Legendary Rock Band Queen Is Touring New Zealand in 2020
Original members Brian May and Roger Taylor are once again teaming up with long-time frontman Adam Lambert.
Is this the real life? Yes, Queen — the legendary rock band behind hits Bohemian Rhapsody, Don't Stop Me Now and We Will Rock You — is coming to New Zealand. And, they are hoping to rock you.
Two of the original band members Brian May (lead guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums) will be heading Down Under, along with long-time collaborator and frontman Adam Lambert — a Grammy nominated American singer who has been touring with the group since 2011 — keyboardist Spike Edney (who's been performing with the band since the 80s), Neil Fairclough on bass and Tyler Warren on percussion.
Lambert will be performing Queen hits — made famous by iconic moustached frontman Freddie Mercury, who passed away in the early 90s — from across the band's 15 albums. John Deacon, the band's original bass player, retired in the late 90s will also not be part of the New Zealand tour.
Queen rose to prominence in the 70s and 80s, with their famed Live Aid performance — oft referred to as one of the greatest concerts in rock history — happening at Wembley Stadium in 1985. But, the band has once again been in the spotlight with the release of the Rami Malek-starring film Bohemian Rhapsody. After the biopic was released, the song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' reentered the US top 100 — for the third time.
While the Rhapsody Tour — hitting Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin in February 2020 — won't star Mercury (or Deacon), it's set to be one rockin' show. With tickets most likely to sell out, put the below dates in your calendar ASAP.
QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT 'THE RHAPSODY TOUR' 2020 DATES
Wellington — Westpac Stadium, Wednesday, February 5
Auckland — Mount Smart Stadium, Friday, February 7
Dunedin — Forsyth Barr Stadium, Monday, February 10
Queen + Adam Lambert The Rhapsody Tour pre-sales start on Wednesday, April 17. For all sale times, head to the Ticketek website.
Image: Queen + Adam Lambert, 2014. Photo: Diana Kat, Wiki Commons.