While on the Wembley Stadium stop of Taylor Swift’s current Eras Tour stretch—for which Paramore has been opening since May—lead vocalist Hayley Williams paid tribute to Freddie Mercury’s iconic Live Aid performance. Mercury and Queen notably performed at Wembley Stadium for the benefit concert in 1985.
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That performance lives on in the heart and minds of the many who were there, as well as those who discovered it after the fact through the concert video. William’s paid homage to Mercury first in her outfit, which included a white crop top, light-wash jeans, and a studded belt. While she wore black boots instead of Mercury’s iconic Adidas, the tribute was clear.
She when a step further and mimicked Mercury’s vocal warm-ups from the show. “I’ve got one minute to try something and I need you to help me,” Williams told the crowd. She went back and forth with the crowd, singing “Ayo” and then gesturing for fans to respond. At the end, she held a long, suspended note, her fist held in the air. Then, in a monumental display, the crowd responded with the same held note, roaring through the stadium.
Hayley Williams of Paramore Honors Freddie Mercury at Site of Iconic 1985 Live Aid Performance
Hayley Williams was visibly thrilled by the response, seemingly in awe of the level of audience participation. Additionally, her bandmates were excited as well. In the video, which Paramore posted on Instagram, the camera pans to the back of the stage where the band was taking a break after setting up. Following Williams’ astonishing display of crowd control, the band erupted into cheers, applause, and a thumbs up from drummer Zac Farro.
Paramore has been opening for Taylor Swift on this European leg of the Eras Tour since May 9 in Paris. They continued to open for her through the entirety of this stretch, which ended with the Wembley Stadium show in London on August 20.
At the time of announcing 14 additional dates on this stretch, which she shared with fans last July, Swift also shared that she and Williams have been friends for a long time. “Really can’t contain my excitement because… we’re adding 14 new shows to The Eras Tour,” she wrote on social media at the time. “And I get to travel the world doing shows with [Paramore]!! Hayley and I have been friends since we were teens in Nashville and now we get to frolic around the UK/Europe next summer??? I’m screaming???”
Featured Image by MIGUEL A LOPES/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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