queen tour review

Queen and Adam Lambert kick off tour with pomp, vigor and the spirit of Freddie Mercury

BALTIMORE – Who knew we needed the dazzling showmanship, the unmatched catalog of layered pop rock and the undiminished musicianship of Queen + Adam Lambert this much?

The band rooted by original guitarist (and noted astrophysicist) Sir Brian May and suave drummer Roger Taylor hasn’t played stateside in four years, when its Rhapsody tour first launched.

On Wednesday, at the first of two shows at Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena, the Queen + Lambert extravaganza reignited for a 23-date tour that will run through November in all of its garish glory.

Here are some highlights from the tour kickoff, a 27-song master class in potent songs and delicate homage with the magnetic Lambert its humble ringleader.

More: U2 brings swagger, iconic songs to Sphere Las Vegas in jaw-dropping opening night concert

What songs do Queen + Adam Lambert play on the 2023 Rhapsody tour?

Playing off the futuristic feel of the staging – lots of chrome and robots on video screens – the band kicked off the two-hour-plus show with “Radio Ga Ga,” the hand-clapping 1984 hit that found the platinum-haired Lambert strutting the stage in a silver breastplate and cape .

Though the band brought the Rhapsody production to Europe last summer, the set list has been jiggled and peppered with some different songs, including the rough-riffing “Stone Cold Crazy” – played for the first time since 2018 – and the magnificently theatrical “The Show Must Go On.”

Queen also unveiled “Is This the World We Created…?” from 1984’s “The Works” album, which has never been played in the decade that Lambert has fronted the band. Sitting at the end of a catwalk with only May, 76, on acoustic guitar, Lambert showcased the purity of his versatile voice on the ballad.

The multigenerational crowd also lapped up plenty of well-worn classic rock radio staples. “Another One Bites the Dust” needed only its opening bass notes from Neil Fairclough for recognition; “Somebody to Love” spotlighted a soulful Lambert spreading his multi-octave voice across the song; and “Bohemian Rhapsody” wrapped the pre-encore set instilled with Lambert’s dramatic entrance from beneath the stage, May sporting a mirrored jumpsuit amid a blizzard of lights and the original Queen video for the song employed to handle the tricky operatic passage in the song.

How does Freddie Mercury factor into the Queen + Adam Lambert tour?

The naysayers who contend that Queen has been nothing but a cover band with Lambert at the helm need to take a seat. Lambert’s respect for Mercury has always been palpable, and at Wednesday’s show, you could see his subtle nods to the original Queen frontman, who died in 1991.

Mercury surely would have swooned at the ornately decorated rotating motorcycle that Lambert sat atop – complete with a crotch cam – for the pairing of “Bicycle Race” and “Fat Bottomed Girls” and grinned at Lambert’s shoulder shimmies worthy of Liza Minnelli in her prime during an adrenalized “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

But Mercury was remembered in a more direct way when Lambert, 41, praised the “two rock ‘n’ roll legends” sharing the stage with him and continued with, “We do this with Freddie in our hearts, and I know he’s in your heart.”

A couple of songs later, May, as he has done on past tours, took a solo turn at the edge of the catwalk to sing “Love of My Life” in a tender voice. It was a chill-inducing moment when he asked the crowd to hold up their lighted phones (“In the old days it used to be candles,” he joked) while footage of Mercury crooning the ballad appeared in split screen with May on the overhead curved video screen.

Who else is playing with Queen + Adam Lambert?

While the sweetly grinning May mesmerized with his distinctive guitar lines throughout the show and Taylor, dapper in a black tie and vest, steamrolled through demanding songs at age 74, the multilayered construction of the band’s songs require a bit more of a lift.

Joining May, Taylor, Lambert and Fairclough were longtime keyboardist and musical director Spike Edney and percussionist Tyler Warren, who frequently jammed alongside Taylor on these musically precise classics.

With a combination of exceptional lighting and voluminous slices of lasers, the scorched-earth singing of Lambert and the continued expert presentation from May and Taylor, this Rhapsody tour doesn’t feel like a victory lap, but, rather, a deeper solidifying of Queen’s legacy.

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Things To Do | Review: Brian May leads Queen + Adam Lambert in…

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Things to do | review: brian may leads queen + adam lambert in a brilliant, extravagant concert — until a strange duet.

Vincent Alban/for the Chicago Tribune

Adam Lambert, left, and Brian May, perform during the first night of two concerts by Queen during The Rhapsody Tour at the United Center in Chicago on Oct. 30, 2023.

Darren Smith, left, dressed as Freddie Mercury, the original frontman of the band Queen, cheers during the first night of two performances by Queen and Adam Lambert at the United Center on Oct. 30, 2023.

Brian May, one of the original members of Queen, performs during the first night of two performances by Queen and Adam Lambert during The Rhapsody Tour at the United Center on Oct. 30, 2023.

Adam Lambert performs during the first night of two performances by Queen during The Rhapsody Tour at the United Center on Oct. 30, 2023.

Concertgoers watch the performance during the first night of two performances by Queen and Adam Lambert during The Rhapsody Tour at the United Center on Oct. 30, 2023.

Guitarist Brian May performs with Queen during The Rhapsody Tour at the United Center on Oct. 30, 2023.

Adam Lambert performs during the first night of two performances with Queen at the United Center on Oct. 30, 2023.

Brian May, one of the original members of Queen, performs during the first night of two performances by Queen and Adam Lambert at the United Center on Oct. 30, 2023.

Adam Lambert, left, and Brian May, embrace while performing together during the first night of two performances by Queen during The Rhapsody Tour at the United Center on Oct. 30, 2023.

Whatever percentage Sir Brian May is being paid on the current Queen + Adam Lambert tour, the amount should be doubled. Monday at the first of a two-night stand at a sold-out United Center, the band’s original guitarist carried the 130-minute concert, commanding the stage with a combination of virtuosic musicianship and nonchalant presence at odds with the surrounding spectacle.

To his credit, lead singer Lambert understood May’s significance in the moment. The flamboyant vocalist won the evening when it came to colorful garb but he ceded the limelight, runway and center platform to the 76-year-old legend. May willed Queen’s songs forward. In a possible nod to his second career as an astrophysicist, he appeared determined to propel the music to some distant universe — an ambition underscored by an intergalactic-themed sequence that found him perched on a hydraulic riser amid 16 illuminated planetary orbs.

Indeed, May’s clutter-free playing didn’t always seem of this Earth. Certainly not his trademark guitar tones — at once clean and distorted, choral and direct, lyrical and driven, smooth and crunchy, warm and sustained — or technical blend of finesse, power and economy. Nor his energy. He delivered not one but two extended solos, allowed his colleagues a healthy breather via an unaccompanied mini-set, and didn’t require the aid of a secondary guitarist.

His brilliant performances nearly made up for several odd decisions that caused unevenness and, past the show’s midpoint, a dip in momentum from which Queen and company never fully recovered. As for filling the void left by Freddie Mercury? Lambert succeeded by being himself, not a cheap copy of the original band leader, and by using spot-on pitch and superb control to his advantage.

Hard as it might be for older fans to believe, two generations have passed since Queen last toured with Mercury in 1986. The band’s final U.S. shows with the singer date back further, to summer 1982. Given the interval, many younger fans’ visual impressions of Mercury likely connect not to the actual person but to a facsimile in the form of Rami Malek, star of the hit 2018 biographical film “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The actor went to great lengths to replicate the moves Mercury executed during Queen’s appearance at Live Aid in 1985.

Six years later, Mercury would be dead at the age of 45, succumbing to complications from AIDS one day after publicly announcing he had the disease. The band went into hibernation, with the remaining members playing a few tribute/charity events, finishing a studio album (“Made in Heaven”) and pursuing solo projects. Bassist John Deacon retired in 1997 and never looked back.

May and drummer Roger Taylor reconvened in 2004, pairing with former Bad Company and Free vocalist Paul Rodgers to tour as Queen + Paul Rodgers. The collaboration largely proved a mismatch. My Tribune review of a lackluster March 2006 show at Allstate Arena noted: “Rodgers recurrently fell short, his bluesy pipes unable to consistently stretch notes above the music.”

