Queen performed in Budapest 37 years ago on this day

On 27 July 1986, Queen performed in socialist Hungary. The world-famous band’s first concert in the Eastern Bloc was attended by 70,000 people. To his fans’ delight, Freddy Mercury sang the Hungarian folk song “Tavaszi szél” (Spring Wind) in Hungarian.

Queen concert in Budepest

Queen’s concert was the first to be given behind the Iron Curtain by a world-leading rock band. Tickets, then costing 200 forints, sold out in two days.

The British rock band Queen, made up of Freddie Mercury (vocals), Brian May (guitar), John Deacon (bass) and Roger Taylor (drums), was attended by 70,000 people. Their concerts are still referred to as one of the most significant milestones in Hungarian pop culture.

The Budapest concert was the result of years of serious planning. The band’s management negotiated with Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, duol.hu reports. For the concert, all the available equipment of the country was brought to Budapest.

Interesting facts before and during the concert

The members of the band arrived in Budapest on the Danube by hydrofoil. They visited Margaret Island and Szentendre, and even the Hungaroring, which had just opened. During the whole tour, the band only spent less than 2-3 days in each country, while in Hungary they stayed for an entire week.

The highlight of the evening was Freddie Mercury’s rendition of the famous Hungarian folk song “Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt” (Spring wind brings water), and the audience went wild, even though Mercury was reading the lyrics from a rifle in the palm of his hand.

Mercury’s pronunciation was excellent, he seemed to have practised the words a lot. The concert helped to bring down the walls of communism in Eastern Europe.

Check out the breathtaking videos of the concert!