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In the digital age for music and performing acts, concert technology and pyrotechnics are becoming more and more advanced by the day to give back the audience a night of entertainment they truly deserve.
However; recently this era has been taken to a whole new level in ways that the audience could never imagine. To bring back to life the music gods that inspired generations of artists.
It first kicked off in Coachella festival in the US this year when a hologram of rap god Tupac Shakur was brought onto stage and caused a worldwide frenzy. Since then the main question is, who else can the magicians in pyrotechnics bring back?
Rumours of Jermaine Jackson using it to bring back the kick of pop Michael Jackson are still flying around and even talks of Kurt Cobain are amongst the resurrection list. Queen have also been on the rumours list, and these rumours were announced that a hologram of Freddie Mercury would be used for the hit musical We Will Rock You but what was on everyone’s lips at the Hammersmith Apollo in London was would it be revealed tonight?
Since Paul Rodgers' departure from Queen; its been a hard task for surviving members Roger Taylor and Brian May to figure who can step up to the plate to be the next representing frontman for one of the biggest rock bands the UK has to offer. This honour eventually came down to American Idol runner up Adam Lambert; so could this almost unknown singer fill the boots of one of the greatest frontman that has ever lived?
The sold out crowd in London were in very high spirits from when the curtains fell and Queen & Lambert took to the stage for opening number 'Seven Seas of Rhye' which possibly wasn’t their best choice to open, with a high percentage of the crowd only knowing records from their Greatest Hits era.
Nevertheless the pace is kept at a fast pace blasting through 'Keep Yourself Alive' and a somewhat pop punk version of 'We Will Rock You'.
Queen then stroll into their better known numbers with 'Fat Bottomed Girls'; however Lamberts' somewhat bemusing attempt at a cockney accent during the song wasn’t the best move to try and win over the Queen faithful.
Party’s and clubs always love to close their evenings with 'Don’t Stop Me Now' to send their punters home happy; however Queen are just getting started with May’s glorious guitar piece sounding as ripe as it was the first time the chords were played, truly stating that Dr. May is more than a geeky scientist, but a true guitar god. 'Under Pressure' is Queen’s most famous duet which fellow brit David Bowie appeared on. Tonight proceedings is different with drummer Roger Taylor allowing son Rufus to take up the sticks whilst himself and Lambert duet the classic number with many in attendance singing their hearts out too.
The sing-alongs keep coming for 'I Want It All' before all is silent and the stage darkens to which Lambert steps forward into the spotlight and delivers an inspirational vocal display for Who Wants To Live Forever which receives a deserving ovation.
Taylor jumps back into vocals on his own this time whilst Lambert takes a break for classic Kind of Magic and before making a pun about the current British summer introduces 'Days of our Lives' which shows a very well put together piece of classic footage of the band in their early days on the screens behind them, any footage of Freddie Mercury receiving a big cheer from the crowd.
The stage becomes a darkened space once again and a single spotlight for May and an acoustic guitar for a very intimate part of the show.
May praises the crowd for being here and how good it felt to be back playing to an English crowd after their opening tour dates in Eastern Europe; May asks the crowd “lets do it, this time for Freddie” to which a mini part of 'The Show Must Go On' is played which is sung by everyone and between song parts all is deadly silent so every string of May’s acoustic can be heard by all. 'Love of my Life' brought out what was indeed the show stealer of the evening; during the end the ghostly hologram of Mercury appears on the screens behind May to close of the song to which is received with a thunderous round of applause and cheers.
Whilst a mini drum kit is setup for drummer Taylor; May shares a cheeky scientific joke with the crowd before two play 39. After the short antics between May and Taylor finish Lambert rejoins the group briefly before departing again for Taylor and son’s shared drum solo, snr however looking to his young protégé to help build up the solo showing that his drumming isn’t quite what it used to be.
After the family drum affair, May rocks the house down with awe-inspiring guitar solo. After the solos are finished, Lambert and company return for 'I Want To Break Free' and the infamous 'Another One Bites The Dust'.
The sold out crowd again show their keen participation and devotion with near all in attendance on their feet and clapping along to 'Radio Gaga' and 'Somebody to Love', showing another grand display of Lambert’s excelling vocal power and stage presence, proving to those sceptics that he is more than capable to share the stage with the British rock royalty.
After thanks are made and each member of the group is introduced, applauded and praised, the now voted by the British public greatest number one hit 'Bohemian Rhapsody' blasts out, with Lambert and archive live performance footage of Mercury sharing the six minute masterpiece between them. As the band return for its finale, pyrotechnics spark all over the stage and by its conclusion and the Mercury hologram takes his bow for the unforgettable “any way the wind blows” line, there is not a single person left sitting for a standing ovation.
The thousands in attendance cheer in delight when the band of six return to the stage once more for the encore, kicking of with 'Tie Your Mother Down' and the original version of 'We Will Rock You' to put smiles back on those who thought their fast rendition of the timeless anthem had been played too soon in the set, the crowd loving any chance to participate again once more.
The finale arrives for a glorious sing-along with Lambert and the crowd for 'We Are The Champions' and fittingly uses the song to thank the audience in the best possible way.
A group bow for the band takes place for 'God Save The Queen' with everyone applauding and cheering. This shows a very clear and simple message to those in doubt of Queen and their future in music.
They are still here. And they will rock you.
