Jeff Scott Soto shared a video of himself recreating the complex vocal intro to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and Queen guitarist Brian May praised his effort in the comments on Instagram.
Soto posted the video showing him tackling the famously layered opening vocals. In his caption, he explained the technical challenges of the part and acknowledged that he rushed through it while preparing for other commitments before heading out on tour.
Jeff Scott Soto wrote in the caption of the Instagram video: “Could have done it better but I had to blaze through it along with everything else I am doing this week before I hit the road with TSO!
“Pretty sure I got most of this right, listening back there might be some wrong/alternate moving parts but overall it’s pretty much correct.”
“You must remember, this intro was ALL Freddie and he layered his voice on some parts NINE TIMES, others were 6, 5, maybe 3 but the final was FOUR parts with about 30 vocal overdubs singing unison with one another to get that choir sound,” he added.
“Layering also helped in not having to sing it 100% perfectly, in fact, imperfect layering is what brings out that choir sound, doing it EXACTLY as one another phases some voices out and it can sound ‘smaller’,” Soto concluded.
May responded with encouragement for Soto’s performance. “Nice job Jeff !!! Good luck out there !! Bri,” the guitarist commented.
Other musicians also voiced their support. Korn drummer Ray Luzier wrote: “Awesome brother!” Green Day guitarist Jason Freese added: “That’s how it’s done right there!!!!!!”
Soto’s video was shared as he prepared to tour with Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Soto has been a touring singer with Trans-Siberian Orchestra since 2008. The band is bringing back their holiday spectacle for 2026, marking 30 years of ‘The Ghosts of Christmas Eve’ with over 50 cities on the tour. The performances start on November 19 with two shows in Green Bay, and from there, Trans-Siberian Orchestra will play dates in Denver, Seattle, Las Vegas, Houston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Minneapolis before wrapping up on December 30 with two performances in St. Louis.
Soto is best known for being the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen’s first two albums and for a brief time as the lead vocalist for Journey in 2006–2007. In 2012 he was hired as one of the four singers chosen for the official tribute band Queen Extravaganza. In 2023, Soto collaborated with the Indonesian band Dewa 19 on a cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The recording of “Bohemian Rhapsody” was an ambitious vocal project. Queen layered 160 tracks of vocal overdubs for the grand chorale section, with Freddie Mercury singing the middle register, Brian May singing the low register, and drummer Roger Taylor singing the high register. The entire piece took three weeks to record, with May, Mercury, and Taylor singing their vocal parts continually for 10 to 12 hours a day.
