QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT HEADLINE SET 'WON'T BE A FREDDIE MERCURY SHOW', SAYS SONISPHERE CHIEF

STEREOBOARD
Saturday, 03 March 2012 Written by Elliott Batte


Stuart Galbraith, chief and overseer of Knebworth’s Sonisphere Festival, has told Queen fans hoping to attend the event in July that if ‘they are looking for a Freddie Mercury show, they aren't going to get it’ – but promised it would still be ‘one of the best performances’.

Queen will be performing a headline set at the festival, which takes place from July 6th-8th, alongside American Idol singer Adam Lambert, who covered the group’s tracks during his appearance on the show. He’s been heavily praised by Brian May and Roger Taylor – and seems to have impressed them enough for them to invite him to join them onstage at Sonisphere. But, according to Galbraith, their set won’t be too reminiscent of Freddie Mercury’s unique style – but will still be an epic performance nonetheless.

“If people are looking for a Freddie Mercury show, then they aren't going to get it,” he told NME. “But I think the Queen songs are huge, I think they fit perfectly with the Knebworth environment and perfectly with Sonisphere. I think it'll be one of the best performances we've seen from a headliner, it's the only show in the world they're doing. It's a huge coup for us.

“I rang them the day after the MTV EMAs [where Queen performed with Lambert]. I thought their performance with Adam that night was stunning and I literally rang them the following day. They weren't hesitant at all. It was one of those calls that was at the right time. It was surprisingly straightforward. Knebworth has a very dear place in their hearts; it was the last place that Freddie ever sang with the band. It's been 26 years since then and the idea of playing there again instantly struck a chord with them. They were into the idea right from the start.”

If you’re interesting in attending the festival, check the full line-up below and use the link provided to purchase tickets at the best possible price with Stereoboard.

Click here to Compare & Buy Sonisphere Tickets at Stereoboard.

Queen
Kiss
Faith No More
Tim Minchin
Andrew WK
The Blackout
Cypress Hill
Evanescence
Fields Of The Nephilim
Flogging Molly
Ghost
Gojira
I Killed The Prom Queen
Incubus
Katatonia
Lacuna Coil
Marilyn Manson
Mastodon
Refused
Switchfoot
The Darkness
Within Temptation
Wolfmother
 

ADAM LAMBERT 'Honored' To Sing With QUEEN

credit: blabbermouth.net

"Access Hollywood" caught up with U.S. singer-songwriter, and "American Idol" finalist, Adam Lambert on the red carpet for the 20th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party and asked him about singing with QUEEN at United Kingdom's Sonisphere festival this summer. You can watch the short chat below.

Having last week announced a special one-off U.K. concert performing with Lambert at the Sonisphere festival on July 7, legendary rock band QUEEN has announced it will play an additional earlier date with the singer when QUEEN and Lambert appear at Moscow's Olympic Arena on June 30.

These two shows are the only concerts presently planned for QUEEN and Lambert in 2012.

The potent chemistry between QUEEN and Lambert broke the surface when at the invitation of Brian May and Roger Taylor, Lambert joined them for the closing showcase at the recent MTV Europe Music Awards where QUEEN were present to collect their "Global Icon" award.

During a recent interview with NME.com, Lambert insisted that he is not trying to replace the later Freddie Mercury. He said, "The way I look at it is I'm not trying to imitate or outdo him or compete in any way, that's not even in my mind at all, I think it's really an honor to be asked to sing the music that he and the band wrote and get up there and put on a good show. If people are too busy trying to compare, they're not going to enjoy the music."

Although Lambert did not rule out another collaboration with QUEEN in the future, he insisted that for now the Knebworth show is simply a one-off. He told NME.com, "One of the things [people have said] was, 'He's gonna be the permanent frontman of QUEEN.' And although that would be a beautiful experience, the tricky thing this year for me is I also have my album coming out, 'Trespassing', and that's gonna take a lot of work and time and energy. So it's really a one-off experience with the band, and I'm really excited for it. But I'm not joining the band and touring with them."