He added, “It would be nice to create something new. I wouldn’t dismiss the idea. Adam has told us, ‘If you ever want me to sing on something…’ So if the three of us agree to go for it, I’d absolutely be on board.”

The collaboration between May, Taylor, and Adam Lambert dates back to American Idol in May 2009, when they performed “We Are The Champions” together. They reunited in 2011 at the MTV European Music Awards in Belfast, Ireland, delivering a high-energy eight-minute performance of “The Show Must Go On,” “We Will Rock You,” and “We Are The Champions.” By the summer of 2012, Lambert had taken the stage with QUEEN for a series of European shows, including performances in Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. Since then, they have toured extensively, headlining major festivals across the globe.

Despite their success as a live act, Lambert has previously expressed reservations about recording new music with QUEEN. In a 2019 interview with Hunger magazine, he admitted: “People always ask if we want to record together, but I’m not sure it would make total sense. To me, QUEEN is Freddie. What I love most is collaborating, putting these concerts together, and creating on stage—it’s incredibly rewarding. When I bring new ideas to these two legends and they like them, that’s the best part.”

May has previously praised Lambert as the only singer capable of doing justice to QUEEN’s extensive catalog since Freddie Mercury’s passing in 1991 due to AIDS-related complications. “Adam is the first person we’ve worked with who can handle the entire QUEEN catalog without hesitation,” May stated. “He is a gift from God.” Taylor echoed those sentiments, saying: “He’s incredibly musical, and we certainly take anything he says very seriously.”

For his part, Lambert has always been careful to differentiate himself from Mercury. “There’s never going to be another, and I’m not replacing him,” he explained. “That’s not what this is about. I want to keep his memory alive and remind people of how incredible he was—without trying to imitate him. My goal is to show audiences just how much he inspired me.”

Five years ago, in an interview with Classic Rock magazine, May and Taylor admitted that they had attempted to record a song with Lambert but ultimately decided against releasing it. “We did record a song that we never actually finished,” Taylor revealed at the time. “I can’t even remember what it was called. I think we were still debating the name.” May added, “It was a track we tried adapting from a friend’s original idea. It had potential, but we just couldn’t quite crack it.”

Taylor has remained open to the idea of a new QUEEN album featuring Lambert. Meanwhile, in 2022, QUEEN released a rediscovered song, “Face It Alone,” which featured Mercury’s vocals.

The tour is set to begin October 4 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland and will travel through cities such as New York, Toronto, Nashville, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Francisco, St. Paul and Atlanta, with the final date scheduled for November 11 in Los Angeles, California. During their last tour, Queen and Adam Lambert were supported on stage by musical director and Keyboardist Spike Edney, Percussionist Tyler Warren and bassist Neil Fairclough – it is reported they will return to support them on the North American tour.

In a recent press release, Adam Lambert discussed the tour saying ”I cant wait to tour North America one more time with the Rhapsody tour alongside two unbelievably talented legends that are Brian May and Roger Taylor.” Brian May also discussed the tour saying, ”our last tour featured our most ambitious production ever. So we decided to rip it apart and get even more ambitious. Watch out world.” 

The tour has been an iconic ensemble of Queen’s biggest and most-loved hits from throughout the years, as well as a tribute to the late-frontman Freddie Mercury. Last year, Queen released a never-heard-before song, called ”Face It Alone’, which was recorded during the production of their album The Miracle.

Sir Brian May spoke with Rolling Stone about the upcoming tour, explaining ”This tour has lots of new bells and whistles. We’ve evolved as performers, I think. We’ve stepped up our game.We have better chemistry than ever. We understand each other better than ever, and we feel more free in the way that we interpret stuff. We’re very happy with it. Theres lots of new production and stuff we want to excite you with.”

