Roger Taylor defends the choice of Adam Lambert to front Queen after being asked, in a newly published talk with Classic Rock magazine, if he is “selling the band short by having a guy from American Idol as your singer.”
Taylor and Brian May will appear with Lambert at the iHeart music festival, to be held at the MGM Grand on September 20-21, 2013 in Las Vegas. He’s been filling in, over a series of appearances, since 2009 for Freddie Mercury — the legendary Queen singer who passed in 1991 after a bout with AIDS.
Posed the question about Lambert, Taylor fires back: “Whatever you do, people will take it or leave it. That’s always the case.”
Taylor has also completed a rare solo effort, his initial effort away from Queen since 1998’s Electric Fire.
Called Fun on Earth, it’s due in October, and will reportedly include a redo of “Say It’s Not True,” the debut single from the late-2000s collaboration with Lambert’s immediate successor in Queen, Paul Rodgers. This new take on the track, composed by Taylor and released in 2007 as a benefit for an AIDS foundation spearheaded by Nelson Mandela, will feature Jeff Beck on guitar.
Taylor says the project title, Fun on Earth, has special meaning.
“My first solo effort (in 1981) was called Fun in Space,” Taylor tells Classic Rock. “I’ve called this one Fun on Earth. I’ve come down to earth a bit, but there’s still a bit of fun in there — some smiley tracks.”
- Michael Attias, “Avrils” from ‘Quartet Music Vol. II- Kardamon Fall’ (2024): Streaming premiere - October 11, 2024
- Bryn Roberts, “Aloft” from ‘Aloft’ (2024): Video Premiere - September 20, 2024
- Five Moments From the Unlucky ‘Chicago 13’ That Weren’t Completely Terrible - August 14, 2024
What a strange “item” – Adam isn’t “filling in” – he’s simply singing with Brian and Roger. And a “series” implies a tour of some sort. They performed with Adam on the Idol finale (as they have with other contestants), they asked him to perform with them at the EMAs when given an honor, and because the Sonisphere gig was cancelled they decided to do several shows for fans & one for charity in Kiev. Fans have been clamoring for them to perform in the States so for whatever reason they are performing at iheart. It’s not some huge grand plan to usurp Freddie’s position. And Adam has always made it clear he isn’t trying to nor could ever “replace” Freddie, just sing with Brian & Roger and keep the music alive. Adam’s hardly just “any singer” either, let alone just “an American Idol contestant.” Can’t people just enjoy Queen’s music and Adam’s vocal abilites without making this in to a huge issue?
What a strange … comment. I’m no mathematician, of course, but you mention an appearance on Idol, a stop at the EMAs, “several” shows for fans, a Kiev charity gig and now the iHeart festival. How is that not “a series” of shows? And, in all of them, didn’t he replace Freddie Mercury, who has now unfortunately passed? I guess I don’t understand the outrage in describing those things as they, in fact, are. As for whether Lambert is just another singer, or just another contestant, well, that’s obviously in the eye (or ear) of the beholder. I’m not sure any one could deny, however, that’s he’s stepped in for Freddie over a series of shows. Would you prefer replaced? Filled in for? Stepped in for? Took over for? Subbed for? Does group of shows work better than ‘series’? String of shows? This is really a silly thing to argue over.
It’s kind of ridiculous to say anyone is stepping in for Mercury since he’s been deceased for over 20 years, plus a number of singers have performed with Queen since then before Adam. Is he stepping in for Paul Rodgers, then? Or the guy from Keane? Can’t remember who was last.
Also, a singer’s 5-month stint on the Idol competition out of a 20-year career spent mostly in musical theater and club dates and his own post-idol WW tour, etc. can hardly be called “an American Idol singer.” Oh, and 7 yrs of vocal training. Can we then call Beyonce and Timberlake “Star Search singers”?
Talent is talent, who cares how it came to the public eye.
What’s all this talk about whether Adam Lambert will or will not front Queen. I saw two shows in London with Queen/Adam and the audiences who were mostly die hard Queen fans go nuts over Adam’s voice, stage presence and charisma. Some of the ones there were one’s who at some point before the shows last year were reluctant about Adam fronting the band. But after experiencing Adam with Queen they were blown away and many were upset when Adam wasn’t allowed to sing with Queen for Olympics. They even sent letters and emails to Roger and Brian asking “where was Adam.”
No one is replacing Freddie Mercury. The person would have to be more than a singer. The person would have to be excellent in five categories: singer, songwriter, pianist, frontman, music composer. It’s never going to happen. Having someone fill in for a few shows is all they will be able to find.
its so silly to think that adam is coming just to fill the mercury place..adam is adam..he always sing his own versions..and we never compare adam with mercury..they are two different legend… but we enjoy queen..adam voice simply can suit those kind of songs..
I was a regular reader of Classic Rock and it’s sister Magazine Metal Hammer for many years before I ever became aware of/a fan of Adam Lambert, and I had always thought of them to be reputable music magazines, but since Adams involvement with Queen and their reaction to it I have had to revise my opinions.
I now find them to be narrow minded, homophobic and masochistic, and not really interested in the quality of the music they write about but more in the bragging rights and macho kudos they perceive they get from pushing their musical taste on other people while deriding those who they consider ‘Uncool” no matter what their musical talent.
Frankly I’m disappointed in them.