Factual error: In a scene in 1980, Brian May is teaching everyone the beat for his new song "We Will Rock You." However that song was released in 1977.
Factual error: We see Fat Bottomed Girls being performed in 1975 in the USA. The song wasn't played live for the first time until 1978.
Factual error: During the Live Aid gig Roger Taylor uses a Tama Iron Cobra pedal on his bass drum which was not produced until the '90s.
Factual error: We see a concert in Rio being dated as 1977, Queen didn't play in Rio until 1985.
Factual error: Just before Live Aid, Roger says Queen "haven't played together in years." In fact Queen wrapped up their Works world tour just two months before Live Aid took place.
Factual error: In one of the scenes at Freddie's house captioned London 1980, the song Superfreak by Rick James is playing in the background. This song wasn't released until 1981.
Factual error: During the Live Aid concert, more specifically during "Hammer to Fall" the camera cuts to a shot of the crowd. One fan is seen wearing a Milwaukee Brewers hat, however the logo on the hat was not introduced until 2000.
Factual error: During the first concerts as "Smile" Roger Taylor uses a Sonor HiLite drum set, which was not produced until the '90s.
Factual error: They are shown in one scene singing as a group into the side of an RE-20 microphone. This microphone does not pick up sound from the side. It is an end address microphone.
Continuity mistake: When Freddie lies in bed with Mary, she has her head on a sketchbook with the Queen logo drawn on it. The sketchbook keeps changing positions between shots.
Factual error: When showing the gold disks in the office of EMI, the camera pans over a copy of News Of The World. In this shot it is clear to see a Virgin Records logo on it, showing it's a reissue, not an original.
Factual error: In the film, Freddie meets Brian and Roger after a gig. In actuality, the three were friends while in college, after which they shared a flat and Freddie and Roger worked together selling used clothing. Freddie was in another band but was a fan of Smile and his friend was the lead singer Tim. Freddie replaced Tim but John was never in Smile. He joined after the name changed to Queen. Also, when Freddie berates John about his electrical engineer education, that wasn't true. In fact, John Deacon invented the "Deacy" amp which Queen, to this day, still uses.
Factual error: In the scene with the host Kenny and Freddie at Capitol Radio. Kenny puts the record on a Technics 1200 Mk2. On November 21, 1975, "A Night at the Opera" was released. The single "Bohemian Rhapsody" on October 31, 1975, but the Technics 1200 Mk2 was released in summer 1978. (00:48:00 - 00:48:30)
Revealing mistake: Right before the scene where Freddie meets with the band to try and make amends, he's arguing with that one man in the rain. After he walks away and it's raining only on him and on the pavement. If you look to the right there is no rain coming down on the grass or trees or anything else.
Continuity mistake: During the "Another one bites the dust" scene, Freddie is given a sheet, which he holds with his left hand, beer in his right. A shot later the beer is gone and the sheet has swapped hands. Then a shot later the bottle reappears in his right hand. He never gives it or has it given back. (01:12:55)
Suggested correction: Freddie drops the lyrics sheet after shoving it in Roger's face - he holding his beer in his right hand. Freddie gives the beer to Roger and when the camera moves to a close up of John's hand's playing the bass, Freddie crosses in front of John and picks up a new sheet from the table where Brian is sitting. The bottle never reappears in Freddie's hand.
Continuity mistake: When Brian tells Freddie about "We will rock you", they both clap. Right before Freddie asks "What's the lyrics?" he raises his hands to clap but from the opposite angle they are down and he isn't clapping any more.
Continuity mistake: While Roger is arguing with Brian and John about the "I am love of my car" song, Roger starts to fight on the table and there are several items that disappear between shots.
Continuity mistake: When Miami calls Freddy to talk about Live Aid and Paul answers, he is at Freddie's house. Then, at the studio, they are back at the house again.
Continuity mistake: At Live aid while Radio Ga Ga is starting there is a guy in shorts and a red shirt behind Freddie who disappears and reappears between shots.
Factual error: The drumkit Roger is using with Smile is a Sonor Hilite which was manufactured in the late 80s.
