Queen fans choose their favourite lyric...

Queen fans have recently voted the chorus of their mega-hit Don't Stop Me Now as the band's best ever lyric in a poll to mark the group's 40th anniversary.

Why Guns N' Roses Dropped Queen's Brian May From Chinese Democracy

Brian May recorded a solo for a song on Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy album but fans were dismayed when the solo didn't make the album. It turns out that there was a very good reason for the omission. Gibson has the story:

In 1999, former Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker reached out to his old working partner, Brian May, to contribute to the long-awaited (and would wait for many more years thereafter) Guns N' Roses album, Chinese Democracy. May, who was friendly with Axl Rose since the band's performance at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert in 1992, happy accepted the invitation to play a solo on the track, "Catcher N' the Rye." May told Uncut magazine, "It was fun, to throw something in there to help out a friend."

According to Rose, though, May's solo was left off the record, mainly due to his own post-production work with co-producer Sean Beavan. "Brian's solo itself is a personal fave of mine and I really couldn't understand, as he's such a rock legend, why it wasn't openly appreciated more at the time. In actuality, all that feel and emotion referred to now had a lot to do with Sean and I and the parts I chose out of Brian's different runs, versions, practice runs, etc., to make sure we had those elements in one version. It's entirely constructed from edits based around one specific note Brian hit in a throwaway take. And though Brian seems to have warmed a bit to it, at least publicly, he was unfortunately none too pleased at the time with our handiwork. I remember looking at Brian standing to my left and him staring at the big studio speakers a bit aghast saying, 'But that's not what I played.' Sean Beavan and I were not in any way trying to mess with Brian, we just did what we do and then try and do our best to stand up for our decisions

Source: http://www.antimusic.com

Caption Competition

Lesley-Ann Jones is a journalist, columnist and broadcaster who has over 25 years experience in music and the media. She toured with Queen many times. She was there for the parties, she talked to Freddie and drank with him. She has travelled to Zanzibar, the land of his birth and spoken to three of the people who were closest to him (Barbara Valentin, Jim Hutton & Peter Freestone). First published in 1997, Lesley-Ann has completely re-vamped her original book and has conducted more than a hundred interviews in 2010 & 2011 for her definitive biography, with many of the music industry's greatest figures, including; Sir Tim Rice, Francis Rossi, Steve Harley and Simon Napier Bell.

Because so much time had passed, Lesley-Ann was able to secure interviews not previously available to her. ”There was a lot of grief around [after Mercury's death],” she explains. “A lot of people in the music industry didn’t want to speak to me [for the first edition]. This time I did a hundred new interviews, of which I have used 25 comprehensively.

Watch Lesley-Ann talking about Freddie here:

To celebrate the release of 'Freddie Mercury - The Definitive Biography', I am delighted to announce a fun caption competition. All you have to do is study the picture below and submit a caption that you think is worthy of a champion!

The Prize:
- A copy of the book, personally signed by Lesley-Ann
- Lunch with Lesley-Ann at the exclusive Groucho Club in Soho, London. (the club was the venue for some of Queen's legendary parties...)


Now, the photo:

To enter, email your caption to wiltswhopper@gmail.com Please use the word "CAPTION" as the subject of your email. GOOD LUCK!

The small print:

- All entries must be received by the closing date of Friday 2nd December, 2011.

- You can enter as many times as you like, but remember it's quality not quantity that will win!

- Entries will be judged by myself and Lesley-Ann

- The winner will be notified by email

- The prize does not include any travel or accommodation costs that may be incurred

- By entering this competition, you agree to your name and photo being used in this blog

We still love you...

It's Winter-fall

Red skies are gleaming - oh -

Sea-gulls are flyin' over

Swans are floatin' by

Smoking chimney-tops

Am I dreaming...

Am I dreaming...?

The nights draw in

There's a silky moon up in the sky - yeah -

Children are fantasising

Grown-ups are standin' by

What a super feeling

Am I dreaming...

Am I dreaming...?

woh-woh-woh-woh

(dreaming)

So quiet and peaceful

Tranquil and blissful

There's a kind of magic in the air

What a truly magnificent view

A breathtaking scene

With the dreams of the world

In the palm of your hand

(dreaming)

A cosy fireside chat

A little this, a little that

Sound of merry laughter skippin' by

Gentle rain beatin' on my face

What an extraordinary place!