Shortly after dissolving their partnership with Rodgers, May and Taylor performed with Lambert in 2009 on the season finale of “American Idol.” The event began a relationship that has lasted more than a decade — amazingly, longer than the entire time the original Queen spent gigging in North America — and spawned multiple tours. The present outing, which sees May and Taylor augmented by a keyboardist, bassist and percussionist with backing vocal abilities, might be the most audacious.

Pyrotechnic explosions, confetti cannons, pulsing strobes, ceiling-scraping lasers, mobile screens, film-studio lights, dry-ice fog, falling leaves, a disco ball, a wraparound projection curtain — no device was too extravagant. And it all paled in comparison to Lambert’s ostentatious outfits. Wearing an assortment of platform heels whose height nodded to Kiss’ iconic ’70s designs, Lambert cycled through costumes adorned with capes, breastplates, leather, glitter, sequins, lavish necklaces and elbow-length gloves.

He took pleasure in the theatrical parade, and recognized the whimsy in much of the band’s material. Lambert amplified the glam quotient of “Killer Queen” by sitting in front of a vanity mirror prop and staring directly at a camera as he primped, perfumed and powdered his face while crooning the words. “Bicycle Race” found the dyed-blond singer straddling a motorcycle blinged out with blinding chrome and countless lights.

Introduced by May as “a gift from god,” Lambert said little and trained his focus on the songs. Fulfilling his declaration to celebrate Mercury, he refrained from employing histrionics and seldom oversang. Graced with a generous range and expressive register, Lambert sounded the most connected with his elders on grandiose ballads (“The Show Must Go On,” “Who Wants to Live Forever”) and bounding, midtempo numbers (“Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now”).

Occasionally, as on “Fat Bottomed Girls,” Lambert got caught in a middle ground between singing and reciting lyrics. A slowed and stripped-down “Tie Your Mother Down” also lacked requisite swagger and mischievousness. Akin to those in other classics — the newest song Queen and Lambert performed stemmed from 1991 — the slight changes conflicted with the versions ingrained in memories and enshrined in history. Which helps explain why nostalgia can be a difficult, double-edged exercise.

Enter Mercury, or at least projected live footage of him singing and holding court in front of a crowd ages ago. May resorted to that ill-advised virtual trick as he pushed himself through “Love of My Life” without his colleagues. Despite any good intentions, such actions reek of artifice and serve as glaring reminders of what (or who) is missing, and exactly why they’re impossible to replace or recreate.

Following May’s “duet” with Mercury, Queen struggled with pacing. Taylor reemerged for a brief drum solo that, strangely, led into the nimble “Under Pressure.” A couple songs later, the liberating vibes of “I Want to Break Free” still fresh, everyone except May apparently needed another rest. Rather than pick up on the guitarist’s electrifying passages and outer-space environs, Queen retreated by sending May and Lambert out for the acoustic “Is This the World We Created …?” As for the explosive portion of “Bohemian Rhapsody”? Tame, with Lambert failing to convey the defiance and desperation.

Not to worry. May rode to the rescue, again, with compact riffs and treble-drenched leads that echoed like thunder claps and flared like lightning strikes. A kind of magic? Perhaps.

Bob Gendron is a freelance critic.

Setlist from the United Center Oct. 30:

“Machines (or ‘Back to Humans’)” into “Radio Ga Ga”

“Hammer to Fall”

“Another One Bites the Dust”

“I’m in Love with My Car”

“Bicycle Race”

“Fat Bottomed Girls”

“I Want It All”

“A Kind of Magic”

“Killer Queen”

“Don’t Stop Me Now”

“Somebody to Love”

“Love of My Life”

“’39?

“Under Pressure”

“Tie Your Mother Down”

“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”

“I Want to Break Free”

“Who Wants to Live Forever”

“Is This the World We Created …?”

“The Show Must Go On”

“Bohemian Rhapsody”

“We Will Rock You”

“Radio Ga Ga” (reprise)

“We Are the Champions”

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Review: Queen and Adam Lambert created a rock ‘n’ roll force of nature at AAC

Nov 3, 2023 at 3:50 pm | 3

Queen and Adam Lambert at American Airlines Center, Nov. 2. (Rich Lopez/DV)

–Rich Lopez

That the band who sings “We Are the Champions” acknowledged the Texas Rangers the day after winning the World Series in its first of two Dallas performances was supremely serendipitous. If only I hadn’t missed that, but that’s later. The Rhapsody Tour stopped in at American Airlines Center for two nights and brought with it a tsunami of hits that exploded with energy thanks to the dynamic duo of Queen and Adam Lambert.

The primarily baby boomer audience was rowdy before the band took the stage ready, so when the lights went down, the stadium roared. Animated mechanical projections hid the band but teased what was behind and as the main screen lifted, Lambert, Brian May and Roger Taylor launched with an earthquake opening medley of “Machines (Or ‘Back to Humans’),” “Radio Ga Ga” and “Hammer to Fall.” They brought it so hard at the opening that it felt like a finale number and was a true indication of things to come.

All the familiar songs were there like a greatest hits compilation. “Another One Bites the Dust” followed the opening which led to even m0re enthusiasm. Mixed with dazzling visuals and the extended stage, Queen/AL whipped up the audience into a frenzy in minutes.

Declaring 10 years with the band, Adam Lambert’s skills at handling these classic rock tunes was a kind of magic while also breathing a new light into them. His voice was strong and clear and certainly a worthy heir to the Freddie Mercury spot. He told the audience he felt the spirit of Mercury but his own performance style and presence was entertaining to watch. With fabulous costumes, platform boots and a whole lotta glitter, Lambert was as much his own artist as he was “filling in.”

Not a surprise, but perhaps a bit unexpectedly was Brian May serving as the real star of the night. He was overall mild-mannered with his radical guitar solos but his presence just filled the arena. The reverence for him was there from the audience but also Lambert and the band. May dressed like someone’s cool grandfather who picked the slickest shirt out of a Kohl’s rack, but his longevity had gravitas whether shooting rockets out of his guitar or performing his own vocals and even a simulated duet for “Love of My Life” with Mercury through old footage (which was a very touching moment). May was this gentle giant of a performer who delivered kick-ass solos all night long.

Drummer Roger Taylor wasn’t overlooked. He was as much an icon on stage as May, but he was just hindered by being in one spot behind drums. That said, he also grabbed hold of his own moments with a massive drum solo in the center of the arena before taking over “Under Pressure” with Lambert. Taylor was the first to acknowledge the Rangers win without ever saying the team’s name.

More than two hours, the band finished the set with – shocker – “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Lambert opened the song masked in a haze of shadows but his first “Mama” gave goosebumps. The band didn’t take on Queen’s next suite of vocals and left that to the original band’s recording which was probably the best choice. How  do you recreate those distinct signature moments in all of rock music? But the jam revved up an already revved up audience before Lambert then tempered the song’s final act asking the audience to finish off singing “Nothing really matters.” The song was handled with all the esteem it was supposed to.

So the last song, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was the obvious choice. And with concerts lately not having an encore (Beyonce, Sam Smith), I figured we were done. The lights stayed off but I had “Rhapsody” in my own head as the closer and opted to bow out before the band encored with “Ay‐Oh,” “We Will Rock You,” “Radio Ga Ga (again?).” The set also included “We Are the Champions” where May came out in a Texas Rangers jersey. Videos of that moment only turned up the volume of the audience. Queen/AL finished off the night with “God Save the Queen.”

Queen/Adam Lambert perform again tonight at AAC at 8 p.m.

You make a stupid comment on Brian’s clothing, that he picks out the slickest shirt on the Kohl’s rack? He probably spends as much on one shirt as you do for lunch 365 days a year. Have some respect. I saw him wearing a t-shirt on a concert that I really liked, and I found it online, it was on sale for half price at $150. Kohl’s hardly has t-shirts on their racks selling for $300 full price, or even $150 half price.

I agree. Sir Brian May does not wear clothes that look like he got them at Kohls!!! That was just rude and unnecessary.