The band are working with venues and ticketing partners to minimise the chances of resale tickets. The ticketing companies will restrict the ability to resell, as it will only be possible to transfer tickets between fans at the original price. Speaking about the decision to implement the changes to ticket sales, May said ” Its an experiment. We got sick of seeing our fans get ripped off by scalpers. We’re hoping this works out.” 

Rodger Taylor added, ”We want to protect the actual fans. Seeing some of the ticket prices these days, I’m shocked. I dont know how some artists think they can get away with charging that much. We’re just trying to keep it reasonable, a good deal for our fans, the people that want to come see us.”

To access tickets for the North American ‘The Rhapsody Tour’, which go on sale Friday March 31, click here.

Brian May posted a photo to his Instagram of a captured moment during the ceremony where he received his knighthood. The photo shows King Charles lowering his sword on May’s shoulder. Brian wrote a short and sweet caption for the photo, ‘‘No Words ! Bri’’

Aside from gaining worldwide success with Queen throughout the 80’s, The 75-year-old British icon has been responsible for creating some of Queens most well known songs, such as ”Somebody To Love” and ”Don’t Stop Me Now.” The legendary band Queen, consisting of late-front man Freddie Mercury, Bassist John Deacon, Drummer Rodger Taylor and Guitarist Brian May, toured the world together and acquired numerous number ones.

Brian May is no stranger to the royal family or royal residences. In 2002, May performed a guitar solo rendition of ‘’God Save The Queen’’ on the roof top of Buckingham palace. The guitarist also performed at the Platinum jubilee, last June. Brian May appeared in a sketch with Paddington Bear, tapping the beat to ‘’We Will Rock You’’ on a teacup.

Brian May also discussed that the band Queen, which now has 2009 American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert as their front man, are considering touring again this year. Fans had the pleasure of attending re-scheduled concerts of their tour last year, as the tour was previously cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions preventing them from performing their shows. May tours with Adam lambert, as well as legendary Queen drummer Rodger Taylor. Original Queen band member and bassist, John Deacon, has no involvement in the tour.

Brian May spoke with a PA news agency, saying ‘’We’re thinking about touring, I can say that. I’m hoping I stay in good health – at the moment I seem to be in pretty good health, which is always great.’’ May suffered a heart attack in May 2020 and underwent surgery where he had three stents fitted. 

The guitarist continued “It’s not been an easy road and there’s been times I thought I would never do it again. But we all seem to be OK so we’re looking at doing some touring, and of course we tour at the top level and it’s very high energy and high demand on your fitness. If we don’t go out until October or whatever I’ll be working on my fitness from now on.” 

“I’m happy that our team were able to find this track,” said guitarist Brian May, “After all these years, it’s great to hear all four of us, yes, Deacy is there too, working in the studio on a great song idea which never quite got completed… until now.” The album will not only feature this lost track but it will also include some of the band’s conversations in studios in London and Montreux, Switzerland.“It was kind of hiding in plain sight,” May continued, “We looked at it many times and thought, oh, no, we can’t really rescue that. But, in fact, we went in there again and our wonderful engineering team went, ok, we can do this and this. It’s kind of stitching bits together.”

Roger Taylor, Queen’s drummer, went on to say that they had “kind of forgotten about this track,” but described the song as “wonderful, a real discovery. It’s a very passionate piece.” This will mark the first new song featuring Freddie Mercury since the Queen Forever album which was released in 2014. It featured three unheard tracks: ‘Love Kills’, ‘Let Me In Your Heart Again’, and ‘There Must Be More to Life Than This’.

The original release of The Miracle went to number one in the UK, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland and received critical acclaim with Rolling Stone saying: “The Miracle is a showcase for Freddie Mercury and his love of sweeping, quasi-operatic vocals. And indeed, Mercury – especially on the title track – has never sounded better…”

Queen formed in 1970 and went on to be one of the biggest stadium rock bands in the world. Their 1981 Greatest Hits album is the best-selling album in the UK and has been certified nine times platinum in the US. The band comprised of Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals) and John Deacon (bass). Freddie Mercury passed away in 1991 from AIDs-related complications. He performed for the final time with Queen at Knebworth in 1986. Today, Roger Taylor and Brian May still perform as Queen with Adam Lambert on vocals.