And the dreams of the child

Is the hope of the man

It's all so beautiful

Like a landscape painting in the sky - yeah -

Mountains are zoomin' higher - mm -

Little girls scream an' cry

My world is spinnin' and spinnin' and spinnin'

It's unbelievable

Sends me reeling

Am I dreaming...

Am I dreaming...?

Oooh - it's bliss.

But....what if you don't like Queen ???

Is your boss as strict as Brian May?

Queen's Scrabble Wars

Picture the scene: You are in one of the world's biggest rock bands. What debauched backstage and on-tour behaviour lays ahead of you? Well, if that band was Queen, it seems it may not have always been sex, drugs and rock & roll….

Don't Stop Me Now by Young, Beautiful and in a Hurry

Check out this excellent cover version of Don't Stop Me Now by LA Band - Young, Beautiful and in a Hurry.....

The Mysterious Mr Mercury: Midge Ure seeks out the real Freddie

Freddie Mercury was a hugely charismatic and dynamic performer who cultivated a flamboyant stage personality, and yet in private he was extremely shy and retiring, and gave very few interviews. To mark the 20th anniversary of his death, Midge Ure goes in search of the real Freddie Mercury.

Michael Jackson & Freddie Mercury recordings to be released by Queen

Michael Jackson's estate has given approval to Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen to release material that the pair worked on during the 1980's. Mercury apparently recorded several tracks with Michael Jackson at his US home in 1983.


Brian May was quoted in the Sun Newspaper saying "The Michael Jackson estate are happy for us to go ahead with the music. But it's not something that we can rush"

"Michael used to come and see us when we were on tour in the States. He and Freddie became close friends, close enough to record a couple of tracks together at Michael's house, tracks which have never seen the light of day."

Freddie Mercury speaking about meeting Michael Jackson:

Queen have previously announced plans to release a new album of old demos featuring Mercury, with May revealing that he had been going through the band's old material with drummer Roger Taylor to compile a selection of unreleased tracks for a forthcoming LP. It is unknown whether the Jackson duets will be released as part of this or not.

You can listen to the Jackson/Mercury track "State of Shock" here:

My Favourite Queen Songs: Spread Your Wings

One of my favourite things about Queen has always been their ability to play tough hard rock as well as more anthemic material and yet still make them both believable.

While songs such as “We Are The Champions” probably count as “anthems” Queen, I’ve always been drawn to the song Spread Your Wings.

“Spread Your Wings”, taken from the 1977 album ‘News of the World’, and was written by Bassist John Deacon. Perhaps the least well known member of Queen, Deacon wrote some of their most recognisable songs (Another One Bites the Dust, I Want To Break Free & You’re My Best Friend). 

Peter Kay is Queen's new singer? (VIDEO)

Anybody who went to see Peter Kay on the "Tour that didn't Tour Tour" will recall that he did a rather rocking encore on his air-guitar garden shovel.

Little did we know what was to come next. At the end of the encore was his offering for the next Queen venture..."Queen & Peter Kay".

Featuring some rather amusing and cleverly staged video impersonations of Roger and Brian, Peter managed to do a half-decent karaoke version of We Are The Champions, complete with his Freddie leotard and compulsory pyrotechnics!

You can watch a short clip of the performance here, captured at the O2 in Dublin earlier this year...

Roger Taylor & Jeff Beck at "A Picnic Concert by the Chapel on The Lake" - June 2011

Roger Taylor, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Ronnie Wood were among the stars to perform at Wintershall Estate in Surrey earlier this year in June for free to support a fundraising event in aid of HASTE, heart and stroke endeavour.

The black tie picnic concerts famously attract an all-star line-up and have raised several million pounds so far for charity but they are a rare treat – the last one was staged in 2005. The picnic concert by the chapel on the lake raised around £400,000 for the charity.

Below you can watch Roger Taylor and Jeff Beck playing 'Say It's Not True' live at Wintershall Estate:

Queen Triumph At 2011 Classic Rock Awards

Brian May and Roger Taylor last night attended the Classic Rock Magazine Roll of Honour Dinner and Awards ceremony, at the world famous Roundhouse in Camden, London.

Fancy a bargain? Roger Taylor's Mercedes is up for auction

Here’s a bargain celeb ride. Up for auction on November 16, this 1991 Mercedes 600SEL was first owned by Queen drummer Roger Taylor....

Beardyman does a Queen Medley

Earlier this year and as part of Secret Sessions Queen Week, the weird and wonderful Beardyman gave a very special performance of a ‘Queen Medley’. He performed everything on the spot and nothing was planned. It was amazing to watch, so… you should watch it because it's really rather special...

