Rare Rehearsal Footage of David Bowie and Annie Lennox Performing 'Under Pressure' with Queen Surfaces

Open Culture has released rare rehearsal footage showing David Bowie, Annie Lennox, and Queen members John Deacon, Roger Taylor, and Brian May practicing 'Under Pressure' for the Freddie Mercury tribute concert. The video captures an informal moment with Bowie smoking a cigarette and grinning as Lennox sings Mercury's parts. The tribute concert took place in 1992 at London's Wembley Stadium before an audience of 72,000. Bowie performed four songs, with 'Under Pressure' being the most poignant, as he had co-written it with Mercury in 1981. The song later became a massive hit, partly due to Vanilla Ice's appropriation. The article also references Judy Berman's tribute essay 'We Always Knew Who David Bowie Really Was,' which discusses how Bowie made himself accessible through his work. The rehearsal footage offers a rare glimpse of an unguarded Bowie, contrasting with the polished show-day performance. The post includes links to an isolated vocal track of 'Under Pressure' and a feature on the song's creation. Originally published in 2016, the article was updated in 2026.