Brian May could Buy KOHLS 🤔

Concert Review: Queen + Adam Lambert – The Rhapsody Tour, Belfast, N Ireland – May 28th 2022

Review of the Queen + Adam Lambert ‘The Rhapsody Tour’ in Belfast, N Ireland – May 28th 2022

Queen + Adam Lambert – The Rhapsody Tour SSE Arena, Belfast, N Ireland – May 28th 2022 by Geoff Bailie

Queen and Adam Lambert‘s Rhapsody tour kicked off in 2019 but… well, we all know what happened. So it’s amazing that almost 3 years later it began again in my hometown of Belfast and I got to use the tickets I bought several years ago.

The “Should they or shouldn’t they“ discussion doesn’t need to be hard – quite simply this is Brian May and Roger Taylor, with the best possible/available front man, and a cracking band playing a multitude of songs from the Queen catalogue, with all of the lighting, staging, and drama we expect from Queen. If that’s not for you, or you’d prefer to see someone else singing, then so be it. However for me, and around 5000 people in the SSE Arena, last night this was the perfect show.

I’ve often read people saying – aah but they just play the hits – but why wouldn’t they? Queen as a band have a catalogue that is absolutely iconic and for the 150 minutes that they were on stage last night, they played songs from virtually every album from throughout their career. Of course all the hits will be there – these are songs that we’re only going to be able to go out and see Brian and Roger play for relatively limited time, I assume. So I’m totally fine that the show is a celebration of this music, done in a very genuine, and very live way. Queen make it clear that they don’t use click tracks or backing tracks and this is very apparent in the show – seeing musicians interact in the moment brings an electricity to the live show that something perfectly choreographed and coordinated lacks.

Amongst many things that stood out to me was how strong this lineup is vocally. With Tyler Warren, Neil Fairclough and Spike Edney filling out with percussion, bass and keys, and also singing, it means the band on stage can produce six person harmonies. As a result, things that even the original band shied away from on stage, can be tackled – for example the vocal intros to “Bicycle Race” and “Somebody to Love” are performed as per the recordings, and sounded amazing. The Bohemian Rhapsody movie had scenes where the band members were poking fun at Roger Taylor’s “I’m In Love With My Car” – but seeing the 72-year-old drummer singing and playing this simultaneously on stage was a real highlight for me. Taylor has still got an incredibly powerful voice, and commands his drum kit – as my first exposure to Queen on record was Live Killers, which features this song, it definitely deserves its place in the set (and it wasn’t a hit single!). Later in the show when the band appeared at the end of the catwalk, Taylor and Adam Lambert performed an outstanding version of Under Pressure where once again Roger showed that he’s not sitting waiting around for retirement.

Brian May had many spotlight moments, being more mobile than a drummer can be he made fully use of the catwalk. An acoustic set featuring “Love of my Life”, helped by the crowd, and, on video, by Freddie himself was a heartfelt moment. That was followed by a massive singalong version of ‘”39″. He also had his electric guitar solo spot where the screens, platforms, and technology had him playing Dvorak‘s New World Symphony on top of an asteroid in space – well the one thing you can say about Queen is that no challenge is too big! As a fan of the whole catalogue, it was really great to hear songs like “Keep Yourself Alive”, “Now I’m Here”, “Killer Queen”, “Seven Seas of Rhye” and “In The Lap of the Gods” from those early albums – possibly less familiar to many in the crowd, but rewarding deep cuts (okay maybe not but lesser known hits at the very least) for long-term fans.

The show closed exactly as you might expect it – “Bohemian Rhapsody” followed by “We Will Rock You” followed by “We Are The Champions”. It’s hard to think of three more iconic songs and, of course, by this point the whole arena was on their feet singing every word, clapping and fully taking part in the performance. Even though you know it’s coming, Bohemian Rhapsody still impacts massively in the live context – previous tours have used elements of Freddie video footage or audio, but this time Adam took the whole thing on himself and it was  just perfect. The two “We” anthems finished the night in celebratory mode… celebrating rock, the joy of music and of survival – recognizing that, in the same way that Freddie’s music survived his passing, no doubt it will continue to be played and sung for many years to come.

It was a Queen album around 1980 which set me off on the track of my love of music (and of the guitar). 42 years on, it was an amazing evening celebrating this incredible band.

Setlist Now I’m Here Tear It Up Seven Seas of Rhye Keep Yourself Alive Hammer to Fall Somebody to Love Killer Queen Don’t Stop Me Now In the Lap of the Gods… Revisited I’m in Love With My Car Bicycle Race Fat Bottomed Girls Another One Bites the Dust I Want It All Love of My Life ’39 These Are the Days of Our Lives Crazy Little Thing Called Love Under Pressure A Kind of Magic I Want to Break Free Who Wants to Live Forever Tie Your Mother Down The Show Must Go On Radio Ga Ga Bohemian Rhapsody We Will Rock You We Are the Champions

20 comments

that is a huge set list!!!

Spectacular show. I seen him a few times with Queen and it’s really hard to catch your breath watching all of them in concert!

Great review for a great concert by a drill-great band. It does really bother me to see multiple grammatical errors. I have editing experience if you need me. ??✌️

Yes, we have fixed them. 🙂

I saw the QUEEN RAPSODY gig in ST Paul. MN in 2019. Fantastic show. So happy to know that The Show Must …still GO ON!!

Filled with envy, but also happiness, over your evening with Queen! Please package the band up and send them to America!!???

These are Freddie ‘s songs . Whether it’s good or not. It’s not Freddie. The name Queen was Freddie’s idea. I’m sorry. I know they are good. They have to be it’s got Brian and Roger in it. It just seems like a slap in the face to Freddie.

Of course those of us who did have the chance to see Queen with Freddie…. It could never be the same. I saw Queen first in 1975 in Berkeley CA. The last time in 1982 for the “Hot Space” tour. Freddie evolved much during this time period. As did the band. The 2 remaining men from this super group deserve our support and respect…. Queen is history of rock music. There are many artists…. But only one Queen ?

I don’t get that at all.. Freddie would have loved it… I saw him at live aid then found Queen again when Bohemian Rhapsody the movie released… book for this tour. in2019! Adam Lambert helps bring Freddie work back to life.. I was there last night in awe and a truley full on stadium band like no other

Freddy I’m sure would be ecstatic that his memory lives on with the right front man. No slap in the face but a tribute!

Negative. I am a long termer and had some reservations, but I can assure you this is really really good.

Put aside your reservations, go along and have a look, and prepare to be both amazed and touched.

Went to see them in Manchester last night ….all of the above and beyond…..incredible…x

Shocked they didn’t play ‘One Vision’! They used to open with that song! We were going to fly to Glasgow, Scotland, to see the June 2 show & have tickets, but not can’t go 🙁

Yeah I would been so bummed. I love when they open with it and drop the curtains

I hope it will be on DVD one-day so we can see it. Would be soooooo great

Only recently found and fell for Queen. Australia is a long way to go. Is the concert live streaming anywhere or anytime??

I only recently found and fell in love with Queen. Australia is too far away to attend and be part of the magic. Is it being livestreamed at all?

Your comment about typos includes a typo!

Freddie vive en cada letra de esas canciones. Siempre en mi corazón. Es leyenda.. único y irrepetible.❤❤❤❤

Queen + Adam Lambert is THE best concert I’ve seen in decades. I saw them in the US.

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Music and Concerts | Concert review: Queen + Adam Lambert deliver…

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Music and concerts, subscriber only, music and concerts | concert review: queen + adam lambert deliver thrilling blast of nostalgia at the x.

Friday night at Xcel Energy Center, Queen + Adam Lambert delivered a truly memorable “Somebody to Love,” complete with the audience singing along at the end. It was such a triumphant take on the gospel-inspired 1976 hit, it felt like the encore. Thing is, there was still an hour to go.

As they’ve proven in their previous two shows at the St. Paul hockey arena, Queen + Adam Lambert make for a terrific combination and that was once again the case Friday. Technically, it’s the second local stop on the group’s sprawling Rhapsody Tour, which kicked off back in July 2019, riding high on the success of the 2018 Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” (The tour took a two-year break due to the pandemic.)