During the band’s tribute, Duran Duran urged the crowd to hold up their lighted phones to pay respect to the 96-year-old former monarch. The group then launched into a beautifully sorrowful rendition of the hit; the set featured animated white doves flying across the video screens. The 80’s heartthrobs took to their official social media accounts to share a touching message accompanied by a breath taking picture of the audience.

“So, you know that it’s a real sad time for a lot of us Brits, and a lot of other people around the world, and we would like to make our own tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.”https://t.co/7ragAxv1u4 @RollingStone #duranlive #saveaprayer pic.twitter.com/A5iqN4Uv1c

— Duran Duran (@duranduran) September 10, 2022

Whilst addressing the audience, lead singer Le Bon said, “So, you know that it’s a real sad time for a lot of us Brits, and a lot of other people around the world, and we would like to make our own tribute to Queen Elizabeth, If you’d like to join us and show your respect, please take your cell phone out, switch the light on. Let’s fill the Bowl with light for the Queen. We say goodbye.” See below for fan footage which captured the emotional performance.

Before Duran Duran proceeded to perform their 1982 ballad, a portrait of the Queen was displayed on large screens; the same image was also projected to the audience before the group took to the stage. The spectacular concert saw “Milkshake” singer Kelis open for the legendary hitmakers, for a full review of the concert please click here. Just hours prior to the “Hungry Like The Wolf” band’s appearance, the group took to their official social media accounts to share their reaction to the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. The post included the following emotive message, “Her Majesty the Queen has presided over the UK for longer than any other British monarch. She dedicated her life to the people and set an extraordinary example to the world throughout her reign.”

The band’s post continued, “She’s seen changes that are beyond what any of us can imagine. She has faced challenges that she has risen to time and again. Her life has been remarkable in so many ways. We will all miss her and are grateful for the incredible service she gave to the people of Great Britain and the countries of the Commonwealth, We send our deepest condolence to the royal family. Her death brings to an end a long and unique chapter in the history of the United Kingdom and the world,”

pic.twitter.com/bHlGJr5eun — Duran Duran (@duranduran) September 8, 2022

Duran Duran were among the many acts who played at the Platinum Jubilee concert to celebrate the Queen’s 70th year on the throne. The band performed on a constructed stage outside of London’s Buckingham Palace on 4th June 2022, also billed to perform were Diana Ross, Rod Stewart and Queen + Adam Lambert. The first act to perform was Queen + Adam Lambert; the royal rockers performed their classic hit “We Will Rock You” alongside a royal marching band. The Queen herself was present for many of the Jubilee celebrations and events, but she did not attend the star-studded concert; in lieu of her attendance, a very special comical pre-recorded message of the Queen featuring Paddington Bear was shown to kick off the event.

 He then went on to say, “I get so sick of people trying to change things without thinking of the long-term consequences, some of these things are an improvement, some of them are not.”, adding “[Freddie Mercury] was a musician, he was our friend, he was our brother. We didn’t have to stop and think: ‘Ooh, now, should we work with him? Is he the right colour? Is he the right sexual proclivity?’ None of that happened, and now I find it frightening that you have to be so calculating about everything.”. Today, however, May took to Instagram to defend himself. Blaming “predatory press hacks” that have unfairly made him seem “Unfriendly to trans people.”.

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 He explains that his words were “subtly twisted”, and that his “heart is open as always to humans of all colours, all creeds, all sexes and sexualities, all shapes and sizes – and all creatures.”.