Eastenders cast in Queen Tribute for BBC Children in Need 2011

Actors in the English soap opera EastEnders have recorded a special Queen sketch that has been recorded for charity Children In Need.

Stars from the Walford soap recently filmed a musical tribute to the iconic band on the show's Albert Square set to help raise money for this year's charity appeal.

Cast members involved included Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), who dressed up as a housewife in the style of Freddie Mercury in the video for 'I Want To Break Free'.

UPDATED: You're not a REAL fan until you have a Queen tattoo...

Have you ever wondered why people get tattoos? It's fair to say that people get tattoos for many different reasons. Some get them to honour someone close to them whom they have lost, some get them to remember something special that may have happened in their life, some just get them because everyone else got one, and some people get them because the SHOW MUST GO ON!!!

Here is a collection of some the good bad and a maybe slightly ugly Queen fan tattoos that I have found. These people are certainly committed fans, but you have to admit a tattoo of your favourite band is a safer bet than the name of your first husband or wife...

This one's first because it belongs to my friend Laurie !!!

Mel C & Brian May perform “WE WILL ROCK YOU” for Children in Need 2011

Melanie C recently took to the stage at London's Dominion Theatre joining cast members from the award-winning musical We Will Rock You to perform a unique curtain call collaboration.

Introduced by the writer and director of the show, Ben Elton, the performance was part of BBC Children in Need's Pop Goes The Musical, a series of West End performances by pop stars to help raise money for disadvantaged children & young people in the UK.

But as a further surprise for the audience, Queen legend Brian May took to the stage. He joined Melanie C in a fantastic and highly energised renditions of 'We Will Rock You' and 'We Are The Champions'.

The audience went wild, taking part in the infamous 'stamps and claps' as Melanie C's impressive vocals were stunningly enhanced by Brian May's signature show-stopping guitar solos.

Mel C said: 'I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of 'Pop Goes the Musical' for this year's BBC Children in Need. I can't believe I had the chance to perform with the amazing cast of 'We Will Rock You'.

"I have always been a massive Queen fan, and to have the opportunity to perform two of the band's biggest anthems and to be joined on stage by the legendary Brian May is a dream come true! Thank you Pudsey!"

Brian May added: 'I always wanted to work with Rocky Spice! And tonight it finally happened. She is such a total pro - a delight to interact with. Thanks Mel C! You rock!!!

You can watch the performance here:

Story courtesy of http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

Boffins prove that We Are The Champions is the 'world's most catchy song'

Enterprising "Music Scientists" have declared Queen's 1977 power ballad We are the Champions as the world's catchiest song after thoroughly analysing it.

Certain features of Freddie Mercury's voice apparently stir a primal urge in us and make us more likely to raise our voices in a chant and then, er, follow him into battle. So says musicologist Dr Alisun Pawley, who has just completed a PhD in "singability" at York University, and Goldsmiths music psychologist Dr Daniel Müllensiefen.

They believe that singing along to a song is "a subconscious war cry" that keys into an inherent tribal part of our consciousness. And that's why songs sung by men tend to be catchier: "Psychologically we look to men to lead us into battle, so it could be in our intuitive nature to follow male-fronted songs."

But not any old male-fronted song. A higher male voice with noticeable vocal effort indicates high energy and purpose, say Pawley and Müllensiefen, particularly when combined with a small vocal range. Both Mercury and Jon Bon Jovi seem to have the requisite voice qualities.

Otherwise phrase length and pitch complexity are the attributes that make a song catchy.

"Longer and detailed musical phrases – the breath a vocalist takes as they sing a line is crucial to creating a sing-along-able tune," their overtly technical statement explains. "The longer a vocal in one breath, the more likely we are to succumb to a sing-song."

And a final crucial characteristic is the number of pitches in the chorus's hook. And the more the better. "The more sounds there are, the more infectious a song becomes" say the researchers. The ultimate catchy songs combined longer musical phrases and a hook over three different pitches.

The research, based on Pawley's PhD, has been published as part of a campaign to get the kids interested in science and engineering and to encourage entries to the National Science & Engineering Competition for 11-18 year olds.

