Last year I was about to purchase some tickets for a gig and began to wonder if I had been keeping my head in a bag. Queen had announced that they were touring and that the front man would be Adam Lambert. Queen were the one great oversight of my musical adventures. I had never seen them play and frankly I was so desperate to correct my error that I was going to go to that gig no matter who they had chosen to sing the songs. This was a good thing because my response to seeing the advertisement was Adam who?

Adam Who?

I bought the tickets and was so busy at the time that I filed my query about Mr. Lambert somewhere in the back of my mind but the issue resurfaced on New Year’s Eve. A Queen and Adam Lambert gig in London was being broadcast live on the BBC either side of Big Ben and the fireworks. I resolved to watch the event but was not expecting much after a friend informed me that Lambert was a runner up from the American Idol talent show.

New Year’s Eve

So there I was on New Year’s Eve sitting on my sofa at home (the last of the great party animals) awaiting the transmission of a performance that I believed there was every chance that I would hate. Then Adam Lambert appeared and began to sing and I just couldn’t believe it. I have always had a weakness for glammed up, camp male performers but even given this tendency I was witnessing something special. This guy looked the business and boy could he sing. I loved him instantly.

The Gig

I have now had the privilege of attending the Queen and Adam Lambert gig and it was truly amazing. I now know that some die hard Queen fans have had difficulty in accepting Lambert but for the life of me I can’t imagine why. OK he isn’t Freddie Mercury but who could ever be? He is decidedly himself and that is good enough for me. Queen fans are faced with a choice. You either experience the music live with Lambert singing it or you don’t experience at all and I know which situation I would prefer regardless of the front man.

Most people seemed utterly delighted with the whole affair. There was a fabulous atmosphere in the arena and everyone appeared to be having a wonderful time, most notably Lambert who, addition to being clearly thrilled, was also nigh on faultless. He is a flamboyant performer with a great stage presence who obviously benefits from a wonderful rapport with the remaining members of the band. What’s not to like?

Knicker Throwing

I understand that Adam Lambert has proved to be immensely popular with both women and men. I have read about women throwing their knickers at him. I initially wondered why any women would throw her knickers at a gay man but then when I was at the gig I began to understand! I wasn’t exactly reaching for my Bella Di Notte briefs and I wouldn’t want to lose them but that man has got something, make no mistake.

I appreciate that changes to a band you love are always jarring and that Freddie Mercury was a talent of such epic proportions that he simply could not be matched. However, I do believe that Adam Lambert is special and the best available option for Queen. It is still early days for Lambert and so it remains to be seen what heights he can reach but I for one will be following his every move!

Article by Sally Stacey