Adam Lambert was never going to play Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody – not because he’s not up to the task, but simply as the singer doesn’t want to be an ‘impersonation’ of the iconic musician.
The American Idol star has toured with Queen since 2011, stepping into Freddie’s shoes and singing the late musician’s classic songs alongside Brian May and Roger Taylor.
Many were surprised that Adam didn’t race to play Freddie in Bohemian Rhapsody, with the starring role going to Rami Malek who went on to win the best actor Oscar for his performance as the British singer.
Explaining what it was like to watch Rami take on the role of a character he’s also performed as for seven years, Adam told Metro.co.uk: ‘I think it’s a very different thing, because I don’t impersonate Freddie and I don’t try to be Freddie.
‘My job is to pay homage to him by singing their songs on tour, and there will only ever be one Freddie Mercury, so I am very much myself, and I am so lucky to get to share the stage with Brian May and Roger Taylor.’
He added: ‘But to play someone in a movie, you have to become them! And that’s what Rami did. He was absolutely amazing.’
Adam, 37, is back with new music and is currently putting the finishing touches to his fourth album Velvet.
The popstar hasn’t released a new album since 2014’s The Original High and his new songs, heard at an album playback in London, sound less influenced by rock with funky and more soulful tones.
But actually, Adam says it’s the opposite.
‘I was actually very influenced by Queen- just not in a literal sense,’ he told us.
‘Their music crosses all genres, they never felt like they had to stick to one genre. That gave me a lot of freedom in creating this music, and that’s why it’s a different vibe to my past music. I had a lot more freedom creating it.’
A lot has changed since in the past five years since Adam released his last album.
The singer is a man in love, happily in a relationship with model boyfriend Javi Costa Polo, and reveals his new romance was the push behind Velvet’s lead single New Eyes.
‘It’s the reason I chose ‘New Eyes’ to come first,’ Adam explained.
‘The music business is different now, you don’t need to come with your biggest song first – now it’s about building. So I chose the song that most represented where I was at, at that moment in time.’
Adam Lambert and Queen will resume their tour in July with a North American leg.
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MORE: Queen’s Adam Lambert explains why he didn’t play Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody
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