Adam Lambert admits it's 'impossible' to replace 'mythic rock god' Freddie Mercury

Adam Lambert has lavished Queen legend Freddie Mercury with praise saying it’s “impossible” to replace the late-great frontman.

Following Paul Rodgers’ five-year stint performing with Brian May and Roger Taylor, Adam Lambert started fronting a new collaborative incarnation of Queen, Queen + Adam Lambert, in 2011.

Speaking at the O2 Silver Clef Awards at Grosvenor House in London on Friday night (30th June) where he picked up the International Award, Adam Lambert said he could never “replace” Freddie Mercury.

“Listen, there's no replacing Freddie Mercury,” he told Music News. “It's impossible. Freddie Mercury is a mythic rock god.

“Not only did he sing the hell out of those (Queen) songs, he wrote so many of them. Those were his stories in a lot of those songs. And if I didn't have the recordings of Freddie Mercury, I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am with this music.

“So he's incredibly inspiring and he definitely gave me all of the ingredients that I needed to even pull it off on stage. So I look at it always as a celebration and a tribute to him."

Reflecting on Freddie’s enduring legacy, he continued: "I think Freddie's many things. I think the voice alone, it does something to you when you listen to it.

“He had an incredible voice, and I think that, as his tool, connected him with so many people out there. And then his songwriting — he wrote beautiful, human, emotive music about the human experience, and I think that also connected him with people.

“Then once you got him onstage, you look at old footage of him and he was very free and full of joy, and I think that inspired a lot of people as well, including myself."

Adam Lambert has previously ruled out making new music with Queen, explaining to Hunger Magazine: “People always ask if we want to record together and I’m not sure it makes total sense because it wouldn’t really be Queen because to me Queen is Freddie (Mercury).

“My favourite thing is collaborating and putting these concerts together and creating on stage – it’s super fulfilling and exiting. To present these ideas to these two gentlemen (Brian May and Roger Taylor) – especially when they like the idea.”

Earlier this year, Brian May insisted that Freddie Mercury would have wanted Queen to continue with Adam Lambert.

Sir Brian told Guitar World: "I often have this conversation with Freddie’s sister, Kash. She gets those questions as well: ‘Why are they doing this without Freddie?’ And she completely gets what we’re doing.

“She says, ‘This is what Freddie would have wanted. He would not want have wanted his songs or the band’s songs to become museum pieces. He would have wanted them to live.’ And that’s what we’re doing. We make the Queen legacy live. Absolutely.”

The next North American leg of Queen + Adam Lambert’s Rhapsody Tour kicks off in Baltimore on 4th October.

Freddie Mercury's life in pictures:

Now read:

20 facts you probably didn't know about Freddie Mercury

Queen: The band who gave us 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and many more hits

Queen: A celebration of the legendary band in pictures

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