In 2018, “Bohemian Rhapsody” not only reintroduced Queen’s music but also showcased the artistic brilliance of Freddie Mercury to a new generation of music enthusiasts. The film featured Canadian rock musician Marc Martel lending his vocals to portray Mercury, while on tour, Adam Lambert stepped into the role of preserving the spirit of the late musical legend.
Adam Lambert’s journey as an honorary band member, touring and occasionally recording with the surviving members of Queen since his appearance on American Idol in 2009, has been nothing short of fate. Amid speculations of a potential album with Lambert, both Queen fans and band members have lauded his talents, recognizing him as the only figure capable of approaching Mercury’s musical prowess.
Despite Lambert’s vocal prowess, he consistently maintains humility when compared to the late star. Lambert acknowledged this in an interview at the O2 Silver Clef Awards, stating, “Listen, there’s no replacing Freddie Mercury. It’s impossible. Freddie Mercury is a mythic rock god. Not only did he sing the hell out of those songs, he wrote so many of them.”
Having extensively toured with Lambert, Queen has embraced him as a valued addition to their rock legacy. Yet, the absence of Mercury raises a contemplative question: What would the iconic singer think of Lambert? Brian May, Queen’s guitarist, offered a nuanced perspective, suggesting that Mercury would have mixed feelings about Lambert’s talent.
“Freddie would love and hate him, yeah; I mean, you know, he’d be like, ‘You bastard!’ Because I mean, Adam has a real gift from God. That voice is a voice in a billion, and nobody has that range, nobody that I’ve ever worked with,” May shared in an interview with Yahoo.
May also drew parallels between Lambert’s growth as a vocalist and performer and his observations of Mercury’s evolution from an aspiring star to a musical king. “I’ve seen Adam develop, just like I watched Freddie develop,” he explained. “He was great to start with, but now, we’re doing something like ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ onstage, and sometimes I almost stop playing because I think, ‘What did he just do?’”.
However, May emphasized that Lambert doesn’t imitate Freddie; instead, his addition to the rock group is akin to capturing lightning in a bottle. Despite Lambert’s remarkable contributions, the idea that anyone could replace the raw artistry gifted to the world by Mercury remains an unparalleled notion.