Adam Lambert Blows Off Queen Album To Focus On Solo Work
Former American Idol star Adam Lambert will be focusing on his solo work, dashing hopes that he would front a new album with British rock legends Queen. Lambert was the runner up in Season 8 of the reality TV show, and it was during the finale of the show that Adam first performed with Brian May and Roger Taylor when they teamed up to perform “We Are the Champions.” Lambert obviously made an impression with May and Taylor as he was later invited to front Queen for a world tour.
Lambert fronted Queen for a multi-date world tour during 2014 and early 2015 and was widely praised by Queen fans and music critics alike for his spellbinding performances. U.K. Queen fans were won over when Lambert turned in an incredible performance during Queens performance at London’s Big Ben Live celebration on New Years Eve.
As Queen and Adam Lambert blazed a trail across Europe, the performances were universally praised. Lambert won over Queen fans by admitting that he could not replace the inimitable Freddie Mercury and by equaling Mercury’s flamboyance.
As the Queen tour drew to a close, hopes were raised that Lambert would go into the studio with Queen to record a new album. Rumors flew around that Queen would also headline this years Glastonbury festival. Speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, Brian May has said that Queen are taking some time off whilst Lambert focuses on his solo career.
May said, “[A]t the moment we’re watching with interest while Adam pursues his solo career, and it seems to be going very well. He’s an amazing, amazing artist, and there’s no getting away from that. It’s very interesting to watch him develop.”
Lambert’s solo album The Original High is due for release on June 16 and Lambert is currently back in the U.S. promoting it, but as yet Adam has not released any tour dates in support of his album. Lambert is already committed to some further shows with Queen in South America this fall, but sadly an appearance at this years Glastonbury is not on the cards. The festival announced its final line-up earlier today and there is no place for Lambert or Queen. Brian May told the Guardian that he would love to headline Glastonbury if Lambert were available.
May said “it would be interesting to do Glastonbury if we were an operational unit at the time. You see, this year Adam’s off doing his solo work at the moment so it wouldn’t have worked.”
Fans of Adam Lambert, Queen, and Glastonbury will no doubt keep their fingers crossed that 2016 proves the year that Lambert and Queen grace the Pyramid stage at the world’s greatest festival.
[Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images]
