Everyone has been wondering for years if classic rock icon Queen would release new music again. Of course, it could never be the same as at the height of their majestic career and those many superb albums.
The absence of Freddie Mercury, and indeed bass player John Deacon, put paid to all that. But then the same could have been said about the remaining members playing live again and touring. That seemed almost impossible when Mercury died and Deacon left the band.
Instead, the live music has worked out fine for Brian May and Roger Taylor for quite some time now. Especially when they hooked up so successfully with Adam Lambert. Sellout tours backed by stellar shows night after night have given Queen a new lease of life. Lambert doesn't pretend to be a Mercury impersonator, but he still delivers superbly as a frontman for the remaining pair.
Will Queen be putting out a new album soon?
Maybe that combo of Queen and Adam Lambert is the answer for an album, too. It seems as though that's also what the band and singer have been thinking. May has revealed that and more in a recent Rolling Stone interview.
He was talking about the early days of the band and marking the 50th anniversary of the iconic song “Bohemian Rhapsody”. He went on to reflect on getting tired of touring and seeing the merits of a Las Vegas-style residency. May indicated he could see the band appearing at the Sphere there and indicated discussions were ongoing.
“ I'm very keen on the Sphere.” "It's got my mind working. I sat there watching the Eagles, thinking, 'We should do this. The stuff that we could bring to this would be stupendous.' So, yeah, I would like to do it. We're having conversations."
Look out for something spectacular if that all comes off. The discussion then featured on the possibility of new music. May’s comments gave a mixed view on whether this would happen. It seems like it's one of those good news/bad news scenarios.
Firstly the good news for many fans is that May confirmed Queen had been in the studios and working with Adam Lambert on new music. That sounds encouraging and exciting. But then the lower blow came.
May revealed that so far, it didn't quite seem to be working out. “Not many people know, but Adam and I have been in the studio trying things. Nothing really materialized so far. Some things are meant to be, and some things are not."
I’m not getting the warm vibes that others are from May’s comments. Some see it as an album that is very much on its way. For me, that twist on some things aren’t meant to happen may well have been closing a door and letting people down gently.
Maybe all of the focus would shift to a residency instead. Or perhaps, if they are all in the same place at the same time for an extended period, then more studio time beckons, and the new music will come in time.