Queen + Adam Lambert Rhapsody Tour, O2 Arena, June 9th 2022

The European leg of Queen + Adam Lambert’s rescheduled 2020 Rhapsody Tour was well underway when we attended show 10 of 36 at London’s O2 Arena (née Millennium Dome) on Thursday, June 9th. The tour started in Belfast on May 27th before moving to Glasgow, then Manchester before the first of two stints at the O2 Arena. As always, the band push the boundaries of audiovisual entertainment during an expansive set list lasting over two hours consisting of 28 live songs in three acts spanning half a century of Queen’s music.

Brian elevates his customary guitar solo to new heights with an excerpt from Antonín Dvořák’s New World Symphony. Surely a cri de cœur for us all to treat Planet Earth’s ecosystems, flora, fauna and fellow human beings with more respect. The band make extensive use of the B-Stage, both theatrical to make elaborate props such as a bejewelled Harley Davidson motorcycle appear and disappear, and musically for intimate songs such as Under Pressure which Roger dedicates to the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins who died in March 2022. The juxtaposition of ’39 and These Are Days Of Our Lives, two songs about the passage of time will not be lost on Queen fans.

The previous evening’s show on Wednesday 8th June was filmed for the Rhapsody Over London live stream on 24 July 2022 and Brian announced the presence of a very special guest at the show we attended: Freddie’s sister Kashmira Cooke (née Bulsara). The set, based on an opera house makes use of dramatic lighting and magical special effects created by designer Ric Lipson, but what is truly magical about Queen is that their music appeals to all ages and will remain popular for generations. This was our children’s first rock concert and undoubtedly a night at the ‘opera’ they will remember for the rest of their lives.