Nope. You’re not on drugs. (Well, metaphorically anyway.)
The last time the original lineup of Queen, one of the most respected and known rock bands of all time was in Florida was when they stopped in Lakeland on the Jazz tour in 1978. That’s right. Smash hits such as Another One Bites The Dust and Radio Gaga had not yet been written or recorded. But now, everything is different. Of course, Freddie Mercury passed away in 1991, and there’s nothing that can be done about that. Yet Queen’s two sole surviving members, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor hired Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers to front them for a few years, and on their 2006 US tour, Florida, specifically Miami and Jacksonville were played for the first time in almost 30 years.
But now, Bri and Roger have hired American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert to front the group. Their first few dates were in the US, and they did not come near Florida at all. Last year, they announced another US tour, and they snubbed Florida again. This year, the group has toured Aussie and New Zealand, and stood by to watch the making of the groundbreaking theatrical biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. And they’ve just announced some new US dates.
But there will be something very different about this set of dates.
On August 18, 2019, Queen + Adam Lambert will rock Amalie Arena for the first time ever. This will also be the group’s first time in the Tampa Bay area ever, excluding a show the old Sunshine Speedway in St. Pete in March 1975 that was cancelled due to being too small of a venue. That’s right: Bohemian Rhapsody was still not a thing last time they were supposed to rock Tampa. Can you imagine what a Queen show must have been like without it?
Tickets go on sale December 7, and will start at $45.75. While retired original bassist John Deacon will not be present, we just may get a glimpse or two of Freddie. We Tampa fans only expect the best for a legendary rock band that’s about to make their debut here, after close to 50 years.
Josh Bradley Live 