Queen's Brian May lavishes Adam Lambert with praise: "Freddie would approve, big time"

Queen + Adam Lambert opened their North American Rhapsody Tour in Vancouver last Wednesday (10th July) and have since rolled into Tacoma and San Jose.

Shortly before taking to the stage at San Jose’s SAP Center last night (14th July), Brian May took to Instagram to applaud Adam Lambert calling him a “true phenomenon” and credited him as the reason why Queen are “still alive as a functioning rock band.”

Sharing a picture of Lambert on stage, May wrote: “And here is the Modern Marvel without whom, for sure, Queen would not be out here delivering at the top level. ADAM LAMBERT is only now beginning to be recognised by the greater public as the true phenomenon that he is.

"Gifted with a voice in a billion, for himself he is a passionate and unyielding perfectionist. Gifted to us, he is the reason that we are still alive as a functioning rock band. And still able to take on new challenges. Plus ... he’s nice. That’s a big deal when you’re a touring family. Freddie (Mercury) would approve, big time.”

> > > View this post on Instagram > > And here is the Modern Marvel without whom, for sure, Queen would not be out here delivering at the top level. ADAM LAMBERT is only now beginning to be recognised by the greater public as the true phenomenon that he is. Gifted with a voice in a billion, for himself he is a passionate and unyielding perfectionist. Gifted to us, he is the reason that we are still alive as a functioning rock band. And still able to take on new challenges. Plus ... he’s nice. That’s a big deal when you’re a touring family. Freddie would approve, big time. TONITE !!! For One Night Only ! San Jose !!! Are ya ready ?!!! 💥💥💥💥 THANKS @ALAlwayz on Twitter for this photo. 💥💥💥💥💥 Also, and I will say this only once, for the benefit of just a few people who haven’t stopped to think clearly. Just imagine how awful it would have been for Roger and myself to tour with a Freddie impersonator. Anyone who suggests such a thing doesn’t belong here. To the vast majority of you lovely people out there - BIG THANKS for being respectful to Adam. In supporting him, you are supporting the life blood of the live Queen legacy. Nothing is forever. This is a precious moment. We never pass this way again. Bri > > A post shared by Brian Harold May (@brianmayforreal) on Jul 14, 2019 at 3:20pm PDT

He added: “Also, and I will say this only once, for the benefit of just a few people who haven’t stopped to think clearly. Just imagine how awful it would have been for Roger and myself to tour with a Freddie impersonator. Anyone who suggests such a thing doesn’t belong here.

“To the vast majority of you lovely people out there - BIG THANKS for being respectful to Adam. In supporting him, you are supporting the life blood of the live Queen legacy. Nothing is forever. This is a precious moment. We never pass this way again. Bri.”

Queen + Adam Lambert’s epic North American Rhapsody Tour continues at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday (16th July) and concludes at Charlotte Spectrum Center in North Carolina on Friday 23rd August.

Following the North American dates, Queen + Adam Lambert play 14 dates across South Korean, Japan and Australia and New Zealand throughout late January and February 2020.

Brian May and Roger Taylor first met Adam Lambert when they appeared on American Idol in 2009 when Lambert was a contestant. They began performing together in 2011 and have been actively touring since 2012.

Check out photos from The Rhapsody Tour below (all images: Bojan Hohnjec © Miracle Productions LLP).