1976

In January, Queen fly to New York for rehearsals ahead of their third American tour - and their second as a headlining act.  The thirty-three-date 'A Night At The Opera' tour begins in Connecticut and concludes six weeks later with four shows in Los Angeles and one in San Diego, on March 12th.

The same tour arrives in Japan on March 22nd as the band begin their second tour there, and then continues with their first proper tour of Australia; an eleven day visit with eight concerts at five different venues to play. The band has performed there only once before (at the Sunbury Music Festival in Melbourne two years earlier), but that unhappy experience leaves them apprehensive about this return trip. They needn't of worried as all eight concerts are sold out, and the album and single reached number 1 in the charts.

After recording sessions begin for a new Queen album in the summer of 1976, the band also start rehearsals for a handful of concerts in the UK. In September they play two shows in Scotland, one open air show in Wales and a massive free concert in London's Hyde Park. Due to the drought of 1976 and the poor condition of the park as a result of it, the show comes perilously close to being cancelled. It does get the go-ahead, however, and between 150,000 and 200,000 people are estimated to be in attendance at one of Queen’s single best concerts. This show, one of the many milestones in Queen's touring life, was filmed in it's entirety, but has yet to be released officially

Night At The Opera North American Tour
Tue 27th Jan – USA, Waterbury, Palace Theatre 
Thu 29th Jan – USA, Boston, Music Hall 
Fri 30th Jan – USA, Boston, Music Hall 
Sat 31st Jan – USA, Philadelphia, Tower Theatre 
Sun 1st Feb – USA, Philadelphia, Tower Theatre 
Mon 2nd Feb – USA, Philadelphia, Tower Theatre 
Thu 5th Feb – USA, New York, Beacon Theatre 
Fri 6th Feb – USA, New York, Beacon Theatre 
Sat 7th Feb – USA, New York, Beacon Theatre 
Sun 8th Feb – USA, New York, Beacon Theatre 
Wed 11th Feb – USA, Detroit, Masonic Temple 
Thu 12th Feb – USA, Detroit, Masonic Temple 
Fri 13th Feb – USA, Cincinnati, Riverfront Coliseum 
Sat 14th Feb – USA, Cleveland, Public Hall 
Sun 15th Feb – USA, Toledo, Sports Arena 
Wed 18th Feb – USA, Saginaw, Civic Centre 
Thu 19th Feb – USA, Columbus, Veterans Memorial Auditorium 
Fri 20th Feb – USA, Pittsburg, Syrian Mosque 
Sun 22nd Feb – USA, Chicago, Auditorium Theatre 
Mon 23rd Feb – USA, Chicago, Auditorium Theatre
Tue 24th Feb - USA, Chicago, Auditorium Theater
Thu 26th Feb – USA, St Louis, Kiel Auditorium 
Fri 27th Feb – USA, Indianapolis, Convention Centre 
Sat 28th Feb – USA, Madison, Dane County Coliseum 
Sun 29th Feb – USA, Fort Wayne, Coliseum 
Mon 1st Mar – USA, Milwaukee, Auditorium 
Wed 3rd Mar – USA, Minnesota, St Paul, Auditorium 
Sun 7th Mar – USA, Berkeley, Berkeley Community 
Tue 9th Mar – USA, Los Angeles, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (afternoon show) 
Tue 9th Mar – USA, Los Angeles, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (evening show) 
Wed 10th Mar – USA, Los Angeles, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium 
Thu 11th Mar – USA, Los Angeles, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium   
Fri 12th Mar – USA, San Diego, Sports Arena

Night At The Opera Japan Tour 
Mon 22nd Mar – Japan, Tokyo, Budokan 
Tue 23rd Mar – Japan, Nagoya, Aichi -ken Taiikukan
Wed 24th Mar – Japan, Himeji City, Kosei Kaikan 
Fri 26th Mar – Japan, Fukuoka, Kyuden Taiikukan (afternoon show) 
Fri 26th Mar – Japan, Fukuoka, Kyuden Taiikukan (evening show) 
Mon 29th Mar – Japan, Osaka, Kosei Nenkin Kaikan (afternoon show) 
Mon 29th Mar – Japan, Osaka, Kosei Nenkin Kaikan (evening show) 
Wed 31st Mar – Japan, Tokyo, Budokan 
Thu 1st Apr – Japan, Tokyo, Budokan 
Fri 2nd Apr – Japan, Sendai, Miyagi-Ken Sports Centre 
Sun 4th Apr – Japan, Tokyo, Nichidai Kodo

Night At The Opera Australia Tour 
Sun 11th Apr – Australia, Perth, Entertainment Centre 
Wed 14th Apr – Australia, Adelaide, Apollo Stadium 
Thu 15th Apr – Australia, Adelaide, Apollo Stadium 
Sat 17th Apr – Australia, Sydney, Hordern Pavillion 
Sun 18th Apr – Australia, Sydney, Hordern Pavillion 
Mon 19th Apr – Australia, Melbourne, Festival Hall 
Tue 20th Apr – Australia, Melbourne, Festival Hall 
Thu 22nd Apr – Australia, Brisbane, Festival Hall 

Summer 1976 Tour 

Wed 1st Sept – UK, Edinburgh, Playhouse Theatre 
Thu 2nd Sept – UK, Edinburgh, Playhouse Theatre 
Fri 10th Sept – UK, Cardiff, Castle 
Sat 18th Sept – UK, London, Hyde Park

Text taken from the forthcoming revised and updated edition of Queen Live: A Concert Documentary, by Greg Brooks & Gary Taylor

For further information on Queen live shows visit: www.queenconcerts.com