But it wasn’t the same show they played at the X in August 2019. The big hits remain — “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Killer Queen,” “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions” among them — but the group subbed out some of the lesser-known songs from 2019 and changed some of the pacing.

Not all the tweaks worked. “A Kind of Magic” and “Is This the World We Created” fell flat, as did a surprisingly low-energy run through “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” typically one of the most fun numbers in a Queen concert. Also, it would have been great to hear “Keep Yourself Alive” and “You’re My Best Friend.”

Still, when Queen + Adam Lambert work, they really work. Guitarist Brian May clearly enjoys playing and keeping Queen’s music alive, to the point he tried to tour with Paul Rodgers up front in the latter half of the ’00s. (It was a mess.)

Lambert feels like the perfect guy for the gig, which he’s had for more than a decade now. Crucially, he doesn’t try to imitate the late Freddie Mercury, but instead delivers a performance in the spirit of Mercury. As he proved during his breakout season on “American Idol” way back in 2009, Lambert knows how to work both a stage and a crowd. And his voice remains impressively large and strong. It’s unfortunate his solo career hasn’t really taken off beyond a small cult audience, but I’m sure May is happy to have the guy around.

As usual, drummer Roger Taylor brought grumpy old man energy the stage, but he sounded terrific singing “Under Pressure” with Lambert. (Sadly, he also performed a lengthy solo as well as “I’m in Love with My Car,” one of the dumbest songs in the Queen catalog.) May also turned in an indulgent solo that earned more than a few yawns from the crowd.

Again, though, when Queen + Adam Lambert dial it in, they deliver. It helps that the songs were written to be played in arenas and stadiums and offer big, easy hooks with wide appeal. The success of the “Bohemian Rhapsody” movie brought in some noticeably younger fans in 2019 as well as Friday night.

The one-two punch of “The Show Must Go On” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the end of the main set was every bit as epic and thrilling as any other arena show this year. Queen + Adam Lambert will play a second show Saturday at the X.

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Queen Brings a Kind of Magic to Dallas: Review and Photos

All of a sudden, there he was.

Queen 's Brian May was sitting at the end of the catwalk at Dallas' American Airlines Center on Nov. 2, leading the audience in a singalong to the devastating acoustic ballad "Love of My Life." Cell phones lit up the venue, and the guitarist mused that if the audience waved them back and forth, magic might happen.

And then it did. Footage of the late Freddie Mercury from Wembley Stadium in 1986— hair cropped close, radiant in his Betty Boop tank top — played onscreen next to May, creating a haunting, decade- and cosmos-spanning duet. It was heartrending but not maudlin, as the smiling Mercury leavened the mood by waving and pointing his butt at the audience before disappearing into the ether again.

The specter of Mercury loomed over every aspect of Queen +  Adam Lambert 's ongoing Rhapsody Tour, from the cheeky pop-rock of "Don't Stop Me Now" to the thunderous, elegiac "The Show Must Go On." Much like Queen's discography as a whole, the two-hour-and-15-minute performance alternated between towering arena rock and Broadway-caliber camp and precision. When the band hit the sweet spot right in the middle, as on the euphoric "Somebody to Love" or the world-dominating "Bohemian Rhapsody," the results were transcendent, and the American Airlines Center was gripped with an almost religious fervor.

You can see the set list and exclusive photos from the performance below.

READ MORE: The Best Song From Every Queen Album

Mercury's presence was also felt among his ex-bandmates, May and Roger Taylor , who saluted him repeatedly throughout the night. And of course, he radiated through Lambert, who marveled that he's been performing with Queen for more than 10 years now. "I'm getting fucking old," he quipped. "But just know that every time I take the stage with these guys, I have Freddie Mercury in my heart."

The construction of Queen's current touring name is crucial. Lambert has never purported to be a replacement for Mercury, and he's the furthest possible thing from a tribute singer. He's a singular presence and once-in-a-generation talent, forged in the fires of touring stage productions and the  American Idol  finals, which now seem like a quaint footnote on his resume. Love or hate his interpretation of Queen classics, you cannot reasonably deny that he sings them with near-impeccable precision and effortless aplomb — all while strutting across the stage in platform heels.

The Rhapsody Tour is not intended to erase the past, but to embrace it. May and Taylor have earned that right as two co-architects of one of the most beloved bodies of work in rock history, and Lambert is a vessel to bring those songs to life. Everybody, from the stage to the rafters, is there to celebrate Mercury, and the sheer magnitude of his impact becomes overwhelmingly clear when 15,000 fans bellow his songs at once. It will never be enough, but it will have to make do. There's no trickery or pretense to the Rhapsody Tour, but quite often, there is a kind of magic.

Queen + Adam Lambert, 11/2/23, American Airlines Center, Dallas 1. "Machines (Or 'Back to Humans')" / "Radio Ga Ga" 2. "Hammer to Fall" 3. "Another One Bites the Dust" 4. "I'm in Love With My Car" 5. "Bicycle Race" 6. "Fat Bottomed Girls" 7. "I Want It All" 8. "A Kind of Magic" 9. "Killer Queen" 10. "Don't Stop Me Now" 11. "Somebody to Love" 12. "Love of My Life" 13. "'39" 14. Drum solo 15. "Under Pressure" 16. "Tie Your Mother Down" 17. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" 18. "I Want to Break Free" 19. "Who Wants to Live Forever" 20. Guitar solo 21. "Is This the World We Created...?" 22. "The Show Must Go On" 23. "Bohemian Rhapsody" 24. "We Will Rock You" 25. "Radio Ga Ga" (Reprise) 26. "We Are the Champions"

Queen Live in Dallas on Nov. 2, 2023

Gallery Credit: Bryan Rolli

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Review - Queen + Adam Lambert @ the Chase Center (11/8/23)

As the clock approached 8:30 pm on a Wednesday night, anticipation built within the Chase Center in San Francisco. A mesmerizing display of mechanical gears unfolded on a vast screen that spanned the front of the colossal stage. Slowly, robots emerged, navigating the turning gears, and signaling the imminent commencement of the show. The atmospheric introduction gave way to the rhythmic resonance of drum cymbals and keyboard synths, heralding the beginning of Queen's "Machines (or Back to Humans)." Freddie Mercury's recorded vocals pierced the air with the opening lyric, 'When the Machines Take Over.' And the arena was instantly bathed in a kaleidoscope of lasers emanating from every angle, creating a dazzling spectacle. Simultaneously, the mammoth screen ascended toward the rafters, unveiling the legendary collaboration of Queen + Adam Lambert .

The transition from "Machines" seamlessly flowed into "Radio Ga Ga," where Adam's dynamic vocals enveloped the audience at the Chase Center in a spiritual experience. It was only the first song of the night and already it felt as though Freddie Mercury's presence was casting a benevolent gaze, manifesting through Adam and connecting with the crowd in a profound way.

Renowned for his theatrical flair, Adam Lambert appeared onstage adorned in a musical superhero ensemble. His silver and purple attire featured a flowing cape, chest plate, arm-length gloves, and oversized sunglasses reminiscent of Bono's iconic Fly glasses. Positioned just behind Adam's central stage location, Roger Taylor held his place behind the drum kit, while the legendary guitarist, Brian May, occupied a spot not far from the center-right of the stage. Throughout the night, both Adam and Brian gracefully took turns navigating the 50-foot long catwalk, which extended from the stage towards the center floor of the arena.

From my perspective, I can't stress enough how well Adam Lambert fits into the monumental role left behind by Freddie Mercury's passing. There's simply no other living singer who can capture the flamboyance and master the vocal range that Freddie so brilliantly possessed. Despite Adam's decade-long tenure touring with Queen, this marked my inaugural experience witnessing their performance, and it left me utterly captivated. The evening unfolded as a tour de force, guiding the audience through a spectacular array of Queen's greatest hits. It effortlessly highlighted not only the dynamic range of Adam's vocals but also underscored the remarkable diversity found within the extensive catalog of Queen's hits.