For the 2022 ceremony, the British male solo artist and British female solo artist categories will be replaced by a singular artist of the year award, and the same will be applied to the previously gendered international solo artist categories. Regarding the changes, BRIT’s Chair Tom March commented, “It is important that The BRITs continue to evolve and aim to be as inclusive as possible. It feels completely the right time to celebrate the achievements of artists for the music that they create, and the work that they do, irrespective of gender.”. Last year, British non-binary singer Sam Smith was left out of the categories despite being nominated for a number of other awards.

Queen and Adam Lambert are currently set to begin their UK and European ‘Rhapsody Tour’ in Belfast in May 2022, the tour was postponed in February 2020 after their Australian dates due to COVID-19. See here to get tickets. Since the last dates of the tour, drummer Roger Taylor has embarked on a series of solo shows in the UK. On the final night of the tour, October 22^nd, Taylor was joined by May for a surprise performance of a number of Queen classics, as well as a cover of Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti”. See a fan video of the performance below.

The musician spoke with Goldmine magazine concerning his musical goals. When discussing the potential of an instrumental release May stated “I do think about it. And strangely enough, I think it probably would be instrumental this time. Because I have enough ideas. And I have lots of unfinished business.”

May has described his musical process when commenting on the prospect of new material, stating that when writing songs, he typically writes music that features a vocalist. However, he also stated that his musical abilities could reach such projects as wide soundscapes written on just his six-string.

May’s famous writing partner was the late Freddie Mercury, the vocalist from the famous musical duo and May’s iconic bandmate. Mercury has become of the world’s most famous and celebrated singers of this time; the singer’s famed vocal talent included his four-octave vocal range and charismatic stage presence. May has provided a self-survey of the level of his musical talent whilst comparing himself to some of the world’s most famous guitarists, in the quote May also recounts his love for vocalists. “I don’t have the dazzling technical expertise of a Joe Satriani or a Steve Vai or Al Di Meola or Eddie Van Halen. But I just might. My guitar is very much my voice. I can’t play faster than I think. I’ve always been obsessed with songs and songs to me are about singers, and about the vocals.”

Although the guitarist has plans to release an instrumental album, he is currently focused on touring with his band Queen. Since 2004 vocalist Adam Lambert has been touring with the “Don’t Stop Me Now” performers, this musical partnership tours under the name “Queen + Adam Lambert”. The 74-year-old artist describes the group’s touring schedule and when fans can next see them perform live.

Within the interview May also further contemplates his plans for his next release. “We have a big world of touring to do. And we’ve been postponing and postponing the Queen tour, which we started just before COVID happened. Next May we will be doing a bunch of touring. Once that’s done, I think I will have the opportunity to sit down, and if I’m spared – as my mum used to say – and still functional, I think I might make the album.”

May’s last solo release was his work on the soundtrack for the 2000 motion picture Furia, the soundtrack was May’s third solo album and also featured May as the producer. The guitarist’s last solo studio album was released in 1998, Another World was May’s second solo studio album and was dedicated to his mother. Included within the album is the track “Business”, the song was released as the album’s first single and was a tribute to Cozy Powell. Powell played the drums on the album but tragically died in a car accident before the album was released.

Queen and Adam Lambert will be hitting the road next year when they embark on their “Rhapsody Tour”. The tour begins in the UK with several dates in Belfast and on 24th June 2022 continues into Europe.

Queen + Adam Lambert UK tour dates

27/05/2022 – SSE Arena – Belfast
28/05 – SSE Arena – Belfast
30/05 – AO Arena Manchester – Manchester
31/05 – AO Arena Manchester – Manchester
02/06 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow
03/06 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow
05/06 – O2 – London
06/06 – O2 – London
08/06 – O2 – London
09/06 – O2 – London
11/06 – Arena Birmingham – Birmingham
12/06 – Arena Birmingham – Birmingham
14/06 – O2 – London
15/06 – O2 – London
17/06 – O2 – London
18/06 – O2 – London
20/06 – O2 – London
21/06 – O2 – London

This year’s Global Citizen Live will take place in Rio de Janerio, London, Seoul, Los Angles, Sydney, Lagos, France’s capital city Paris and US city New York City and will include various artist’s live performances as well as pre-recorded sets. The worldwide concert aims to promote unity whilst rallying citizens of the world to urge major conglobates, governments and politicians as well as philanthropists to band together to help the world’s poverty-stricken communities and help rectify the recent global issues.

