‘It’s because people want it’: Brian May on why Queen has moved forward with Adam Lambert

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Brian May addresses his willingness to continue Queen past the death of Freddie Mercury and the retirement of John Deacon, saying it’s not for the filthy lucre. He and Roger Taylor do, he says, for the fans.

“We don’t need the money and we don’t need the fame — so why would we do it?” May rhetorically asks the Times of Malta. “If the Queen legacy is going on and on, it’s not because of us. It’s because people want it. And now and again, it’s nice to give people what they want.”

Mercury, the group’s unforgettable frontman, has been gone since 1991. Bassist Deacon, who co-wrote several of Queen’s most iconic hits, left the stage not long after. Since, May and Taylor have paired with a series of guest singers, including George Michael, Paul Rodgers and — most recently — Adam Lambert. There has also been a long-running Queen-themed musical, and a travelling Queen Extravaganza featuring up and coming talent. Queen + Lambert kick off their first-ever stateside tour together this summer.

“I like it,” adds May, a credentialled scientist who has developed into a passionate animal-rights activist, as well. “I don’t have to it, and I certainly don’t want to do it all the time. After all, we did it for twenty years. I like to have the freedom to do [duo shows with Kerry Ellis], to do astronomy, to try to change the world with regards to animals.”

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