Honestly, it's a challenge for me to pinpoint my favorite moments from the night because there were just so many remarkable ones! In a particularly memorable instance during "A Kind of Magic," Brian May graced the end of the catwalk, treating the audience to a guitar solo while launching fireworks from the neck of his guitar. Another poignant moment unfolded when Brian paused to address the crowd before "Love of My Life," a song dedicated to Freddie. He candidly shared his feelings of insecurity, expressing, 'you know I love to hear you sing, and I love to see your lights.' As he sat at the edge of the catwalk, playing the opening notes on his acoustic, the Chase Center illuminated with the glow of the crowd's collective phone lights.

If I had to choose just one song from the night, it would undoubtedly be the rendition of "Who Wants to Live Forever." The performance started with Freddie's recorded harmonized vocals, seamlessly transitioning into a hauntingly melodic crescendo of Adam's beautifully elongated verses. His notes resonated, gracefully soaring throughout the entire arena, leaving an indelible impression that still gives me goosebumps when recalling the performance. Brian's guitar introduced an additional layer, employing a slow, layered effect that perfectly complemented Adam's emotive delivery.

Undoubtedly, the biggest hits of the night were the true crowd-pleasers – a well-deserved accolade. The main set concluded with the powerful performances of "The Show Must Go On" and the timeless "Bohemian Rhapsody." Following a brief intermission, the band returned to deliver a spectacular encore featuring the anthems "We Will Rock You," a reprisal of "Radio Ga Ga," and the triumphant finale, "We Are the Champions." As we, the audience, exited the venue that night, there was an unmistakable sense that we had all just experienced a musical victory akin to winning the Super Bowl. Champions indeed, and what an extraordinary night it was!

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Queen + Adam Lambert // The Rhapsody Tour 2022 // Live Review // The SSE Arena // Belfast

Queen are the reason why I am here tonight, not the gig, not the event, the spectacle, but the band that stole my heart many years ago. They’re ultimately the reason why I am a concert photographer today, Queen Live Killers , THE 1979 live album that opened up a world to me that I had to be in the middle of, the imagery, the live shots of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor captured a moment in time forever.  

Tonight will be my third time seeing them live, the last time in Belfast was with Paul Rodgers on vocals, a very special night indeed capturing Paul working his own brand of magic that night. The next time was at Marlay Park in Dublin when I caught Mr Lambert for the very first time in the flesh and I was simply blown away. Fast forward a few years, throw in a global pandemic and we’re finally on the other side of it, back at the SSE Arena with the Majestic Queen + Adam Lambert to a packed out house on the opening night of their Rhapsody Tour. One of two nights the guys are playing here in Belfast,   So the perfect opportunity to find their feet once again post-pandemic with old friends.  

Find Queen Tour Tickets Here:

The arena is rammed, you forget the intensity of 9,000 odd bodies packed into one room, the heat, the scent, the energy is palpable. Belfast is in fine form as Mexican waves flow around the arena as the crowd grows impatient. Finally, the lights drop and the gargantuan video screens protecting the stage lift and Brian May (Well what we think is Mr May) appears as a line figure, as it turns out Brian actually rises up from below the stage, front and centre while it is actually Adam up above as the two meet to greet the Belfast screaming Belfast crowd.  

From that point on its just chaos, it’s hard to keep up with the number of tracks that ensue, Queen’s back catalogue is a behemoth in size, every album has two or three fan favourites and the time just seems to disappear as you get lost in the soundtrack of your youth. Adam Lambert is a revelation, a fitting addition to a legendary band with a legendary gap to fill. Lambert’s personality is as big as his voice and he commands the stage with ease. An array of sparkly outfits that must take up a truck alone and shoulder pads Joan Collins would be proud of, while Brian sticks to the black jeans and occasionally throws on a military jacket. But with a persona as big and flamboyant as Adam’s why compete, just let the music do the talking.  

The real winner here is the sound quality, for a venue of this size the sound is impeccable. The PA is huge, like HUGE but in no way overwhelming so you get all the nuances you would want from a band like Queen, the vocal harmonies are sublime and Lambert’s voice is blended beautifully against the backdrop of the supporting vocalists, Brian’s guitar work cutting through like a knife and those Vox AC30’s calling my name.  

One of the highlights for many and for myself personally is always Brian May taking centre stage and playing ‘Love Of My Life’ tonight was no different, a fan favourite the lights dimmed as Brian walks down the runway taking a seat and breaking into song as the Belfast support as best they can. The phones held aloft as they light up the SSE arena like a million stars in the Belfast night sky, Brian picks the tempo once again before Roger takes to the stage to sing ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives’  

A beautiful tribute was paid to the one, the only Mr Taylor Hawkins with ‘Under Pressure’ played with Brian, Roger and Adam up front and centre on the runway and Belfast erupted with adulation as they did, a timeless classic like so many Queen songs take on more meaning with the loss of Taylor, gone but never forgotten.  

Without throwing in too many spoilers as this is only the first date of their UK and European tour, what are you in for in 2022 with Queen + Adam Lambert? Two hours and thirty minutes of one of the best catalogues of music in the industry, the most spectacular lighting show that in its own way pays homage to the Queen Live Killer’s colour palette. There are plenty of surprises thrown in to keep long time fans on their toes against a backdrop of some of the greatest rock songs performed the only way Queen know-how. Lambert’s vocals are stunning, after two years of hiatus there is always a chance that life back on the road and the readjustment can show up, but not tonight. For any Queen fan, this will be the closest thing to a religious experience, it is hard not to get caught up in the emotion of the moment and the release and relief of being able to enjoy and give into an evening of blissful entertainment after an incredibly tough for everyone in that stadium. But this is what living is all about, moments like these, memories that you will carry with you for a lifetime. I could see people of all ages, little kids with ear defenders with their mums, grannies in tow giving it their all. That is the beauty of a band like Queen and the indelible mark they have made in the history of music.

For me quite simply, Queen + Adam Lambert = My happy place.

Adam Lambert

Photography by Mark McGrogan

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Freddie Mercury's spirit infuses a rollicking, special Queen + Adam Lambert show at COTA

You still hear Freddie Mercury first.

The iconic, late Queen frontman wrote a rock catalog so sprawling and emotive that 50 years after the debut album, a sea of car enthusiasts sang it back to his O.G. co-conspirators. That’d be guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, who took their muscular catalog to Circuit of the Americas on Saturday night during Formula 1 to mark the English band’s first-ever Austin appearance .

It was Mercury’s spirit punctuating the night. His piped-in vocals during the baroque, silly harmonies of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” (Before May emerged from an underground platform to shred the “So you think you can stop me and spit in my eye?” breakdown.) Mercury’s canned vocals dueted with May during an acoustic, haunting, phones-in-the-sky version of “Love Of My Life.” Also during set-opening “Machines (or Back to Humans),” a less-beloved song from 1984. And then at the end they played that stirring “Ay-Oh!” call-and-response video from “Live at Wembley ‘86” before set-closing sister smashes “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”

On lead vocals, 10 years into the gig he told COTA, was former “American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert.

“Every time I get up here I get Freddie Mercury in my heart,” he told a sea of globalist stans. “Let’s keep the party going for him.”

At this point in the show, the band jetset into “Don’t Stop Me Now,” the most fantastical and empowering pregame anthem of 1978. During that “I want to make a supersonic man out of you” part, Lambert made eye contact with this reporter and pointed. It was exhilarating showmanship.

A day at the races

If there’s a tragedy to Austin, it’s that locals never do the fun stuff.

Reader, you just can’t listen to the haters. They’ll always tell you it’s too much trouble to get out to COTA. The traffic and parking, out-of-towners and costs. And also gentrification!

It’s a life lesson. Ignore them and take that trip. You’ll discover they have Wi-Fi, 7-Elevens, and Uber in Mexico City and it’s a short subway ride out to the Eras Tour.

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Locally, Formula 1 weekend has for the past decade seemed impenetrable to everyone I know except for the Mexican relatives of mine who fly in for it and stay at the house. You observe the billboards off Ben White in Southwest Austin and think, “Eh, it’s too expensive and I’m not a racing fan. How do I even get into Bruno Mars? ”

You didn’t hear it from me, but a real sweet spot is showing up around 6 p.m., after the day’s racing and about 90 minutes before the evening Formula 1 concerts. Race patrons are exiting and you can funnel up to Lot F for elite parking. Then you walk into the COTA crowd and next thing you know, you’re onto the lawn seating entrance.

