• Freddie Mercury Biopic: Sacha Baron Cohen Will Write, Direct and Star in Film About Queen Singer

    Queen's manager, Jim Beach, recently confirmed that comedian Sacha Baron Cohen will not only portray deceased frontman Freddie Mercury in a biopic, but he will also write and direct the film. Cohen and the surviving members -- guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor -- have sorted out their differences and will move forward with the movie. Beach made the announcement during a speech at the Artist and Manager Awards earlier this week.
  • Queen, Adam Lambert to Stream NYE London Show via BBC Music

    Queen + Adam Lambert ringing in the New Year in London with a small show that you are now invited to watch. The group will stream its Westminister Central Hall gig via BBC Music so fans with an Internet connection can join in on the festivities. The band dropped a trailer for the show Wednesday, Dec. 24, featuring Lambert leading the group on Freddie Mercury's solo tune "I Was Born to Love You," Ultimate Classic Rock notes. "I never imagined we would be around to usher in the year of 2015," drummer Roger Taylor said previously. "What a thrill! We promise you a great night." The stream will go live at 6:15 p.m. Dec. 31 as England prepares to ring in the New Year. Watch the show here. The concert will be followed by a fireworks display.
  • Adam Lambert or Freddie Mercury? Brian May Says 'American Idol' Alum Has Better Range

    You know those people who say they were "born in the wrong era" and wish they could have been a teenager in the 1960s or '70s? That is basically Adam Lambert, who rose to pop fame with "American Idol" at the turn of the decade. He was as close to late Queen singer Freddie Mercury as a new star could get, but he could not nail down a perfect fit in the music world. Until Queen came calling in 2011, that is. Then the pieces fell into place immediately. One of the world's most storied rock bands got a third wind — after a forgettable era with Paul Rodgers — and Lambert got his chance to eschew pop for the coolest cover gig ever. Now — get this — Brian May is throwing out some serious compliments. "They're difficult songs to sing, Queen songs," he told Japan's Universal Music, via "Billboard." "There's too much range. So many people can't sing them in the original key — even if they are good singers, Adam comes along, [and] he can do it easy. He can do it in his sleep! He can sing higher than even Freddie could in a live situation. So I think Freddie would look at this guy and think, 'Hmm ... Yeah. OK.' There would be a kind of, 'Hmm ... You bastard. You can do this.'"
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