Queen livestreams full 2008 Ukraine gig to raise funds for relief efforts

Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen have revealed a new fundraising initiative for the the crisis in Ukraine: a special YouTube screening of their 2008 Kharkiv gig with Paul Rodgers.

The video premiered on March 19th, and encourages viewers to donate to UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency. As of today, March 22nd, the two-hour long set has already garnered over 600,000 views.

The show was from their Rock the Cosmos Tour, and was a free awareness concert in support of Ukraine's Elena Pinchuk AntiAids Foundation. Spreading the message of 'Don't Let AIDS Ruin Your Life,' the show was attended by over 350,000 people, a huge effort to destigmatise the disease that took bandmate Freddy Mercury's life in 1991.

"In support of relief efforts in Ukraine’s challenges against a new affliction, Queen is returning to that historic concert with a YouTube special screening aimed at drawing donations for international relief efforts," the caption reads.

In the earlier days of the conflict, May shared a photo of the gig on his Instagram, writing: "So many great memories of great times in Ukraine. This picture is of our unforgettable show night in Freedom Square, Kharkiv in 2008."

"It seems unbelievable that the peaceful life of Ukraine could be so senselessly shattered in the 21st century. And it feels unbearable that the world could just watch and let it happen. We are all praying for peace for you, dear friends."

May and Taylor promoted the fundraiser on each of their Instagram accounts, captioning the posts with the history of the concert, and their hopes to enact change.

"The band recall that event as 'an unforgettable experience… one of those rare things in life you know you will never forget. A meeting in music, but also a coming together to fight a common enemy…'" it reads.

"Today, with millions of Ukrainian refugees in need of urgent humanitarian relief from a different affliction, Queen is returning to its historic moment with a YouTube special screening aimed at drawing donations for UNHCR’s relief efforts."

Queen is joining the roster of musicians to play fundraising shows, after Ed Sheeran and Camilla Cabello announced their involvement in ITV's Concert for Ukraine to help the Disaster's Emergency Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.