Half a century after Bohemian Rhapsody reshaped the landscape of popular music, Queen could be on the verge of adding another chapter to their story, and perhaps in a way that breaks new ground entirely.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone marking the 50th anniversary of the band’s most iconic track, Brian May confirmed that he, Roger Taylor, and Adam Lambert “have been in the studio” together, experimenting with potential new music. It’s a tantalising development given that, despite two live albums and countless tours, Queen have never released original material with Lambert at the mic, a stark contrast to their 2008 collaboration The Cosmos Rocks with Paul Rodgers.
“Not many people know, but Adam and we have been in the studio trying things,” May revealed. “Nothing really materialised so far. Some things are meant to be and some things are not.”
While hardly a definitive promise, it’s a rare public admission that new material is at least being seriously considered. Taylor echoed the sentiment, adding: “I don’t think we’re done. And I don’t think we’re gonna say, you know, final farewell tour or whatever. ’Cause it never is, is it?”
But even if new Queen music remains in flux, the band’s live ambitions might soon take a bold new shape. May admitted that the grind of global touring has lost its appeal after 50 years on the road, citing the toll of being away from his family for long stretches. “There’s a part of me that thinks it’s enough,” he said. “I don’t like the idea that you wake up in your hotel room and you’re trapped… I feel like I’ve given up my freedom too many times.”
Yet that doesn’t mean Queen are ready to stop performing. Instead, May says the band are “having conversations” about a residency at the cutting-edge Las Vegas Sphere, a venue whose immersive visuals and state-of-the-art acoustics could unlock new creative possibilities. “I’m very keen on the Sphere,” May admitted. “It’s got my mind working. I sat there watching the Eagles, thinking, ‘We should do this. The stuff that we could bring to this would be stupendous.’”
Whether new songs emerge or not, one thing is certain: Queen are far from done evolving. And if May and Taylor’s words are anything to go by, the next era of this legendary band could look, and sound, unlike anything we’ve seen before.