More: Watch as Oracle Red Bull Racing flies new F1 car across downtown Austin via helicopter

This is where, around 6:30 p.m., a sea of rock fans sprinted into the lawn for open seating at the "Super Stage" built for the weekend shows.

It’s like those Longhorn City Limits concerts , effectively: Zig when they zag and you’re suddenly watching a free Big Boi concert before a football game.

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Plus, the tourists are nice, polite and really into cars. You can tell who’s local by the clock display on their iPhones.

“I’m kind of embarrassed to say but I burned the clutch a little bit,” a patron small-talked behind me preshow. He flew in from the Midwest, he said, and recounted to a stranger his thrill at once test-driving a McLaren. Nearby, another traveler said Queen was her favorite band and so this was her bachelorette sendoff. She showed family photos of her fiancé to a Mexican mother-daughter duo.

Formula 1 is huge south of the border and especially these days because of driver Sergio “Checo” Perez , who is Mexican. Post-show, all you heard on the long walk to Lot F was the “olé” chant with “Cheh-co” substituted in.

A kind of magic

Longtime Queen fans like myself — I was let go from UT’s student radio station back in 2005 for playing two-hours-worth of a Queen box set; it was a cool, older LGBTQ cousin of mine who introduced me to the band as a 6-year-old; my little brother owns a Red Special replica guitar — can agree that there is “Good Queen” and “Bad Queen.”

You have eight awesome albums from 1973 to 1980’s “The Game.” That’s Good Queen. Beginning with 1980’s “Flash Gordon” soundtrack, that’s Bad Queen: a series of bloated, synthesizer-heavy, exposed-as-corny-by-the-onset-of-the-MTV-era records.

Remember, it was Bad Queen that caught flak for performing at a South African resort during peak apartheid hours. Bad Queen is why Gen Xers much prefer Guns ‘N Roses.

Yet it’s precisely this material that Lambert revitalized at COTA. He was whole-heartedly invested.

More: 'We are in a good place': The more F1 changes, the more COTA remains as strong as ever

Dressed like a gold Power Ranger in a free-flowing cape, he belted the weirdly anti-communist “Hammer to Fall” lyrics as Taylor and May perfected the three-part harmonies with their instantly familiar background vocals. “I Want It All,” a self-actualizing anthem you’ve heard in ads for sales events, landed with universal ease. During “A Kind of Magic,” which appeared in the schlocky ‘80s flick “Highlander,” Lambert’s pipes soared and May shot fireworks from his guitar into the crowd three times. “Who Wants to Live Forever?” and “The Show Must Go On” are basically pre-final-act Broadway numbers that Lambert treated as grandiose finales.

Freakin’ “Radio Ga Ga '' not only made the setlist but was reprised during encores.

But let’s be clear: It matters that Lambert is not only gay but an LGBTQ activist . Mercury, who compromised his sexuality in public, expressed his love and pain through song. “Somebody to Love” doesn’t work if it’s just a surface-level observation about not finding a boring heterosexual Hinge date. Even the charming and winking “Fat-Bottomed Girl” benefits from an LGBTQ perspective as a sendup of horny southern rock.

“Who's here to see the F1 guys?” May asked prior to his acoustic “Love Of My Life,” a Mercury song about the profound love he had for his girlfriend Mary Austin that was more paltonic than romantic.

You forget that Queen does heartbreak better than most Western secular pop outfits, so even the Dutch racing nerds felt something.

Queen + Adam Lambert October 21, 2023, setlist at Circuit of the Americas

“Machines (Or Back to Humans)”

“Radio Ga Ga”

“Hammer to Fall”

“Another One Bites the Dust”

“I’m In Love With My Car”

“Fat-Bottomed Girls”

“I Want It All”

“A Kind of Magic”

“Don’t Stop Me Now”

“Somebody to Love”

“Love Of My Life”

“Under Pressure”

“Tie Your Mother Down”

“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”

“I Want to Break Free”

“Who Wants to Live Forever?”

“The Show Must Go On”

“Bohemian Rhapsody”

“Ay-Oh! (video)”

“We Will Rock You”

“Machines (Or Back to Humans) reprise”

“Radio Ga Ga reprise”

“We Are the Champions”

“God Save the Queen outro”

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Queen + Adam Lambert Begin North American Rhapsody Tour

Queen + Adam Lambert, Baltimore, Md., Oct. 4, 2023 (Photo: Bojan Hohnjec © Miracle Productions LLP; used with permission)

Queen + Adam Lambert began their highly acclaimed Rhapsody Tour of North America on Wednesday (October 4, 2023). The concert, at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Md., featured Brian May, Roger Taylor and their frontman Adam Lambert in an expanded and updated production, with 27 songs presented in five acts plus encore. Tickets for the 23-date tour, which continues through Nov. 12, are available here .

When the Live Nation-produced tour was announced, the newly knighted May said, “Our last tour featured our most ambitious production ever. So we decided to rip it apart and get even more ambitious. Watch out world.”

As with last year’s U.K. and European dates, the 2023 North American tour see Queen + Adam Lambert supported on stage by their regular band members, long-serving Queen keyboard player and musical director Spike Edney, bass guitarist Neil Fairclough and percussionist Tyler Warren.

From the March 24, 2023, announcement: Queen + Adam Lambert ’s 150-minute career-spanning set list celebrates the band’s extraordinary back catalog, lining up wall-to-wall immortal anthems like “We Will Rock You,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” and “Somebody To Love,” alongside classic deep cuts and vintage fan favorites. The production features a dazzling state-of-the-art stage design, incredible special effects and set pieces.

Watch them perform “Fat Bottomed Girls” during Act 2 on opening night

Midway through Act 4, Lambert and Taylor performed co-lead vocals on “Under Pressure.”

Having extensively toured over the last few years, the Rhapsody show is forever evolving. But it remains at heart a tribute to Freddie Mercury’s majestic legacy, a confirmation of May and Taylor’s musical prowess, plus a magnificent showcase for Lambert’s vocal skills and electrifying stage charisma, all of which adds up to a glorious full-blooded celebration of one of the greatest songbooks in rock history.

Freddie’s performance with Queen at Wembley in 1986 kicked off the evening’s encores, and continued as the band played “We Will Rock You.”

Queen + Adam Lambert ‘The Rhapsody’ Tour 2023 (Tickets are available here  and here ) Oct 05 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena Oct 08 – Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena Oct 10 — Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena Oct 12 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden Oct 13 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden Oct 15 – Boston, MA – TD Garden Oct 16 – Boston, MA – TD Garden Oct 18 — Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center Oct 21 – Austin, TX – Circuit of The Americas Oct 23 — Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena Oct 25 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena Oct 27 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center Oct 28 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center Oct 30 — Chicago, IL – United Center Oct 31 — Chicago, IL – United Center Nov 02 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center Nov 03 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center Nov 05 — Denver, CO – Ball Arena Nov 08 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center Nov 09 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center Nov 11 – Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium Nov 12 – Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium

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Queen + Adam Lambert Announce 2023 North American ‘Rhapsody’ Tour Dates

By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

Queen + Adam Lambert are bringing their Rhapsody Tour back to North America for their first shows on this side of the Atlantic since 2019. The tour kicks off Oct. 4 in Baltimore, Maryland, and wraps up Nov. 11 in Los Angeles, California.

“This tour has lots of new bells and lots of new whistles,” Queen guitarist Brian May tells Rolling Stone . “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. There’s lots of new production and stuff we want to excite you with.”

The set will focus on Queen classics like “Another One Bites The Dust,” “Somebody to Love,” and “Radio Ga Ga.” But they sprinkled in deep cuts like “Tear It Up” and “A King of Magic” in Europe last year, and hope to keep doing that.

“This show has evolved since its been in America since we’ve taken it around the world,” adds drummer Roger Taylor. “It’s quite a different show in a way, while retaining all the big hits, which so many people want to hear.”

