50 years ago, the late, great Freddie Mercury and his fellow Queen bandmates put the finishing touches to a bombastic six-minute piece of prog rock, featuring one of the most famous moments of rock falsetto that, despite mixed critical reaction, would go on to top the UK charts not once but twice.
Tonight, Queen Extravaganza, the official tribute band with members hand-picked by Roger Taylor and Brian May, roll into Manchester as part of a UK tour to celebrate Bohemian Rhapsody’s Golden Jubilee, alongside a set-list crammed with other greatest hits.
To pay homage to a band like Queen is like picking low-hanging fruit, in that you are assured of a fantastic catalogue of music that weaves through hard rock, heavy metal and operatic sensibilities.
Queen Extravaganza, to their credit, don’t attempt to ‘ape’ the band – there are no costumes or contrived vocals. And nobody is ever likely to truly encapsulate the vocal talent, rockstar swagger and musical virtuosity of Mercury – it takes all five members of Queen Extravaganza to come close.
Gareth Taylor’s vocals are the nearest to Mercury’s without sounding forced. His delivery of Don’t Stop me Now and Under Pressure are highlights of the set. His fellow vocalist, Alirio Netto, is more akin to Adam Lambert but still has bags of power and range to deliver rockier numbers such as Fat Bottomed Girls and I Want it All.
They are ably supported by Darren Reeves on keys, Nick Radcliffe on guitar, François-Olivier Doyon on bass and George Farrar on drums, who play through tonight’s hits with energy and aplomb. Farrar also delivers the vocals on a number of songs, emulating Mercury’s growl well.
In These are the Days of Our Lives we see archive footage of Queen and, when it’s time for the track we’re all here to celebrate, Bohemian Rhapsody, “I see a little silhouetto of a man…” is handed over to the Mercury and his bandmates via the song’s original music video, to bring us into its headbanging climax.
It is a little weird that the gig is a seated one with an interval, although the band repeatedly encourage people to their feet and are met with little resistance. And, aside from occasions where the surviving band members perform with guest vocalists, this is the closest and best opportunity younger generations will get to experience the power and pomp of Queen’s music live.
It’s a hugely enjoyable night with the audience lapping up the performance and, as they join in We Are the Champions with gusto, it’s clear to see why Taylor and May have felt comfortable putting the legacy of their music in the hands of Queen Extravaganza.
For more information and What’s On at the o2 Apollo, visit https://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2apollomanchester/. For more tour dates for Queen Extravaganza, visit https://www.queenonline.com/quex.
Reviewer: Lou Steggals
Reviewed: 15th February 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 4 out of 5.
