AMG Review of On Fire: Live at the Bowl

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

The bowl in question in the title of Queen's 2004 release Queen on Fire: Live at the Bowl is the MK Bowl in Milton Keynes, England, a venue that Queen performed at on June 5, 1982. That concert is documented on this 25-track double-disc set, one of many double-live albums that Queen have released throughout and after their career. This is one of the better live albums they've released, even if it's somewhat hampered by a few too many unremarkable album tracks from their most recent releases, and also has a couple embarrassing bits of stage patter from Freddie Mercury, but the band sounds big, raucous, and alive throughout, gaining steam as they drive into the second half of the show.