Ticket sales begin Friday, March 31. In an effort to keep prices low and reduce scalping, the band is going to utilize the Ticketmaster Face Value Exchange, which makes it impossible to sell tickets for more than face value. “It’s an experiment,” says May. “We got sick of seeing our fans get ripped off by scalpers. We’re hoping this works out.”

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Queen + Adam Lambert first played together on the 2009 finale of American Idol. They began gigging together in 2012, and have stayed on the road consistently over the past decade. Filling in for Freddie Mercury was a daunting task at first for Lambert, but he’s grown very comfortable with the job over the years.

“I feel less anxiety now,” he says. “I’ve matured as a performer. I trust myself a bit more. I will say that when the movie [ Bohemian Rhapsody ] came out, we had all these new fans, and many of them were young, I felt this little pang of, ‘Oh, these are new fans that haven’t been to a show yet.’ I needed to prove myself again, which is good. It keeps me on my game.”

The 2018 movie was an enormous success that grossed $911 million and won four Academy Awards, including Best Actor for star Rami Malek. It ends at Live Aid in 1985, and there’s been scattered talk over the past few years of a sequel that would chronicle Mercury’s final years.

“We need a script,” says May. “That’s what it comes down to. It took us 12 years to get the script for Bohemian Rhapsody , and get the right team in place. I’m not anxious. I think if the right thing comes along, it might work. We have our wonderful producer, Graham King, on it. It’s a possibility. If the right planets align, it might happen.”

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“He would be welcome,” adds Taylor. “But I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

At the moment, this next leg of the Rhapsody Tour is just 14 shows, but it’s very possible they’ll tack on more. “People are buying tickets,” says Lambert. “And hey, we like performing.”

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Queen + Adam Lambert 2023 North American Tour Dates

Oct. 4 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena Oct. 8 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena Oct. 10 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena Oct. 12 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden Oct. 15 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden Oct. 18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center Oct. 23 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena Oct. 25 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena Oct. 27 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center Oct. 30 – Chicago, IL @ United Center Nov. 2 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center Nov. 5 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena Nov. 8 – San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center Nov. 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ BMO Stadium

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Listen to Queen Classics, Commentary, and More on Their SiriusXM Channel

Dive into the band’s musical world from now through November 10!

Dive into the entire musical world of Queen with the return of SiriusXM’s The Queen Channel , available exclusively on the SiriusXM App from October 12 through November 10. The channel will also air on SiriusXM channel 104 from October 16 through October 22!

Stream The Queen Channel on the SiriusXM App & web player

As Queen + Adam Lambert continue The Rhapsody Tour, rediscover all that is Queen with intriguing insight from Brian May, Roger Taylor, Adam Lambert, and the late Freddie Mercury. Dive deep into the vast archives of experimental, bold, and undeniably-Queen music.

Fifty years after the band’s self-titled debut album, hear iconic anthems and the stories behind them, plus rare outtakes and electric live performances. Starting October 12 at 1pm ET, listen to Guest DJ sessions from Queen fans Ann Wilson of Heart, Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones and more. Plus, SiriusXM listeners voted on their favorite Queen songs, revealed in Quintessential Queen: Top 50 Countdown, premiering Monday, October 16 at 12pm ET.

Queen + Adam Lambert’s Rhapsody Tour

Queen — with original band members Brian May and Roger Taylor plus longtime front-man Adam Lambert on lead vocals — recently kicked off their highly-anticipated, 23-date North American Rhapsody Tour. Get tickets here.

Queen + Adam Lambert’s 150-minute career-spanning set list celebrates the band’s extraordinary back catalog, lining up wall-to-wall immortal anthems like “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Radio Ga Ga,” and “Somebody To Love,” alongside classic deep cuts and vintage fan favorites. Featuring a dazzling state-of-the-art stage design, incredible special effects, and set pieces, this sense-swamping extravaganza has been blowing critics and fans away the world over since its very first unveiling in North America in 2019.

The 2023 North American tour sees Queen + Adam Lambert supported on stage by their regular band members: long-serving Queen keyboard player Spike Edney, bass guitarist Neil Fairclough, and percussionist Tyler Warren.

Having extensively toured since it first debuted in North America in 2019, the Rhapsody show is forever evolving. But it remains at heart a tribute to Freddie Mercury’s majestic legacy, a confirmation of Brian and Roger’s undimmed musical prowess, plus a magnificent showcase for Adam’s vocal skills and electrifying stage charisma, all adding up to a glorious full-blooded celebration of one of the greatest songbooks in rock history.

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT NORTH AMERICA THE RHAPSODY TOUR 2023 DATES:

Mon Oct 16 – Boston, MA – TD Garden Wed Oct 18 — Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center Sat Oct 21— Austin, TX– Circuit of The Americas Mon Oct 23 — Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena Wed Oct 25 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena Fri Oct 27 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center Sat Oct 28 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center Mon Oct 30 — Chicago, IL – United Center Tue Oct 31 — Chicago, IL – United Center Thu Nov 02 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center Fri Nov 03 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center Sun Nov 05 — Denver, CO – Ball Arena Wed Nov 08 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center Thu Nov 09 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center Sat Nov 11 – Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium Sun Nov 12 – Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium

Listen to Taylor Swift’s SiriusXM Channel for a Limited Time

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Concert review: Madonna, despite voice issues, celebrates pop history at first of two Houston shows

The celebration must go on — even when the queen of pop isn’t feeling well. 

"My voice is not so great tonight," Madonna confessed to Thursday night’s crowd at Toyota Center. It was the first of (hopefully) two shows.

BLONDE AMBITION:  A history of Madonna in Houston, from Hofheinz Pavilion to the Astrodome

She was more than halfway through a nearly two-and-a-half hour set. But it was apparent earlier that she wasn’t feeling well. Her voice got raspier as the night went on, and there was some hesitation in her steps. It was clear she wasn't lip-syncing.

Rest up. Madonna. Even if that means rescheduling a few shows. (As of now, nothing has been canceled.) Last year, Madonna postponed the original Celebration Tour dates because of a serious bacterial infection that resulted in her being placed in a medically induced coma for 48 hours.

Still, Madonna at 75-percent in Houston is better than most acts at full tilt. Her catalog plays like a complete history of pop music, and she showcases it magnificently during The Celebration Tour. Most of her  previous outings have focused on new music. This is the first tour that hasn’t followed a new studio album. Many of the songs haven’t been performed live in several years — or ever. Arranged together across one night, it's a towering achievement.

"Are you ready to take a ride with me?" Madonna asked. The crowd had been for months, and they showed up in classic Madonna looks. Lots of '80s tulle, cowboy hats, sequins and leather.

It’s exhilarating to finally hear her sing "Bedtime Story" and "Take a Bow." We even get "Erotica" and "Justify My Love," overtly sexual songs that would probably be banned today from radio. An army of dancers stomped the stage in recreations of Madonna’s most iconic looks, from "Frozen" goth to "Material Girl" Marilyn to "Music"-era cowgirl. During "Open Your Heart," she recreated the music video's art deco peepshow. There were sweet tributes to fallen pop idols Prince and Michael Jackson, who defined the '80s alongside Madonna.

Bob the Drag Queen, "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 8 winner, served as the night's emcee and kicked things off at 10:05 p.m. for those keeping track. (FYI, Madonna has always done that. She went on at 10 p.m. in 1987 for the Who's That Girl World Tour.) Bob appeared from the back of the venue, dressed as Madonna-as-Marie-Antoinette from the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards.

"Drag Race" queens popped up throughout the night. Gottmik, the first trans man to compete on "Drag Race," was the surprise guest during the ballroom judging sequence. Detox, who competed on regular and "All Stars" seasons, was seated near the front of the stage.

Celebration also meant family. Madonna's four adopted children showed up onstage in various capacities. David Banda, handsome and confident, walked the runway during "Vogue," played guitar and joined Madonna on deep cut "Mother and Father" as images of his birth parents flashed onscreen. Daughter Mercy James was poised on the piano during "Bad Girl," another song fans thought they'd never hear live. Twins Stella and Estere DJ-ed and danced, holding their own against the older professionals.

"I'm so proud of them. And I'm harder on them than anyone else (on the tour)," Madonna said.