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The global event has been dated to take place this September to match with the UN General Assembly which is also taking place this September. Global Citizen Live will also coincide with other important meetings and summits including the G20 and COP26 set to take later on in 2021. Each act performing will be taking part in a 24-hour historic musical event, the concerts will be aired over many broadcasted mediums including ABC, ABC News Live, BBC, FX, IHeartRadio, Hulu, YouTube, TIME, Twitter as well as many more social media and televised channels.

Ed Sheeran will join the impressive list of artists billed to perform in Paris, joining the ‘Shape of You’ singer are hitmakers Black Eyed Peas, H.E.R., Dj Snake, Christine and the Queens and ‘Kiss Me More’ singer Doja Cat.  The line-up featured in Lagos include musician Femi Kuti, singer-songwriter Davido, Made Kuti and MTV Europe music award winner Tiwa Savage.

New York City’s event will take place at the famous landmark, Central Park, Global Citizen has been hosting events at the famed landmark since 2012. Performing at the city’s venue includes a vast array of artists such as ‘Bad Guy’ singer Billie Eilish and former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello. Also included to play the city that never sleeps are British hitmakers Coldplay, legendary artist Jennifer Lopez, ‘Good as Hell’ singer Lizzo, Shawn Mendes and rapper Meek Mill. New York City’s event will also see performances by special guests Burna Boy and Lang Lang, also set to take the stage at Central Park is 80’s pop icon Cyndi Lauper, known for her ‘Girl’s Just Want To Have Fun’ mega-hit.

Other artists donating themselves to the cause include Queen + Adam Lambert singer Adam Lambert, Alessia Cara, Opera tenor singer Andrea Bocelli, Angélique Kidjo, BTS, Demi Lovato, legendary 80’s band Duran Duran, iconic punk rockers Green Day, Hugh Jackman & Deborra-Lee Furness, Jon Batiste, Country music artist Keith Urban, ‘Royals’ singer-songwriter Lorde, The Lumineers, thrash metal pioneers Metallica, Rag ‘ n’ Bone Man, Ricky Martin, The Weeknd and Usher with even more acts to be announced.

Global Citizen’s Head of Music, Entertainment and Artist Relations, Katie Hill, has provided the following statement describing the organisation’s mission statement whilst expressing the organisation’s excitement to work with the host of artists. “Over the last year and a half, we’ve seen music bring communities together and inspire action during one of the most challenging times of our generation, We’re excited to join these incredible artists to unite people across the globe on September 25 as we hold world leaders and business leaders accountable to rectify the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we carefully resume Global Citizen’s live events, we couldn’t be more grateful to each of these artists for donating their time and performances to make an impact through this urgent campaign.”

Potential ticket-holders must earn their way into the amazing event by winning their tickets and each location has its own draw. You must begin by downloading the Global Citizen app and creating an account, within this app users can sign petitions, write letters to government officials and politicians, share news and messages via social media plus many more actions. These actions can earn users points, which they can then use to enter to win tickets to the event. The first collection of actions was released on 10th August 2021, fans have until 24th August 2021 to fulfil enough actions to place them in the competition to receive tickets. The lucky winners will be selected at random and will be notified via email, once the email has been received, ticket winners have 48 hours in which to claim their tickets.

Click here to learn more about the event.

“Under continuing Europe-wide Covid restrictions there’s no possible way the tour can go ahead as planned for this year,” Queen + Adam Lambert said today. “The prospect of again not being able to look forward to performing and getting to experience those wonderful audiences is just heartbreaking.” To alleviate some of the disappointment of their fans, the band have announced an extended schedule of touring dates for 2022, kicking off with two shows at the Manchester MEN Arena on May 30th and 31st, followed by two shows at The SSE Hydro arena in Glasgow and then a 10 night residency at the O2 arena in London.

