Bad Company 'Til the Day I Die...
The Film
I remember hearing "Bad Company" for the first time when I was about 11 and thinking that the track was equally as cool as my anthem; the Who's "Behind Blue Eyes". Both songs struck a nerve (which at 11 should have alarmed my parents and teachers) and I would listen to them over and over through a beat-up pair of Sennheiser HD-420 headphones. The band was formed in 1973 led by frontman Paul Rodgers and while they have not always been together, and original bassist Boz Burrell passed away in 2006, Bad Co. has toured the globe in various incarnations for the better part of 38 years. Rodgers left the band to play with Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page (we're not worthy, we're not worthy) and also collaborated with Queen following the death of Freddie Mercury. Queen+Paul Rodgers was an interesting experiment, but Rodgers belonged with his former mates.
Bad Company: Live at Wembley was performed in 2010 and Eagle Rock has done a superlative job with this concert video on Blu-ray Disc. The band members (who are almost as old as my parents) race around the stage with a surprising amount of vigor and Rodgers still sings like he did as a young man; I'm not sure that he has ever sounded better. The 110-minute concert starts off with an energetic performance of "Can't Get Enough" and it just gets better with each track. Looking back at their rather interesting career, it's no wonder that these guys have played with every significant musician around. Rodgers was recently awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for his contribution to British music and he's in rather prestigious company (no pun intended): Sir Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and Elton John.
It's an impressive outing and it might even surprise fans with its intensity; I've seen far younger bands put on shows that were less than inspired compared to this one. One of the best concert videos around.
The Picture
The Sound
I should have known the concert was going to be loud based on the volume levels in the opening menu, but the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is reference quality from every perspective. The LPCM 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes are very good as well; excellent separation, resolute bass, and fantastic vocal clarity. The one major difference is that they don't sound as warm in the midrange as the DTS-HD Master Audio track.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is not just warm, but punchy, and your subwoofer will be cursing Paul Rodgers all night long. I actually turned the levels of my subwoofers down because the bass started to overload the room. Vocals are crystal clear and it's hard to believe that Paul Rodgers is almost sixty-two years old because he sounds as good as he ever did back in the 1970s. Just older. The surround mix is superb; enveloping and you really feel like you are on the stage with the band. One of the most balanced sounding concert videos in recent memory and certainly worthy of playback on the most expensive home theater systems.
The Extras
Eagle Rock did not pack a lot of bonus content onto this Blu-ray release which is a genuine pity as the band has a great story. The interviews with the band are interesting, but of greater interest to die-hard fans only. Movin' On.
Final Thoughts
Eagle Rock genuinely frightened me this spring with their really awkward David Byrne release, but Bad Company: Live at Wembley gives them reason to brag. One of the best concert videos around and likely to appeal to a much larger audience than just their dedicated fans. Crank it up and let this rock and roll fantasy into your home theater. Very highly recommended.
Product Details
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