Queen drummer Roger Taylor has said
Freddie Mercury would approve of Adam Lambert.
Taylor, Lambert and guitarist Brian May
are preparing for a series of North America Queen dates.
Mercury, the band's original frontman,
died in 1991 of complications due to AIDS.
Lambert, who fronted for the British
band in a series of highly successful European shows in 2012,
discussed stepping into Mercury's shoes during a press conference to
announce the new tour.
“He's a big idol for me and I thought
to myself, you know, I hope that the fans dig this,” Lambert said.
“And it felt really good. The reception was warm. The reaction to
it the first time was very warm. It's a treat for me to get on stage
and pay my respects and to pay tribute to one of my favorite singers
ever.”
Speaking this week to Germany's
Bluewin, Taylor reiterated that nobody can replace
Mercury.
“When Brian and I give concerts as
Queen, we don't want anyone to imitate Freddie – because no one can
replace him for us.”
“Adam Lambert is an independent
artist. It fits us perfectly, because he is so theatrical, a true
diva. Freddie would love him,” Taylor added.
The North American tour kicks off June
19 at the United Center in Chicago and will conclude July 20 at the
Merriweather Post Pavilion in Washington, D.C. Other stops included
are New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Vancouver, Montreal and Las Vegas.