Queen is one of the rock music industry’s most celebrated and influential bands. Although they were a band formed in the ’70s, Queen has preserved its popularity. The iconic frontman Freddie Mercury was the band’s main singer and songwriter. His creative and theatrical performances, combined with his powerful vocals, paved the way for the rise of a stunning rock star who won the hearts of many people worldwide.
Unfortunately, Freddie Mercury deprived the world of his incredible talent with his death on November 24, 1991. He left a lasting impression on popular music that would continue long after his death. The rocker influenced many artists, and these artists carried his legacy through their music, style, and charisma. After the passing of Freddie Mercury, the remaining members debated who would be good enough to replace him, and one of the names suggested by Brian May was Lady Gaga.
Was Lady Gaga Going to Replace Freddie Mercury?
Freddie Mercury was the flashy and talented rocker everyone wanted to be in the industry. After his tragic death, his legacy to a wide range of genres and artists over the decades became a testament to Queen’s talent. His timeless musicality, unparalleled stage presence, and unique touch he poured into every song and every performance are what separated him from his peers.
Considering Mercury’s presence in the industry, it was nearly impossible to fill his shoes. When the band got together to discuss the right fit for the band, Brian May told the Daily Express in 2011 that Lady Gaga could pull it off. May discussed that even though there are multiple offers from people to work with Queen, they are looking for someone capable of continuing Freddie Mercury’s legacy. He explained that he had worked with Lady Gaga previously on a song, so they talked about her taking over.
Brian May’s words when he was considering Lady Gaga to take over the role of Freddie Mercury:
“We talk about going out on the road all the time, but there’s a bit of a singer problem, to put it mildly. We get a lot of offers to work with other people. I worked with Lady Gaga, and she’s very creative and is someone we’ve talked about singing and fronting the band with. She’s not just a singer; she writes her material.”
Lady Gaga was one of the artists most influenced and inspired by Freddie Mercury’s art. Everything from her stage name, a play on the Queen hit ‘Radio Ga Ga,’ to her larger-than-life stage persona followed the icon’s footsteps. Gaga even collaborated with May on the single ‘You & I’ from her ‘Born This Way’ album, sampled after ‘We Will Rock You.’ Even though the remaining Queen members considered Lady Gaga, she never became part of the lineup.
However, before Lady Gaga was even a possible candidate for the lead singer, Brian May had offered Paul Rodgers in 2004 to sing with them during their European tour. To respect and honor Freddie Mercury’s name, they started touring under ‘Queen + Paul Rodgers’ in 2005 and 2006. They even released an album, ‘The Cosmos Rocks,’ in 2008. However, after five years with Queen, in 2009, they mutually decided that Rodgers was not a perfect fit.
After Rodgers’ departure, Brian May got curious about Adam Lambert after his audition on American Idol. Queen ultimately wanted Adam Lambert to join them under ‘Queen + Adam Lambert’ after being impressed with his stage performance. To this day, they have gone on multiple tours and have given numerous concerts.
