Queen And Adam Lambert Share The Show Must Go On From Debut Live Album
Friday, 28 August 2020
Written by Laura Johnson
Photo: Brojan Hohnjec
Queen and Adam Lambert have shared the first cut from their debut live album.
'Queen + Adam Live Around the World' will be released on CD, CD and DVD, CD and Blu-ray and vinyl on October 2 via EMI Records. Head below to watch a performance video for The Show Must Go On that was recorded at London's O2 Arena in July 2018.
The original track featured on Queen's final album with singer Freddie Mercury, 1991's 'Innuendo'. It was finished while Mercury was in the final stages of his battle with AIDs, which he died from in November of the same year. Guitarist Brian May said:
“Even though we were all aware of Freddie's impending tragedy, we had some inspired and joyful times in the studio, making the Innuendo album. We didn’t speak much about Freddie’s illness - he just wanted to get on with ‘business as usual’ as far as possible. But already there was only a day or two per week when Freddie was well enough to come in and work with us. We grabbed those precious moments and made the most of them. I’d been working on “The Show Must Go On” as an idea, but I was uncertain whether the title was too obvious. Freddie heard it and loved it and dismissed any thoughts that there was a problem with the chorus or the title. He wanted to work on it.
"We didn’t discuss what the meaning of the song was, but it was of course evident in the background that it was an attempt to give a voice to the feelings that Freddie’s valiant fight against AIDS created in all of us, and even in Freddie. He was too low in energy to create it himself. But I had one unforgettable special afternoon working together with him on solidifying the lyrics of the first verse of this embryonic song about a clown whose make-up hid his pain, before he slid out to attend another treatment. That gave me enough lyrical material to later expand into the eventual two verses. I finished mapping out the song, sang the whole thing as a demo, including the added “Wings of Butterflies” section, which somehow appeared in my head very late one night, and I played it to him when he was next in the studio. The melody called for some very demanding top notes, and I’d only been able to 'demo' them in falsetto. I said to Freddie … "I don’t want you strain yourself - this stuff isn't going to be easy in full voice, even for you!” He said, “Don’t worry – I’ll f…ing nail it, Darling!”. He then downed a couple of his favourite shots of vodka, propped himself up against the mixing desk, and… delivered one of the most extraordinary performances of his life. In the final mix of TSMGO, when you get to “On with the Show” you are listening to a man who conquered everything to deliver his finest work."
Queen and Adam Lambert Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Sun May 23 2021 - BOLOGNA Unipol Arena (Italy)
Wed May 26 2021 - PARIS AccorHotels Arena (France)
Thu May 27 2021 - ANTWERP Sportspalais (Belgium)
Sat May 29 2021 - AMSTERDAM Ziggo Dome (Netherlands)
Sun May 30 2021 - AMSTERDAM Ziggo Dome (Netherlands)
Tue June 01 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Wed June 02 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Fri June 04 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Sat June 05 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Mon June 07 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Tue June 08 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Thu June 10 2021 - MANCHESTER Arena
Fri June 11 2021 - MANCHESTER Arena
Sun June 13 2021 - BIRMINGHAM Utilita Arena Birmingham
Mon June 14 2021 - BIRMINGHAM Utilita Arena Birmingham
Tue June 15 2021 - BIRMINGHAM Utilita Arena
Wed June 16 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Thu June 17 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Sat June 19 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Sun June 20 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Thu June 24 2021 - BERLIN Mercedes Benz Arena (Germany)
Sat June 26 2021 - COLOGNE Lanxess Arena (Germany)
Mon June 28 2021 - ZURICH Hallenstadion (Switzerland)
Tue June 29 2021 - MUNICH Olympiahalle (Germany)
Thu July 01 2021 - COPENHAGEN Royal Arena (Denmark)
Fri July 02 2021 - COPENHAGEN Royal Arena (Denmark)
Tue July 06 2021 - MADRID Wizink Centre (Spain)
Wed July 07 2021 - MADRID Wizink Centre (Spain)
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