However, the band agreed that the song should be performed as Mercury intended, and it was recorded as such. Author Michael Chabon remarked that "A Night at the Opera is where I progressed from 45s to albums. It was gatefold, with the lyrics printed on the inside, and you could just sit there poring over them and trying to figure who Freddie might be talking about on songs like 'Death on Two Legs'." Live recordings "Death on Two Legs" was regularly performed live by Queen up to and including The Game Tour. Only one live version of the song has been officially released, on the 1979 album Live Killers. The piano introduction, however, was played during the Hot Space and The Works tours. During live performances Mercury would usually dedicate the song to "a real motherfucker of a gentleman." This line ("This is about a dirty, nasty old man, we call him motherfucker, you know what motherfucker means?") was shortened and censored (using bleeps) on Live Killers. The song is featured in Rock Band Blitz, subsequently released as downloadable content in the Rock Band store, performed by Queen themselves. Personnel Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, piano Brian May – electric guitar, backing vocals Roger Taylor – drums, backing vocals John Deacon – bass guitar, double bass See also 1975 in music Queen discography "Five Per Cent For Nothing", 1971 Yes instrumental whose title disparages the band's former manager "Barracuda", 1977 Heart song which similarly disparages the band's record label References 1975 songs Queen (band) songs Songs written by Freddie Mercury EMI Records singles Parlophone singles Elektra Records singles Hollywood Records singles Diss tracks