I was curious what the forum thought about Adam Lambert's tours with Queen? I thought it might lead to some interesting conversations. Obviously nobody can replace Freddie, but wondering what everyone thought about this particular topic.
This guy is Freddie reincarnated, IMO. Outstanding !!!
Trax
I will have to give this video a watch later! It's one of those things where you either have to make Queen songs your own which is incredibly hard to do, or you have to and replicate them. I would be very curious to see how the gentleman you linked holds up.
It's a match made in heaven. Adam is flat out fabulous with Queen! I don't they could have found a better singer or a better fit.
He's flamboyant in all the right ways, and in a lot of ways has the same over-the-top yet understated allure that Freddie did that you can't quite place. I got the chance to see Adam Lambert and Queen in Vancouver for my birthday a few years ago, and it was such an fantastic show. They did a montage and memorial piece for Freddie where it was a bunch of clips of Freddie singing one of his songs, and Lambert just bowed out for the entire song and just watched the footage and gave Freddie his time to be there, even though he wasn't really there. It felt really respectful, and the crowd went crazy for it.
Far better than Journey with the guy THEY use now..... Lambert is very good. Got to give him his props.
I actually don't think I've seen who is touring with Journey. I'll have to look in to it later.
The thing I like about Lambert is that he has a really great range that can easily match Freddie's, but he also can easily fit in to a more rock genre despite being a more of a pop/electronic pop singer. I like that he can adapt, but also that he's not trying to be Freddie directly.
This guy is Freddie reincarnated, IMO. Outstanding !!!
Trax
Personally, I prefer his earlier video. He still does a great job at imitation at any rate.
As far as Adam, I love that he obviously loves Freddie; but still is himself. To me, it seems like he was a logical choice...maybe a little too logical. There is a small part of me that wonders if that was all a set up...I mean his audition was a Queen song; and he ends up be the lead singer of the band. Could be extremely clever marketing. Or, perfect timing. All good either way by me.
As far as Arnel, I think he does a GREAT job and has a fantastic attitude. He's not Steve Perry and can't sing everything the way Steve did...but...I kind of think Steve can't anymore either. I love both of those singers.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
To me it would be like hiring someone to replace John Lennon and George Harrison, playing the songs as they were recorded, and still calling it "The Beatles".
Or taking 3 of the original members of "The Dave Brubeck Quartet" and hiring a new pianist who can play like Brubeck and still calling it "The Dave Brubeck Quartet".
I might still like the new groups, but to me they wouldn't be the same.
I know the group "Jay And The Americans" had 3 different Jay's, the second one's real name was David. I like the first two editions for different reasons and haven't heard the latest one.
I think Adam does a great job and I don't want to diminish his talent or effort.
I wish them all the luck in the world (though I doubt that they will need luck).
They tried before using Paul Rodgers (singer from "Bad Company" and "Free") which had some nice moments, I actually have a DVD from one of those concerts.
But Adam is a much more natural fit, it is more like "Queen" instead of "Queen with Paul Rodgers".
Are they doing any new material, or just playing the old hits?
I think Adam is a super singer and remember thinking Freddie Mercury the first time I heard him sing. I guess the difference would be whether they just sing the old songs, or do new material as to whether they are considered a tribute band. Otherwise, you could also make the argument that Chicago has just been a tribute band since 1978, when Terry Kath passed away.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
I too find he is a good fit for the band. You obviously can't replace Freddie, but Adam Lambert does put his own spin on it that pays homage well to the original.
So I had to post to this thread. You're won't believe this, but my wife is TODAY wearing a black tee-shirt that says, "Queen + Adam Lambert -- 2014 North American Tour"!
We saw them in Dallas. Fantastic. I couldn't imagine them with anyone else ("Freddie's Dead"--Curtis Mayfield), but that Martel guy posted here above is fantastic.
Lambert, in addition to the voice, commands the stage. It just felt like this was Queen. (Never saw all the original guys.)
BTW, IMO Queen was much more than Freddie, as great as Freddie was. Incredible guitar work!
Great, great concert! We drove a couple hundred miles and spent the night to see them. Totally worth it, and my wife was the one that was all hot to go see them.
They tried before using Paul Rodgers (singer from "Bad Company" and "Free") which had some nice moments, I actually have a DVD from one of those concerts.
But Adam is a much more natural fit, it is more like "Queen" instead of "Queen with Paul Rodgers".
Are they doing any new material, or just playing the old hits?
I don't think they're doing any new material, at least not that I know of. When I saw them it was all the hits you'd come to expect from Queen, just with Adam singing. That being said, it was a few years ago and I have no idea if they're making new music together. I'll have to look in to that, methinks!
Edit: Oh, looks like Deryk already beat me to the confirmation.
Last edited by Ember - PG Music; 06/03/1809:41 AM.
Lambert, in addition to the voice, commands the stage. It just felt like this was Queen. (Never saw all the original guys.)
BTW, IMO Queen was much more than Freddie, as great as Freddie was. Incredible guitar work!
This is true, and I think something that not everyone thinks about -- myself included. We tend to think of Freddie when we think of Queen, and less so of all the other people who made Queen what they were and what they still are today. Thank you for reminding me of that.
This is true, and I think something that not everyone thinks about -- myself included. We tend to think of Freddie when we think of Queen, and less so of all the other people who made Queen what they were and what they still are today. Thank you for reminding me of that.
Actually, while Freddie really was the "voice" of Queen, I generally give equal billing to Brian May for creating the Queen sound. If you look at the first seven albums, you will see them clearly labeled "no synths", because all that neat sound was done by Brian on guitars and other real instruments. Sure, there were effects, but they weren't synthesizers. ("The Game" broke the rules and they then became a synth band.)
I actually started listening to Queen with their first album, and fell in love with that new sound. The whole first side is excellent (IMHO), but definitely not everyone's cup of tea. "Queen II" was very thematic, but didn't have any hits on it, and it is still one of my favorites to listen to beginning to end.
I did start losing interest after "The Works" came out. Radio Ga-Ga just didn't do much for me.
But I do listen to their first 7 or 8 albums on a fairly regular basis.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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