www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2153032/Queens-new-singer-hes-ready-step-Mercurys-shoes.html?ito=feeds-newsxmlI promise I will rock you as the new Freddie: Queen's new singer on why he's ready to step into Mercury's shoes
By ADRIAN THRILLS
PUBLISHED: 19:51 EST, 31 May 2012 |
UPDATED: 19:51 EST, 31 May 2012
He grew up listening to his parents’ Queen albums and once auditioned for the musical We Will Rock You.
So when Brian May and Roger Taylor were looking for someone to step into Freddie Mercury’s boots for a series of summer concerts, they made an inspired choice in selecting former American Idol finalist Adam Lambert.
The U.S. superstar is seen as a new Robbie Williams, but his flamboyant style and spectacular vocal range also make him perfect for Queen — and he’ll be doing the fandango with them in London next month.
Adam, 30, has already sung with the rock legends: on American Idol and during last year’s MTV EMA Awards in Belfast. He says: ‘You can’t replace Freddie. But playing with Queen is the best thing that could happen to me, and my intention is to pay tribute to Freddie.
‘We want to keep the music alive and give it an energy that would have made him proud.’
In addition to three nights at the Hammersmith Apollo, Lambert will appear with Queen in Russia and Poland — and there is a possibility of more dates.
According to guitarist May, he has been picked for his ‘extraordinary’ voice, while drummer Taylor predicts ‘fireworks’ once the shows start.
Lambert takes a more down-to-earth view, saying he is joining the band to learn from rock royalty.
‘When I auditioned for We Will Rock You in the States, I prepared songs like I Want To Break Free,’ he says. ‘I did my homework.‘Now I’m looking forward to spending time with Brian and Roger. I want to make myself familiar with their more obscure songs and hear some stories from the guys themselves. I’ll get my own personal Queen documentary.’
Adam, who is gay, says he can relate to the problems Mercury faced over his sexuality during Queen’s heyday. Lambert came out publicly during the rounds of American Idol in 2009, and there were suspicions it cost him public votes (he lost narrowly in the final to Kris Allen).
He admits it was ‘possible’ his sexuality had an impact on the result, but says the pressure on Mercury was far greater.
‘It wasn’t easy for him to come out in the Seventies. But the big irony is that it was easier for him to be flamboyant when he was performing.
‘Today it is the opposite. I’m one of the few openly gay pop artists in the States, but people find it harder to accept anything flamboyant on stage. Pop is very macho now, and the mainstream shies away from anything too camp.’
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