Queen + Adam Lambert will visit the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia as part of the Rhapsody tour on October 18. It’s their first extended tour since before the beginning of the pandemic.
A band that built a reputation as Rock & Roll giants beginning in 1970 added a popular modern singer in somewhat of an unlikely union back in 2011. The reinvention has been fascinating. Lambert has spoken insightfully about his experience with Queen + Adam Lambert.
Queen
Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor were the original members of one of the most iconic classic rock bands in history. They exploded in 1975 after releasing Bohemian Rhapsody. The title track has become one of the most unmistakable rock songs of all time.
Other hits included Killer Queen on Queen II in 1974,We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions on News of the World in 1977, and Another One Bites the Dust on The Game in 1980.
The band tragically lost lead singer Freddie Mercury at the age of 31 in 1991.
Adam Lambert
Lambert was only nine years old when Mercury passed away. Another 18 years went by before he made a name for himself as the runner-up on American Idol in 2009. He has released five solo studio albums since.
He took on the tall task of stepping in to Freddy Mercury’s former position two years later after Queen + Paul Rodgers stopped touring together.
Lambert has toured as part of Queen + Adam Lambert on some of their major tours over the past decade.
“Along comes Adam Lambert, who can do extraordinary things with his voice. Plus, he has the showman elements. He has the presence. He has the contact with an audience.” –Brian May
The new band chemistry has clicked in a way that most of Queen’s original fans probably never could’ve dreamt back in the 1970s. What’s it been like for Lambert to join May and Taylor, who are both over 30 years older than him? Lambert has offered a candid perspective about the experience.
Replacing Freddie Mercury
“For me, a ghost is the memory of somebody that’s existing collectively in a group of people. The entire audience is remembering Freddie, so his ghost is in the room. And I hope it’s a happy, satisfied, proud ghost.” -Adam Lambert (New York Post)
Anyone replacing a legend needs to walk a delicate line. Lambert’s respect for the greatness of Freddie Mercury meshed with his confidence to perform well with the same band behind him properly achieves that balance.
Self-Doubts
“I definitely had my fair share of nerves and doubts, so I’d put on a good poker face. I think the first full-length gig we did, I will say at that point in my life, I’d had a lot of theater experience and training, and I had done Idol. I was like ‘Okay, this is your moment to just do what you do.’ And I did my best.” -Adam Lambert (iHeart Radio)
You try replacing Freddie Mercury AND Paul Rodgers. See how nervous you feel. Lambert has settled in well to form good chemistry with Brian May and Roger Taylor.
Finally Enjoying a Live Show Again
“I also think it changes the way the audience appreciates the show. Everyone was locked up and bored, and our lives were all kind of stunted. So the audiences we had last summer were thrilled to be back in a concert and getting to see live music. So I think that charged us up as well.” -Lambert (Forbes)
The pandemic took its toll on collective morale worldwide. People are finally comfortable leaving their homes again. Public health is in better shape, and of course, tours are back in full swing.
Classic Rock in Modern Times
“This is about their evening and giving them a show that feels fresh. We are keenly aware of what the favorites are, and we try to include the big hits every night — they have a lot of hits, so it’s a lot to choose from. But it’s a two-plus hour show, so we’ve got plenty of time to get those big hits.” -Lambert (Billboard)
It’s not always easy for a legendary band to satisfy every expectation of their audience. However, a balance is possible. Queen + Adam Lambert hope to strike that balance.
The 1970s
“It feels like home. I really like going back to that decade. It’s clearly a thing right now. And I have an impulse to do that. My last album Velvet is very much a modern take on the 1970s. It’s part of my DNA.” -Lambert (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Adapting to the image of a band whose origins came half a century ago was important. Lambert has successfully gelled despite the noticeable age gap.