These then are the top 10 catchiest songs of all time:

1.  We are the Champions, Queen (1977)
2. YMCA, Village People
3. Fat Lip, Sum 41 (2001)
4. The Final Countdown, Europe (1986)
5. Monster, The Automatic (2006)
6. Ruby, The Kaiser Chiefs (2007)
7. I’m Always Here, Jimi Jamison (1996)
8. Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison (1967)
9. Teenage Dirtbag, Wheatus (2000)
10. Livin’ on a Prayer, Bon Jovi (1986)

You can download We Are The Champions along with 16 other of Queen's greatest hits here:

MTV EMAs: Adam Lambert Performs With Queen (Video)

Queen guitarist Brian May performed with Lady Gaga at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards back in August this year. Now, little more than two months later, he was back at another MTV event, the Europe Music Awards, playing with another global superstar: Adam Lambert.

To the delight and surprise of the 8,000 seated in Belfast’s Odyssey arena, with many millions more tuning in on TV and online worldwide, Lambert appeared in silhouette for the first minute and a half of the nearly eight-minute performance with Queen, which featured a medley of hits, including “Show Must Go On,” “We Will Rock You,” and “We Are the Champions.”

Queen were honoured earlier in the evening with the Global Icon Award. Roger Taylor and Brian May accepted the award.

Wearing an all-black leather ensemble accented by a long trench-coat, Lambert sported a freshly buzzed haircut to close out the awards show. The American Idol season 8 runner-up has often cited Queen and the late Freddie Mercury as a powerful influence on his own music and sound. In fact, Lambert auditioned for American Idol singing Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."

You can watch the performance here:

(Story kindly reproduced from http://www.hollywoodreporter.com Image: Getty Images)

Download The Queen Podcast

Al Murray presents the stories behind Queen's biggest songs, featuring exclusive interviews with Brian May and Roger Taylor. This podcast discusses 'Under Pressure' and celebrates Queen's legacy on music today — Recorded: 5th September 2011 — Duration: 12 minutes 50 seconds - Courtesy of Absolute Radio.

Downloaded it for FREE here... The Queen Podcast

Bohemian Rhapsody: The Old School Computer Remix...

Who says computers don't have any soul? 

The video includes the following band, rocking out to Queen’s hit Bohemian Rhapsody…

• Atari 800XL was used for the lead piano/organ sound
• Texas Instruments TI-99/4a as lead guitar
• 8 Inch Floppy Disk as Bass
• 3.5 inch Harddrive as the gong
• HP ScanJet 3C was used for all vocals.

They did a great job. I’m interested in seeing more songs done by this rag-tag band of ancient electronics.

The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody; 23 million views and counting...

Well, over 23 million views can't be wrong, so I had to include this in my blog...

The Muppets pay tribute to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" with a spot-on parody of both the song and the classic video.

The clip features plenty of Muppet heavy hitters like Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and Rizzo the Rat, but also has drop-ins from Sam Eagle, Swedish Chef and Camilla the Chicken. The best moment comes during the "Mama" portion of the tune, which features a lead vocal from Animal (Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem make their appearance later). Most notably, Kermit the Frog doesn't drop in until the very end of the clip (for a pretty good zinger to close things out).

Watch Jack Black opening 2011 Mark Twain awards singing We Will Rock You

Filmed at the recent Mark Twain Prize for American Humor award ceremony, where Will Ferrell became the 14th recipient of the prestigious comedy award, joining previous winners such as Tina Fey, George Carlin, and Billy Crystal. 

Jack Black opened the show the only way the sometimes-rock star knew how: A parody version of Queen’s We Will Rock You, subbing in the guest of honor’s name so the chorus said, “Will will rock you!” After the tune, Black claimed, “Will is a human litmus test. If you don’t like Will, there must be something wrong with you.”

Lady GaGa may front Queen, participate in Freddie Mercury televised tribute

According to guitarist Brian May, Lady Gaga is in talks for fronting Queen during touring and may participate in a televised tribute show for Freddie Mercury.

Lady Gaga may have been crowned the Queen of Pop and served as the harbinger of the present dance-pop sound, but the “Born This Way” singer has been dabbling with a handful of classic performers, including the late Clarence Clemons, Tony Bennett, and Brian May of Queen. But rather than just collaborate, Gaga may actually end up fronting Queen, according to guitarist Brian May in an interview with the Daily Express. He said: “We talk about going out on the road all the time but there's a bit of a singer problem, to put it mildly. We get a lot of offers to work with other people. I worked with Lady Gaga and she's very creative and is someone we've talked about singing, fronting the band with. She's not just a singer, she writes her own material.”

