Queen legend Brian May has expressed strong interest in creating a groundbreaking hologram show that would digitally reunite the iconic band's original lineup, including the late Freddie Mercury.
The Dream of Digital Reunion
The 78-year-old guitarist, who currently performs with original drummer Roger Taylor and singer Adam Lambert, revealed he's 'very taken' with the concept of bringing the complete classic Queen formation back together through advanced technology. May specifically mentioned the potential of creating immersive experiences similar to The Sphere in Las Vegas, suggesting it could recreate what it was like during the band's heyday with all four original members.
'Freddie is still alive through the music that we listen to all the time. In a sense, John is still with us in the same way, but now we have so many other opportunities,' May told Big Issue in a recent interview. The bassist John Deacon retired from music in 1997, while Mercury passed away in 1991.
Beyond Simple Projections
May emphasised that any potential hologram show would go far beyond simply playing old footage. He envisions creating 'Queen as if we were creating it today' rather than relying on nostalgic presentations. The guitarist already incorporates Mercury into current performances through video during 'Love of My Life,' but believes this concept could be significantly expanded.
'It was just quite simply done, but it's a way of involving Freddie, and I think we can basically take that a lot further,' May explained, highlighting the potential for technological advancement in how audiences experience the band's legacy.
Following in ABBA's Footsteps
The potential Queen show would follow the successful model established by ABBA's Voyage production, which launched in 2022 in a custom-built London venue. However, not all band members share May's enthusiasm for the concept.
Drummer Roger Taylor admitted that while he 'had a good time' and 'enjoyed' the ABBA Voyage show, he wasn't entirely convinced by the technology at the time. 'I didn't find the actual projections that convincing,' Taylor noted, though he acknowledged that technology has improved significantly since the ABBA show debuted three years ago.
The idea for a digital Queen reunion emerged while May was working on reissues of the band's early albums, including Queen I and the forthcoming Queen II. 'It's great to re-experience that joy of creation that we had in those days,' he reflected, describing Queen II as 'more complex than Bohemian Rhapsody.'
Changing Perspectives on Hologram Technology
May's current interest marks a significant shift from his previous stance on hologram technology. The guitarist had previously insisted he didn't want hologram versions of Queen until all original band members were 'gone,' emphasising that 'we love to be live and dangerous' during a 2023 appearance on The Graham Norton Radio Show podcast.
The conversation around posthumous performances using AI and hologram technology has grown increasingly prominent in recent years. Notable examples include:
- Tupac's 2012 Coachella appearance nearly 17 years after his death
- Michael Jackson's 2014 Billboard Music Awards performance
- Whitney Houston's hologram tour that ran from 2020-2023
- The recently announced Elvis Evolution experience
As technology continues to advance, the possibility of experiencing Queen with Freddie Mercury back on stage becomes increasingly plausible, though the band members' differing opinions suggest any such project would require careful consideration and collaboration.
