British band Queen to tour Australia in August with Adam Lambert replacing Freddie Mercury on vocals

LEGENDARY British band Queen is set to tour Australia in August. But who will replace the incomparable Freddie Mercury on vocals?

In Freddie’s memory ... Adam Lambert performing with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor.

QUEEN will tour Australia in August with Adam Lambert as guest vocalist.

Lambert first worked with Queen when they joined him on A merican Idol in 2009.

His vocal range has been compared to the man he will replace — the late Freddie Mercury.

Queen and Adam Lambert will play Perth Arena on August 22, Sydney’s Allphones Arena on August 26, Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on August 29 and Brisbane Entertainment Centre on September 1. Tickets go on sale May 28.

Early days ... Queen members John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor.

It will the first time Queen have toured Australia since 1985, however only guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor remain from the original line-up.

Mercury died in 1991, original bassist John Deacon last played with Queen in 1997.

The band, who have played a handful of shows with Lambert over the last three years, have hinted this will could be their final tour.

“This may be the last chance Australian fans have to see one of the greatest rock bands in history,” promoter Paul Dainty said.

It will be the first time Lambert has committed to Queen for an extended period of time, with a US tour starting in June.

“I’m completely in awe of the Queen phenomenon,” Lambert said. “The thought of sharing the stage for a full set in Australia is so beautifully surreal. I’m honoured to be able to pay my respects to Freddie’s memory; he’s a personal hero of mine, and I am deeply grateful for the chance to sing such powerful music for fans of this legendary band.

“I know this tour will be a huge milestone for me, and with the support of Brian, Roger and the rest of the band, I feel like magic will be on display.”

In Freddie’s memory ... Adam Lambert performing with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor.

May and Taylor reactivated Queen as a touring act in 2005 with Free/Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers.

While they recorded an album, The Cosmos Rocks, it peaked at No. 49 in Australia in 2008, but was Top 5 in the UK.

Lambert, who was discovered on American Idol, has toured Australia on his own before and is working on a new album after leaving major label Sony.

Queen’s classic Bohemian Rhapsody was the song Lambert auditioned for American Idol with.

Ready Freddie ... Queen during their 1985 Australian tour, promoting their album The Works.

DEATH IS NO OBSTACLE — OTHER REPLACEMENT SINGERS

INXS

After Michael Hutchence’s death in 1997 INXS have toured with three different singers — first Jon Stevens, then JD Fortune (from reality show Rock Star INXS) and most recently Irish Ciarin Gribbin. They stopped touring in 2012 however renewed interest in the band this year after the Never Tear Us Apart TV miniseries has led to rumours they may hit the road again.

AC/DC

Singer Bon Scott died in 1980, replaced by Brian Johnson whose first recording with the band was their highest-selling album Back in Black. He continues to sing tracks Scott made famous in AC/DC and regularly pays tribute the man who he replaced, joking he is still “the new guy” over 30 years later.

THE DOORS

IN 2002 Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger formed The Doors of the 21st Century, with Cult frontman Ian Astbury as vocalist. He was eventually replaced by Brett Scallions of one-hit-wonders Fuel and the project wound up after the death of Manzarek last year.

Originally published as British band Queen to tour Australia in August with Adam Lambert replacing Freddie Mercury on vocals