The main stage piece was reminiscent of the wedding cake set from Madonna's legendary 1984 performance on MTV. She stood still as it rotated and rose during opener "Nothing Really Matters." The show itself was framed as a journey through Madonna's musical life, from gritty New York clubs and red velvet beds to the balcony of the Casa Rosada and, finally, the top of the world.

Madonna frequently interacted with a masked dancer meant to be a reflection of herself. The person, she said, who never let her down. She introduced a fuzzy "Burning Up" as the first song she wrote on guitar, only to restart it because of sound problems.

"My guitar teacher is here tonight. Don’t embarrass me," she said, referring to Longview native Monte Pittman.

Later, Madonna dedicated a twangy, acoustic version of "Express Yourself" to Pittman and said she was "forever indebted to him."

The show's most powerful moments were those most personal to Madonna. The scrappy '80s joy of "Holiday" was cut short by an onstage death meant to symbolize the AIDS epidemic. It segued into "Live to Tell" as images of people who died of AIDS, including Freddie Mercury and Anthony Perkins, filled multiple screens across the venue.

"Like a Prayer," always a live highlight, was lifted by religious iconography and an interpolation of Sam Smith's "Unholy." A carousel of dancers contorted their bodies amid crosses. Madonna draped herself in the progressive Pride flag featuring trans colors during a snippet of "Evita" tune "Don't Cry for Me Argentina." She soared above the crowd inside a giant frame, wearing pink hair and a silver bodysuit, during an electrifying "Ray of Light."

"Bitch, I'm Madonna," she asserted in song near the end of the set. Indeed she was, she is and always will be. Even with a sore throat.

XSCAPE & SWV Announce The Queens Of R&B Tour With Special Guests Mýa, Total, And 702

Tickets Available Starting Tuesday, March 26 with Citi Presale

General onsale begins on friday, march 29 at 10am local on ticketmaster. com.

Following a teaser on socials that ignited fervent excitement among fans, the legendary groups XSCAPE and SWV have reunited for The Queens of R&B Tour with support from MÝA , Total , and 702 . The Queens Of R&B Tour is a testament to the power of what can be accomplished when women come together with respect, admiration and undeniable talent. It is a celebration of passion, power, resilience and unstoppable ability to exceed expectations. The highly anticipated tour will be an unforgettable experience filled with timeless R&B music and stellar performances that are set to captivate audiences across 30 cities nationwide.

Produced by Monami Entertainment and Live Nation and represented by Seth Shomes through Day After Day Productions (DADP) the tour will kick off on June 27th in Concord, CA, at the Toyota Pavilion at Concord and continue its journey across the country, making stops at prestigious venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Full routing and ticketing information is available below.

“To announce this HERstorical tour during Women’s History Month means everything. It speaks to the power of our ability as women to overcome adversity and emerge triumphant,” said Mona Scott-Young , Founder and CEO of Monami Entertainment. “702, Total, Mýa, SWV, and Xscape have all weathered storms and are still here and better than ever! We are so excited to bring the fans an incredible and undeniable performance experience that truly celebrates R&B music.”

Tickets for this monumental event will be available starting with a Citi presale on Tuesday, March 26. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale starting Friday, March 29, at 10:00 AM local time on Ticketmaster.com .

THE QUEENS OF R&B TOUR DATES:

Thu Jun 27 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord

Sat Jun 29 – Las Vegas, NV – Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino

Tue Jul 02 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Wed Jul 03 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

Fri Jul 05 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

Sat Jul 06 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman

Tue Jul 09 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena

Wed Jul 10 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at The BJCC

Fri Jul 12 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place

Sat Jul 13 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Sun Jul 14 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Tue Jul 16 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre

Wed Jul 17 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

Fri Jul 19 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena*

Sat Jul 20 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Sun Jul 21 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

Wed Jul 24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Thu Jul 25 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

Fri Jul 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

Sat Jul 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall

Fri Aug 02 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater

Sat Aug 03 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview

Sun Aug 04 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

Tue Aug 06 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater

Fri Aug 09 – Detroit, MI – LIttle Caesar’s Arena

Sat Aug 10 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center

Sun Aug 11 – Chicago, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

Tue Aug 13 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena

Wed Aug 14 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center

Sun Aug 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

* Without Mýa

About Monami Entertainment:

Monami Entertainment is a dynamic leader in lifestyle and entertainment, specializing in talent management and cross-platform brand development. Led by founder Mona Scott-Young, the company boasts a stellar track record across music, film/television, experiential marketing, content creation, publishing and consumer products. Manager to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Missy Elliott, Hip Hop legend Busta Rhymes and breakthrough female rapper ScarLip, Scott-Young’s acumen and expertise nurtures and elevates her clients. Company subsidiary Monami Productions delivers hit programming for Viacom, Amazon, WEtv, Bravo and more. Through passion, creativity and innovation, Monami Entertainment continues to redefine the global entertainment landscape.

About Live Nation Entertainment:

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

Media Contacts:

For media inquiries on The Queens of R&B Tour, please contact:

Andre Watson | [email protected]

Khalil Miles | [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

Valeska Thomas | [email protected]

Monami Entertainment

Carrie Simons Kemper | [email protected]

Read more about

• Manage Account

Xscape, SWV Co-Headline 2024 The Queens of R&B Tour

MYA, 702 and Total are special guests on Monami Entertainment and Live Nation-produced tour that kicks off June 27.

By Gail Mitchell

Gail Mitchell

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IVE Reflect on Emotional 'Show What I Have' Tour Finale in Newark: 'It Gave Us So Much Inspiration'

Trending on billboard.

A Citi presale begins on March 26; additional presales run through the week ahead of the general sale that starts March 29 (10 a.m. local time) via Ticketmaster .

Check out the dates for The Queens of R&B Tour below:

*without MYA

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‘The Queens of R&B Tour’: Where to get tickets to see Xscape and SWV

• Updated: Mar. 26, 2024, 2:37 p.m. |
• Published: Mar. 26, 2024, 2:36 p.m.

“The Queens of R&B Tour” featuring Xscape and SWV includes some stops on the East Coast - July 19 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.; July 24 at Madison Square Garden in New York; July 25 at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey; or July 27 at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Photo by Derek Blanks | crowdMGMT

• Deb Kiner | [email protected]

Legendary R&B groups Xscape and SWV are reuniting for “The Queens of R&B Tour” that starts in June in California.

The tour will receive support from Mýa, Total and 702.

“‘The Queens Of R&B Tour’ is a testament to the power of what can be accomplished when women come together with respect, admiration and undeniable talent. It is a celebration of passion, power, resilience and unstoppable ability to exceed expectations.

“The highly anticipated tour will be an unforgettable experience filled with timeless R&B music and stellar performances that are set to captivate audiences across 30 cities nationwide,” Live Nation said in a news release.

While the tour will not stop in Pa., fans can see the show on July 19 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.; July 24 at Madison Square Garden in New York; July 25 at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey; or July 27 at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Ticket presales, including for Citi card members, have started. General ticket sales start at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 29, on Ticketmaster.

Fans also can find tickets on Stubhub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek.

Tour dates also include:

June 27 - Concord, California

June 29 - Las Vegas, Nevada

July 2 - Phoenix, Arizona

July 3 - Albuquerque, New Mexico

July 5 - Dallas, Texas

July 6 - The Woodlands, Texas

July 9 - North Little Rock, Arkansas

July 10 - Birmingham, Alabama

July 12 - Jacksonville, Florida

July 13 - Tampa, Florida

July 14 - West Palm Beach, Florida

July 16 - Atlanta, Georgia

July 17 - Charlotte, North Carolina

July 20 - Raleigh, North Carolina

July 21 - Virginia Beach, Virginia

July 26 - Boston, Massachusetts

Aug. 2 - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Aug. 3 - Syracuse, New York

Aug. 4 - Toronto, Canada

Aug. 6 - Buffalo, New York

Aug. 9 - Detroit, Michigan

Aug. 10 - Cleveland, Ohio

Aug. 11 - Chicago, Illinois

Aug. 13 - St. Louis, Missouri

Aug. 14 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Aug. 18 - Los Angeles, California

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