The last singer to work with Queen was Paul Rodgers, who left in 2009, and the band has not toured since. Aside from looking for a touring singer, the band has also thought about doing a televised series of duets with other artists as a tribute to Freddie Mercury, with Gaga being one of the leading performers. May, who worked with Gaga on recent single “You and I,” mentioned: “We have talked about doing duets with other people and in a strange way I almost pressed the yes button. We were debating the idea of a TV show where we have all these guest stars. We didn't press it today but we are still looking at it. Lady Gaga has said she would like to do something with us.”

Earlier in October, a rumor of Gaga collaborating with KISS on their upcoming album Monster started circulating. Addressing the rumor in an interview with LA Weekly, Paul Stanley said: “Anything's possible. She's terrific, and it's not improbable.”

Paul Rodgers 'Would Be Open' to London 2012 Reunion With Queen

Paul Rodgers says he's heard the rumors about him reuniting with Queen for a performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. But that's as far as it's gone, he says.

"No one's actually approached me yet," Rodgers, who worked with Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor from 2005-2009, tells Billboard.com. But he adds that he "would be open to something like that, I must say. (Queen + Paul Rodgers) did great. I think we did fantastically well. We were up against potential disaster, really, and I think we really pulled it off. Toured the world a couple of times. Made a brand new studio album (2008's 'The Cosmos Rocks'). I just didn't want to do it forever...But for something like (the Olympics), that would be ideal."

Rodgers also gives his thumbs-up to the Queen Extravaganza, the tribute band the group, spearheaded by Taylor, is assembling. "It'd be very interesting," Rodgers notes. "Anybody who tries...is going to have their different take on it. Nobody's Freddie (Mercury), and they're all definitely going to have their own take."

While waiting to find out if the Olympics become a reality, Rodgers is certainly busy with his own endeavors. He's recently released three home videos and CDs chronicling concerts from throughout his career: "Paul Rodgers & Friends Live at Montreux 1994," featuring guest appearances by May, Journey's Neal Schon, Toto's Steve Lukather and blues heroes Eddie Kirkland and Luther Allison; a Blu-ray edition of "Live in Glasgow" from 2007; and Bad Company's "Live at Wembley" from the group's April 2010 show in London. Combined, Rodgers says, they allow him to get a full perspective on his 43-year recording career.

"When I play solo, that's when I put it all together," he explains. "I go through all of the songs that I've written wtih all of the different bands; that, for me, tells its own story, and the DVDs really enforce that." Rodgers adds that, "In the past, I did separate them...I didn't even think, really, about doing songs from the previous bands. I just moved on. Now I'm at the time of my life that's sort of retrospective for me. I think the songs have been the lifeblood...so when I do play, I'm able to put all of the songs from the different bands together. It's the same guy, you know. They're like different chapters of my life, actually."

Speaking of chapters, Rodgers says he's thinking about writing a book documenting his adventures with Free, Bad Company, the Firm, the Law and others, as well as his solo work. He also hopes "to make a solo album at some point in the future, of completely new songs, when I get all the material together." And Rodgers says he's been approached by the Smithsonian Institute about a blues project that would include performing, recording and filming with musicians in the American South.

Rodgers next scheduled public performance is a Dec. 3 show at the Venue in Chichester, England, a benefit for the Racehorse Sanctuary Re-Homing Centre with the Deborah Bonham Band.

William Shatner sings Bohemian Rhapsody (It's the real life Jim, but not as we know it)

No, you're not mistaken, or even on drugs (you may wish you are after watching this though). William Shatner has released the video for his version of the Queen classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” In the video, a starry night has the Star Trek actor’s image in it as he sings the tune and lyrics are written on the screen. It’s from his new album, Seeking Major Tom, which includes 19 interpretations of space-related rock songs.

Trailer for Days of Our Lives DVD - Release date 28th November.

Queen - Days Of Our Lives DVD/BLU-RAY - Release Date: November 28th 2011

In 1971, four college students got together to form a rock band. Since then, that certain band called Queen have released 26 albums and sold over 300 million records worldwide. The popularity of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon is stronger than ever 40 years on.

But it was no bed of roses. No pleasure cruise. Queen had their share of kicks in the face, but they came through and this is how they did it, set against a backdrop of brilliant music and stunning live performances from every corner of the globe.

The Critically Acclaimed Documentary on the World’s Greatest Rock Band is now going to be available on DVD and Blu Ray! The story is amazing and a must have… In this film, for the first time, it is the band that tells their story. Featuring brand new interviews and unseen archive footage (including their recently unearthed, first ever TV performance), it is a compelling story told with intelligence, with, plenty of humour and painful honesty.