Reflecting on the disappointment of the postponement  as well as the early success of the Rhapsody Tour, guitarist Brian May said: “Those incredible scenes at those concerts now seem like an impossibly distant dream. One minute we are out in Australia strutting our stuff and interacting with thousands of happy people, next minute we are stuck in the house. We were so lucky to be able to complete that tour, running just ahead of the wave that was about to break on us.” 

Queen have been performing with Adam Lambert since 2011, following guest appearances by May and drummer Roger Taylor on American Idol in 2009 on which Lambert was a contestant. In the summer of 2020, in lieu of their European and UK tour following the postponement, all three members – May, Taylor and Lambert – began collaborating on a revised edition of the Queen classic ‘We Are the Champions’. Aptly renamed ‘You Are The Champions’, the song was dedicated to UK health workers at the peak of COVID despondency, with all proceeds from the single going to them. The music video, which featured scenes from covid wards as well as a cameo from Taylor’s doctor daughter, Rory Taylor, was viewed nearly four million times during its first month on Youtube.

Find the full rescheduled Rhapsody Tour date list below.

30/05/2022 – AO Arena – Manchester
31/05 – AO Arena – Manchester
02/06 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow
03/06 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow
05/06 – The O2 Arena – London
06/06 – The O2 Arena – London
08/06 – The O2 Arena – London
09/06 – The O2 Arena – London
11/06 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham
12/06 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham
14/06 – The O2 Arena – London
15/06 – The O2 Arena – London
17/06 – The O2 Arena – London
18/06 – The O2 Arena – London
20/06 – The O2 Arena – London
21/06 – The O2 Arena – London
24/06 – Mercedes-Benz Arena – Berlin
26/06 – Lanxess Arena – Cologne
28/06 – Hallenstadion – Zurich
29/06 – Olympiahalle – Munich
01/07 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam
02/07 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam
06/07 – Wizink Centre – Madrid
07/07 – Wizink Centre – Madrid
11/07 – Unipol Arena – Bologna
13/07 – Accrohotels Arena – Paris
15/07 – Sportpaleis – Antwerp
17/07 – Royal Arena – Copenhagen
18/07 – Royal Arena – Copenhagen

‘The Show Must Go On’ was originally released as the final track on Queen’s Innuendo album, and was recorded while Freddie Mercury was already in the final stages of his battle with AIDS.

Speaking about the song in a press release, guitarist Brian May said, “Even though we were all aware of Freddie’s impending tragedy, we had some inspired and joyful times in the studio, making the Innuendo album.  We didn’t speak much about Freddie’s illness – he just wanted to get on with ‘business as usual’ as far as possible.

“The melody called for some very demanding top notes, and I’d only been able to ‘demo’ them in falsetto.  I said to Freddie … “I don’t want you strain yourself – this stuff isn’t going to be easy in full voice, even for you!”  He said, “Don’t worry – I’ll f…ing nail it, Darling!”.  He then downed a couple of his favourite shots of vodka, propped himself up against the mixing desk, and… delivered one of the most extraordinary performances of his life.

In the final mix of TSMGO, when you get to “On with the Show” you are listening to a man who conquered everything to deliver his finest work.”

Adam Lambert, who has sung with Queen since his time on American Idol in 2009, noted the emotive depth of the song: “The Show Must Go On’ is a song with a very deeply resonating message.  I think we all have moments in life where we feel the odds are against us and the climb is a steep one.

I always sense a great cathartic release throughout the audience during this song.  I think we all recognize that it was a big statement for Freddie at that point in his journey as well: He was fighting for his life.”

Queen + Adam Lambert announced the release of the live album last week, which is set for release on October 2.