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1) How are you?
Doing great. Really looking forward to getting back out to America. We love the audiences out there. They appreciate rock!
2) What excites you about bringing the show to America after all these years?
Bringing these songs alive on stage is always a thrill. The songs really speak and energise and audience so to be a part of that is wonderful. Each night feels special.
3) Did you ever imagine the band would get this far?
Yes and no. Yes I always dreamed of performing in arenas and having a ball and thought wouldn’t it be amazing if this band could do this. But another part of me was so surprised that the tribute scene even existed and was happening that I thought it couldn’t last. We were one of the first ever tribute on the planet so we kind of accidentally wrote the rulebook about what was possible. It’s always felt like an adventure and a surreal dream.
4) You’ve sold out the same arenas as Queen. How do you approach honouring the legacy while making it your own.
I see each performance whether in an arena or concert hall as something unique. A conversation and celebration between the band and the audience through the magic of music on that one night. I let the music take over my whole body and just live and breathe it each night. I don’t think about making it my own- it’s not about me. It’s about Freddie, Brian, Roger and John. Inevitably something of me is there but I’m not out to put me centre stage. Of course there’s technique and stagecraft to help this along but at it’s purest it’s just freedom and energy from the music and connection with the audience. It’s powerful. And fun.
5) What makes Red Rocks so special?
It’s blows my mind everytime. The air is rare up there. It’s at quite an altitude! The audience looks vast stretching up against the rocks and making a huge noise. It’s hard to say why a place feels special. It’s physically fabulous but there’s a vibe there that’s unique! It’s great to have played there so many times.
6) Killer Queen captures the magic of Freddie.. How do you prepare for the role each night?
I do vocal warmup and use steam on my voice and singing straws to limber up. Then pop the make up and costume on. It takes about an hour. By the end I’m a mixture of excited and relaxed. It’s a marathon not a sprint. So it’s good to get that balance right.
Mentally the music gives me everything I need to make the performance happen. That’s the real magic ingredient.
7) How important was it to be the 1st Tribute to play London’s West End?
It was when things got kicked up a notch! It all happened so fast, the tv coverage, the newspapers the whole publicity machine was extraordinary. I took a step back after that for a short while to make sure I wanted this. It felt like a juggernaut landing in your life. Thankfully I decided yes this was for me and here we are today!
8) How did Fat Boy Slim collaborate come about?
He did the mix for an Artist Raven Maize. I got the call from an agent who said turn up to this studio and sing Freddie! So I did. 1st time in a serious studio. Wow. I learned a lot very quickly. Never met Norman Cook (Fat Boy Slim) but gigged with his son many years later. He was doing a DJ set. Nice chap. It was fun and great to have a number one hit!
9) Which moments stand out as career defining milestones?
Meeting Bob Geldof was a laugh. I liked him. Playing Ahoy Arena and Forrest National Arena was also amazing. Particularly Forest National. Queen shot a few videos there so it felt super special. I think of my life as an adventure rather than a career. So lots of things and crazy times and friendships feel just as important as gigs.
The one gig that would have been amazing never happened. I was asked to perform at Freddies 75th birthday in Stonetown- Freddie’s childhood home as part of his birthday celebrations. I wasn’t able to do it which sounds insane. I was not well at the time. But it felt so wonderful to be asked. In an odd way, that’s my career highlight. The gig that never was! I promised myself I’d go to Stonetown by myself one day but have yet to make that happen.
10) How do you keep the shows fresh for your audience new and old?
You change the set and things like that. New stage designs etc. But for me everynight is a new experience. It’s feels fresh because it’s being played that night to that particular audience. Concerts are such great things. A good concert lives on in people’s hearts. Makes such resonant memories and is such a fabulous shared experience. It feels wonderful. So it’s fresh. And fun.
11) What’s the next chapter for Killer Queen.
My whole life has unfolded in a most peculiar way. I enjoy throwing myself at things and seeing what happens. I trained as an actor years ago and always loved impro. Life is one big improv! Let’s see what happens!
