Queen News Round-Up: Wembley Goes Deluxe, U.S. Date Set for Last Wave of Reissues

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe0gIFxYhrk]

The worldwide celebration of what would have been the 65th birthday of iconic Queen frontman Freddie Mercury has captured the public imagination something fierce – check out Google’s astounding video tribute above – and The Second Disc couldn’t help but add to the celebration with some news and updates on the band’s ongoing catalogue endeavors.

First of all, deep-pocketed fans will want to be on the lookout for a super-deluxe edition of the forthcoming 25th anniversary reissue of the band’s Live at Wembley Stadium CD/DVD set. The massive package, available for pre-order next month with a plotted November release, includes all the content from the standard release (both Wembley performances on DVD and two CDs of the iconic Saturday show) plus a host of extra collectible content, including replica tour passes and programs, a “Friends Will Be Friends” scarf, a button-down tour shirt and, perhaps, funniest of all, a 12″ inflatable Freddie Mercury doll, stylized in a similar fashion to the LP sleeve of A Kind of Magic. All of it comes in a crate-style case.

Those looking for a Queen gift for the holidays with a little more music are in luck, too: Amazon is taking American pre-orders for their exclusive box set edition of the final five expanded studio albums. While those albums came out in the U.K. today, these are slated for release November 1, so it won’t be too much of a wait for them if you don’t wish to import.

Here’s hoping this news has you hangin’ on the edge of your seat!

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Mike Duquette

Mike Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he was a teenager. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small. His passion for reissues turned into a career, having written at and worked for all three major catalogue music labels and contributing to Allmusic, Billboard, Discogs, City Pages and Ultimate Classic Rock. He's penned liner notes for Verve, Chess, Mondo and Soul Music Records.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with his wife, a cat named Ravioli, twin daughters and a large yet tasteful collection of music.

0 thoughts on “Queen News Round-Up: Wembley Goes Deluxe, U.S. Date Set for Last Wave of Reissues”

Phil Cohen
September 6, 2011 at 6:05 pm

Do you know when or if the “Live at Wembley” 2-DVD + 2-CD set will be released in the U.S.A. . The label that has the UK rights has produced a U.S.A.-compatable export edition, but it is pricey. If a U.S.A.-manufactured edition is following reasonably soon, let us know.

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Anth
September 7, 2011 at 12:20 am

I love Queen and readily admit as much, but dear God, who would be caught dead wearing that hideous shirt? Haha.

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RoyalScam
September 7, 2011 at 9:58 am

Pre-ordered Amazon Box #3 on Freddie’s birthday!

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