Start growing your hair and go in search of some funky leather trousers, because superstar rock band Queen and singer Paul Rodgers are set to take to the stage in Dubai this November.
The world-renowned group ? made famous by the late legendary lead singer Freddie Mercury ? will see Brian May and Roger Taylor perform with Rodgers at Dubai Festival City on November 14, in a rock extravaganza, which according to organisers Transguard Group, has never been witnessed before in the region.
"What is going to set this event apart from other shows is the corporate route we are taking," Mark Povey, Director Marketing and Events, told Emirates Business. "It is a slight departure from the traditional concert concept."
Approximately 12,000 rock fans are expected to attend, with a further 2,000 in the exclusive corporate hospitality village.
According to Transguard, the band's set will feature a mix of Queen classics and new album tracks against a backdrop featuring a unique stage and lights set.
"This band is perfect for business people who want to take clients to a Dubai event," said Povey, who has organised corporate events such as White Collar Boxing. "With the corporate village seating, we can provide a company with their own branded private balcony, with personal waiter service." The Queen and Rodgers collaboration began in 2004 when Queen guitarist May hooked up with the singer ? formerly member of bands Bad Company, Free, The Firm and The Law ? at the Fender Strat Pack concert.
They performed a rendition of Free's classic, All Right Now, and following the show, May invited Rodgers to sing with the band at their induction to the UK Music Hall of Fame, where they played We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions and All Right Now. The three announced their world tour in 2005.
May, Rodgers and drummer Taylor are the principal members of the band, supplemented on tour by keyboard player Spike Edney, rhythm guitarist Jamie Moses, and bassist Danny Miranda.
Coinciding with the release of their album, The Cosmos Rocks, Queen and Paul Rodgers are embarking on an intensive 33-date European, North Eurasian and Latin American tour.
Flying to Dubai straight from the last of their UK dates in London, the band will fit in an exclusive performance here before heading on to the South American leg of their tour.
The new album, jointly written and produced by the three legendary rock icons, is the first Queen studio album in 13 years; their last release was the 1995 hit, Made In Heaven, which contained their last recordings with Mercury.
That album became the band's biggest selling studio album, with worldwide sales in excess of 20 million. link