ON THE RED CARPET
6 March 2014 by Corinne Heller Adam
Lambert will rock you this summer — with Queen.
The 32-year-old “American Idol” alum and glam rocker announced on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday, March 6, that he is set to go on a North American tour this summer with the legendary British rock group, once headed by iconic singer Freddie Mercury, who died at age 45 in 1991. Lambert has performed with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor before — at the 2013 iHeartRadio Music Festival, at several concerts in Europe in 2012, at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards and on “American Idol.”
“The big news is that we are going on tour this summer!” Lambert told “GMA” co-anchor Josh Elliot, while standing with May and Taylor. “To get to be on stage with these two amazing rock royalty members — yes, royalty!” Lambert said, gesturing toward Taylor. “Honestly, Queen is one of the quintessential rock bands of all time. They have formed, like, music that no one’s ever heard before, they have influenced bands for years to come. To be able to bring these songs to live on stage …” ”
We feel that Adam is one of the few singers that actually can deliver our songs,” Taylor said, as May, who stood with his arms crossed, uncrossed his arms, walked behind Lambert and put his hands on his shoulders.
“Thanks guys,” Lambert said.
QUEEN AND ADAM LAMBERT ANNOUNCE 2014 TOUR ON “GOOD MORNING AMERICA”
– http://youtu.be/1sZPdxz9bJQ
The singer, who grew up in San Diego, California, came in second place on “American Idol” in 2009 and even sang Queen’s 1975 hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” at his first televised audition for the FOX reality show. He performed with May during the season 8 finale.
In addition to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Queen is famous for songs such as “We Will Rock You,” “I Want To Break Free,” “Who Wants To Live Forever?” and “We Are The Champions.” After Mercury died, the band went on a hiatus and reunited for a 2005 tour with former Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers as frontman. He exited the group in 2009. Lambert and the Queen rockers also talked about the tour at a press conference at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, which is one of their concert series stops.
“It was great with Paul, but it came to a natural end,” May told reporters, regarding Rodgers, according to Rolling Stone. “This happened organically with Adam. People are going to ask whether it’s Queen without Freddie. I don’t know. We just want to go out there one more time. Adam isn’t an imitator. We’re going into new territory.”
“Adam is the most incredible frontman,” the magazine quoted Taylor as saying. “He’s a great diva, and I mean that in the best possible way. We need that theatrically.”
Lambert is a former musical theatre star and Queen’s music is featured in the musical “We Will Rock You,” which also incorporates a futuristic plot line involving Mercury. Queen’s tour with Adam Lambert kicks off in Chicago on June 19. Tickets go on sale on Livenation.com on March 14.