Adam Lambert Says Freddie Mercury Is in His Heart ‘Every Time I Take the Stage’

During performance, Lambert took a moment to reflect on his decade-long journey with Queen. “L.A., what’s up?” he greeted the enthusiastic crowd. “It’s so good to be home here after an amazing tour with two rock and roll legends. You know that I’ve been on the road for 10 years with Queen? Isn’t that nuts?” His gratitude and reverence were palpable as he continued, “Just know that every time I get up here, I know that I’m f—ing lucky. I know how much of an honor this is. And be assured that every time I take the stage, I have one person in my heart: Freddie Mercury!”

The audience’s cheers grew louder as Lambert honored Mercury’s enduring legacy. “You love Freddie too, right? That’s what this is, this is a celebration of Freddie and Queen,” he declared before launching into the iconic “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

The show was a spectacular 150-minute journey through Queen’s legendary catalog, featuring classics like “We Will Rock You,” “Radio Ga Ga,” and “Somebody to Love.” Brian May also paid his respects to his late bandmate with an emotional rendition of “Love of My Life.” Sitting on a stool, May performed the song as a clip of Mercury singing the same tune played on the screen above. In a poignant moment, May reached out to his left, aligning perfectly with Mercury’s image, creating the illusion that they were sharing the stage once more.

Lambert, who has taken on the lead singer role once held by Mercury, has always been clear about his approach. “He doesn’t try to be Freddie, which is wonderful,” May told PEOPLE in March. “He always pays tribute to Freddie, which we love. We all do. Freddie’s with us, but Adam interprets, he finds new ways to go and we are very much a team now. We discuss everything, we build, we rebuild and it’s fun.”

Lambert echoed this sentiment, describing his collaboration with May and Taylor as a “team effort.” He acknowledged Mercury’s foundational influence on their music. “He’s the originator. He can’t be replaced, but it gives me so much freedom to just exist in a playful, kind of silly place,” Lambert said. “Freddie had a great sense of humor, from what I hear and what I’ve seen, and he was sort of limitless.”

Even after a decade of performing together, May marvels at the serendipity of finding Lambert. “The amazing thing is we didn’t look for Adam. I often think, ‘My God, how did this happen?’ He is kind of a gift from God,” he shared. “Roger and I, after we lost Freddie, said ‘OK, this is the end of it.’ We knew consciously, ‘No, we’re not going to do this anymore.'”

“But then Adam just appeared,” May continued. “The voice is extraordinary. There is no other voice in the universe like his voice. Plus he has all the other stuff, I mean, look at the guy. He’s born to wear diamonds.”

As the Rhapsody Tour concludes, it is clear that Freddie Mercury’s spirit continues to inspire and guide Queen. Through Lambert’s voice and the timeless collaboration with May and Taylor, the band’s legacy not only endures but thrives, connecting with fans old and new across the globe.