STACK #186 Apr 2020

MUSIC FEATURE

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Adam Lambert‘s second album was the first by an openly gay artist to top the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. Now boasting a decade-long career as a recording artist, he sits down with STACK to discuss collaborating with Nile Rodgers and “working with more queer people“ to create the funky, soulful feel of Velvet , his lustrous forthcoming fourth LP. Words Bryget Chrisfield

W hen Queen + Adam Lambert played Sydney‘s ANZ Stadium during their recent Rhapsody tour, the scheduled start time was delayed due to a downpour. “We didn‘t have any rain during the actual show, which was great - it was a blessing,“ Lambert admits while sinking into an adjoining couch in the living room of his luxe Crown Towers hotel suite (and, yes, the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows is fab!). “We still have the structure

setlist “was something [they] wanted to keep a surprise“. “We‘ve opened up a whole new fanbase with the movie [Bohemian Rhapsody],“ Lambert enlightens. “Now we‘re seeing a lot more young people at the shows, families - it‘s so exciting but, yeah! It‘s like I have to win over new people now, which is a good challenge, you know? It‘s funny to see how people were really protective of Freddie after the film and I love that, actually; he deserves that, his memory. I love that he‘s at this icon status and he‘s a hero, you know? I think it‘s really beautiful to see that. I like that people get defensive of him, because I get it. Like, I get it! Hallowed ground. I‘m doing my best. “Freddie was unbelievable,“ Lambert extols. “I‘ve watched Freddie and instead of copying him it‘s more like, ‘Well, what

that we had built down on the B-stage; it was like a very ugly gazebo. Unfortunately it was a bit of an eyesore, but Brian [May] didn‘t want to get his guitar wet, because that guitar is very precious.“ The following day, Queen +

Adam Lambert took to the very same stage for Fire Fight Australia (a benefit concert to raise funds for national bushfire relief) - reprising Queen‘s 1985 Live Aid set

was he trying to get across?‘ you know

what I mean? Like, ‘What was the idea here?‘ That‘s what I try to focus on.“ During a day off from Queen duty in Melbourne,

- and Lambert admits that the

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