The chatter about Queen and Adam Lambert’s Australian tour started before tickets even went on sale. People were concerned about the former American Idol contestant being unable to step into the legendary Freddie Mercury’s shoes. Some unkind folks even suggested that it was shameless attempt to cash in on his legacy. I remember reading an interview with Adam at the time, and his words stuck with me. He said “If there’s somebody out there that feels really strongly that this isn’t the same Queen then don’t come. But if you don’t come you’re going to miss one hell of a show.”
The folks who filled up AllPhones Arena were certainly ready for the show. There was a buzz in the air, an enthusiasm that doesn’t often come when a band is missing a force like Freddie. But the thing is, while Freddie wasn’t there, Adam Lambert was, and he is exceptional.
That’s something I’ve always known. While I enjoyed his electro-pop singles, he first caught my eye on American Idol, where he showed a real depth and intensity, and a mean set of pipes. They were on full display at this show. Freddie had one of the best voices in the biz, and while Adam’s isn’t quite as rich he certainly hit all the right notes. That is an achievement in itself. His charisma really struck me though. If he felt daunted stepping into Freddie’s shoes, he didn’t show it. He didn’t try to be Freddie, but instead seemed confident in his own ability to entertain a crowd. He was sexy, naughty, and captivating. I was entranced.
Fittingly, Freddie was still a force at this show. It always felt a little off to me when I saw INXS perform over the years and they didn’t mention Michael Hutchence. But Freddie’s spirit was a key part of this concert. A tear came to my eye when he joined Brian May, thanks to the magic of video, in an exquisite stripped back version of “Love of My Life.” He was back again for “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which was always going to be a tough ask without the benefits of studio wizardry. Interlaying live vocals with archived video was so smart.
Not that the concert was perfect. I could have done without some of the more obscure numbers like “Dragon Attack” and “Tie Your Mother Down,” and when the guitars amped up the sound got a bit fuzzy. I wonder whether it might have been crisper if we weren’t in the nosebleed seats, but other rock greater like Roger Waters manage to get the sound right throughout this expansive venue.
Yet even with the flaws, a night with Queen is a whole lot of fun. I was hypnotised by Adam’s performance of “Who Wants to Live Forever.” I wondered how they might pull off one of my favourites, “Under Pressure,” without Freddie or Bowie, but Roger Taylor made an admirable stand-in. Joining the crowd in those iconic handclaps that anchor “Radio Gaga” was so much fun.
For what it’s worth, I never had any doubt that this show was going to be worthwhile. I’ve been an Adam Lambert fan from the get go, and Roger Taylor and Brian May are such stellar musicians. Anyone who boldly declares that Queen was simply a Freddie showcase is missing the point. His death leaves a gaping hole in the band, it’s true, but I feel so glad that the remaining members decided to regroup and continue to share their music with us. To have these songs die along with Freddie, to miss out on that live experience, would have been a great shame.
Image source: own photo