| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Record Mirror | |
| MusicHound Rock | |
| Rolling Stone | (unfavorable) |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Smash Hits | 3½/10 |
Live Killers is a double live album by the British rock band Queen, released on 22 June 1979. The album was recorded live during the European leg of Queen's Jazz Tour, between 26 January and 1 March 1979.
Recording
The album was self-produced by the band and was their first to be mixed at their own studios, Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland. Guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor later revealed on the US radio show In the Studio with Redbeard (which spotlighted the making of 1980's The Game) that the band had mixed Live Killers themselves and were unhappy with the final mix.
Release
Live Killers was released as a double vinyl album in the UK by EMI on 22 June 1979, in Europe by Parlophone, and in the US by Elektra and Hollywood Records.
In the territories outside of the United States, Europe and Canada, Elektra Records re-released a shorter and edited version of the album in 1985 titled Queen Live.
The 1994 issue released as part of the Digital Master Series by EMI Records did not improve upon the quality of the previous release. It was later remastered and restored in better quality by Peter Mew in 2001.
Reception
The album reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and number 16 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, and is certified double platinum in the US.
The album received negative reviews from critics on release. In a retrospective appraisal, Greg Prato of AllMusic found the initial reaction inexplicable, calling the album "an excellent document of Queen at the height of their '70s arena rock powers".
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Will Rock You (Fast)" (Lyon 17 February, Unknown) | Brian May | 3:29 |
| 2. | "Let Me Entertain You" (Unknown) | Freddie Mercury | 3:04 |
| 3. | "Death on Two Legs" (Barcelona 20 February, Overdubs) | Mercury | 3:32 |
| 4. | "Killer Queen" (Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs) | Mercury | 1:59 |
| 5. | "Bicycle Race" (Frankfurt 2 February) | Mercury | 1:29 |
| 6. | "I'm in Love with My Car" (Zurich 4 February) | Roger Taylor | 2:01 |
| 7. | "Get Down, Make Love" (Frankfurt 2 February, Lyon 17 February, Barcelona 20 February, Paris 28 February, Paris 1 March, Unknown) | Mercury | 4:31 |
| 8. | "You're My Best Friend" (Lyon 17 February) | John Deacon | 2:07 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | "Now I'm Here" (Frankfurt 2 February, Lyon 17 February, Overdubs) | May | 8:44 |
| 10. | "Dreamer's Ball" (Lyon 17 February) | May | 3:42 |
| 11. | "Love of My Life" (Frankfurt 2 February, Paris 27 February, Overdubs) | Mercury | 4:59 |
| 12. | "'39" (Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs) | May | 3:26 |
| 13. | "Keep Yourself Alive" (Unknown) | May | 4:03 |
| Total length: | 48:06 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Don't Stop Me Now" (Paris 27 February, Overdubs) | Mercury | 4:28 |
| 2. | "Spread Your Wings" (Unknown) | Deacon | 5:14 |
| 3. | "Brighton Rock" (Frankfurt 2 February, Paris 28 February, Paris 1 March, Overdubs) | May | 12:13 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Bohemian Rhapsody (with "Mustapha" intro)" (Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs) | Mercury | 5:51 |
| 5. | "Tie Your Mother Down" (Frankfurt 2 February, Overdubs) | May | 3:43 |
| 6. | "Sheer Heart Attack" (Lyon 17 February) | Taylor | 3:36 |
| 7. | "We Will Rock You" (Frankfurt 2 February) | May | 2:48 |
| 8. | "We Are the Champions" (Paris 27 February, Overdubs) | Mercury | 3:27 |
| 9. | "God Save the Queen" (Rotterdam 30 January) | Trad.; arr. May | 1:33 |
| Total length: | 42:53 | ||
Omitted tracks
- "Somebody to Love"
- "Fat Bottomed Girls" (Version from Pavillon de Paris, 27 February 1979, was released on Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack)
- "If You Can't Beat Them"
- "It's Late"
Singles
- "Love of My Life (Live at Festhalle Frankfurt, 2 Feb '79 – edited version)"/"Now I'm Here (Live at Festhalle Frankfurt, 2 Feb '79)"
- "We Will Rock You (Fast Version) (Live)"/"Let Me Entertain You (Live)" – Elektra E46532; released August 1979
Personnel
Queen
- Freddie Mercury – lead vocals, piano
- Brian May – guitars, backing vocals
- Roger Taylor – drums, tambourine, timpani, backing vocals, lead vocals on "I'm in Love with My Car"
- John Deacon – bass guitar, backing vocals, triangle
Production
- Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC
Charts
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Argentina (CAPIF) | 10 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 25 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 3 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 4 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen Virallinen) | 28 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 9 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 21 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 10 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 15 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts) | 3 |
| US Billboard 200 | 16 |
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 34 |
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italian Albums (FIMI) | 99 |
| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 18 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 25,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 250,000^ |
| Japan (RIAJ) | Gold | 100,000^ |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Gold | 50,000^ |
| South Africa (RISA) | Gold | 25,000* |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 25,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||