The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (10th Anniversary Edition) [DVD] [1992]

I was at this concert, and it is a very special memory for me. So I have the TV coverage recorded on the day, and the VHS release. The VHS release was edited (some artists were completely cut out) and slightly doctored to cover mistakes and technical problems on the day, and as such does not necessarily serve as an honest document of the concert. So I hoped that the DVD would perhaps restore some footage that was inexplicably missing from the VHS version.
Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that the entire first half of the concert is missing. There were some blistering performances here from all concerned, and I was looking forward to seeing them on this format. To be fair, perhaps this is due to licensing issues. Nonetheless, it would seem I must still refer to my ropey old mono TV recording if I want to see this again.
It's great to hear the sound remastered (even if a little doctoring remains... I distinctly remember "Stone Cold Crazy" going very wrong in the middle and yet its performance here is suspiciously flawless), and wonderful to see some very special moments again - for me, Queen and David Bowie's rendition of Bowie's "Heroes" was spine-tingling, as was George Michael's performance of "Somebody To Love".
Unfortunately, the aspect ratio effectively removes the top and bottom of the original picture, which is very annoying. What is the point in this? The "Live at Wembley" DVD preserves the original aspect ratio and therefore the full original image, so why crop it here?
This could have been a superb DVD - a marvellous opportunity to utilise the format to any number of useful ends. Unfortunately it is an opportunity wasted - nothing more than edited highlights inexplicably cropped. The special features are fairly interesting, and what there is of the concert is of course superb. Sadly, as a document of a sad yet wonderful, memorable and bittersweet day, this doesn't really stand up. Stick to the VHS or, if you have it, the original TV coverage.

I have owned the VHS version of the concert for many years, and it was slightly worn because I've seen it so many times. I always thought I could get rid of the VHS tape when the DVD is released, and I thought with the DVD version I could finally be sure to keep the concert in a high quality format for a long time.

With the 2-disc DVD I thought they could not only give me what they already have in the VHS, but much more. Hell no! They give me a stripped-down version, and arranging the songs in an order I couldn't understand! They also left out the Exterme take of Queen medley - my favorite part of the concert!

My advice: Get the VHS version if you're interested. This DVD is just not worth it.

First of all, this is a great recording of a great show. There are a few instances of overdubbing (when Brian fluffs a solo, etc.) but it's not so obvious as to mar the enjoyment of the concert. However, the DVD doesn't improve on the sound/picture quality of the VHS as one might expect. It's pretty much exactly the same in that respect. BUT...

There is only the 'Queen +' part of the show.

On the double VHS edition, the entire first tape shows frankly great support sets from Metallica and Extreme. Metallica open with a lot of their material from the 'Black album' era, and are so good that they actually recruited my mate as a fan based on this one performance. They may not be everyone's cup of tea though.
And for all of you there's also Extreme, who provide an EXCELLENT medley of all of your favourite Queen hits. It's simply fantastic. This reason alone should be every Queen fan's incentive to buy the VHS version.

So, yeah...

I advise anyone who hasn't already got the double video pack to buy that instead. And while you're at it, use the left over cash to get yourself a video capture card so you can transfer it to (S)VCD/DVD-R so your tapes don't wear out.

Anyone who HAS got the VHS and is wondering whether to upgrade to DVD, I'd say no. Unless your tapes are particularly worn thin, there's no quality upgrades and there's the entire first tape's worth of material missing.