(Information from BrianMay.com)

Can YOU sing like this into your Hairdryer?

Freddie Mercury. There really was no one like him. As the front man of the iconic band Queen, he was the voice, the face, and the master showman, blazing a melodic trail of music and unity on a worldwide scale. Together with Queen, the late, great Mercury blessed us with songs that have become sporting anthems (“We Are the Champions”) and satirical riffs in films like “Wayne’s World” (“Bohemian Rhapsody”).

Recently, Roger Taylor of Queen launched a North American talent search offering vocalists and musicians alike an opportunity to star in “The Queen Extravaganza” – a live touring band that will pay tribute to the songs and vision of the original band. Of course, tribute bands are a dime a dozen – you can find them in any bar on a Tuesday night across America – but rarely are they backed by the original group. Thus far, uploaded auditions have been sparse – as of this writing there were no more than 20 in all categories – lead vocals, drums, etc.

Some may see this as just the karaoke version of “America’s Got Talent.” That is, until they click on the audition of Marc Martel. To date, Martel’s audition video hovers around 4 million views and here’s why: His voice is probably the closest thing to Freddie Mercury next to Freddie Mercury. Shot in his disheveled studio (which many readers have already commented on), the 34-year-old, newly married Martel (sorry, ladies) recorded his rendition of “Somebody to Love.” (Those auditioning have the choice of the aforementioned song, “Killer Queen,” “I Want to Break Free” or “Seven Seas of Rhye”)

His voice is that of a seasoned, trained, almost operatic professional but in reality, that’s the furthest thing from the truth. In a video shot two years ago, the singer – who originally hails from Canada but now lives in Tennessee — states that he has had no formal training, a knack for mimicry and is a fan of singers like Mercury, George Michael and Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block. Wait…what? “I’m not going to back down from that one, and I am fully aware of the stigma attached to it. Honestly 1989 I was 12 or 13 years old and primed for the new boy band thing. This guy Jordan Knight sounded like a chick, and I wanted to figure out how to do it, and I did.”

Over the years, Martel honed his inner Jordan Knight and later moved on to perfect his own voice with a dash of the iconic Freddie Mercury. “I’ve been in a band full-time over the past ten years (called Downhere) and it’s been a pretty great time with my best friends. But as far as 2012, our touring schedule is looking kind of sparse. A friend of mine emailed me the link to the Queen Extravaganza and I thought ‘I don’t know if I have the strength to not do this.’ As it stands right now, my schedule is pretty open – I don’t know if there’s money or not but my wife said ‘This is an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often.’”

With no expectations, Martel decided to sing the song simply and without theatrics. “’Bohemian Rhapsody’ is my all-time favorite,” says the singer, “But that wasn’t an option; ‘Somebody’…was my second. I thought lyrically, that song is so perfect for right now…it’s just a guy crying out that he’s tired and can’t get ahead, and most people in America can relate to that…I know I can.”

Martel’s band, by the way, is a Christian rock band. Will singing the songs of Queen help, or hurt him in the eyes of those with strong opinions about Mercury and his sexual proclivity? Martel feels this is a non-issue. “Freddie Mercury wrote songs that were real and true. Rock and roll reaches people because it’s honest, and doesn’t shy away from the issues. You can have a great voice, but people can spot a fake from a mile away. Our music may come from a biblical standpoint but we don’t shy away from true experiences  – doubt, loss, pain, sorrow – we want to deal with all of that. Queen’s repertoire deals with those emotions and feelings too and I love singing their music because at the end of the day, it’s just true.”

Don't Stop Me Now...

New Queen Album To Feature Unreleased Freddie Mercury Tracks?

Remaining Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor are working on a new album, with vocals by the late Freddie Mercury. How is this possible? May said the musicians are going through a ton of unreleased demos to put together a slew of new tracks, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.

It will be the first Queen album with contributions from Mercury since 1995’s Made in Heaven, which also was assembled using recordings Freddie had made before his death in 1991.

In addition, May told the Daily Star that he and Taylor are preparing a new Queen musical to follow-up 2002’s We Will Rock You. "The songs are there," May said, "it’s just a question of finding time to get the right production."

And that’s not all that’s going on with Queen. On November 6, the rock legends will receive the Global Icon award at the MTV European Music Awards. It’s not clear who will sing with the band, although May has suggested that he’d love to work with Lady Gaga.

Thanks for the report to Bryan Wawzenek, Gibson.com