slowly retaking their seats whenever they played a Hot Space song.
The lighters the audience waved during te wo toriatte were so pretty. The end of the concert was drawing near at this point (I think...) and the atmosphere was pretty good, as could be expected for an outdoor show, and it made people bring their lighters out. I don't remember who started it but it was very moving. The encore closed the show with (I believe) We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions, with everyone rising from their chairs to stomp for "WE WILL~" and an avalanche of voices for the chorus of Champions, with people throwing both hands up in excitement! And then lastly, as the lights came back on with God Save the Queen, you could see shattered and broken wooden chairs left behind here and there (we called these "Queen Seats", ahahah...). This was that type of concert, the excitement was so overwhelming.
Queen in Japan, November 3rd, 1982
by Taeko
On that day in the arena, we had the worst vantage point (on the ground). Was that really Queen up on the stage moving around, the band we all yearned for?? But alas in reality, heaven is for the heavenly and we were mere bugs who were only able to wriggle away pitifully on the ground. In this way my brain was emptied and I guess that's why I don't remember as much as I wish I did. Hahaha.
But I can write what bits I do remember. The date was 11/3/82, and an aviation show by the Sayama Air Base's Japanese Defense Force was held that morning—so all the locals were already riled up from that. Once the concert actually began, seeing the band in real life (albeit from far away) for the first time, my excitement suddenly exploded. I was so excited I barely remembered to record anything on the tape recorder I had brought (which was against the rules, anyway). I ended up throwing it away immediately but I kind of wish I hadn't, since it would be a lot easier to do this writeup now... and although I bet it would be painful to go back to that age in my life, it's probably ultimately a good thing to do.
But even so I can't really remember much of what happened onstage!! To be honest with you, the thing that sticks out the most in my mind is how bored I was during Brian May's guitar solo! We were a captive rock audience and stayed attentive, but as soon as he took a pause we all got excited and yelled "YAAAA!" with the expectation that it was over. But he only took that as a sign of encouragement and kept going on with his meandering solo! Thank you, but that'll do.
It know it's pathetic that May's solo is all that I can remember from the '82 Seibu Stadium show... sorry about that!
