LONDON (AFP) - Surviving members of Queen have decided to get together to go on the road next year, in the legendary British rock band's first tour since the death of frontman Freddie Mercury (news).
AFP/DDP/File Photo
After a series of successful joint performances earlier this year, vocalist Paul Rodgers (news) of 1970's blues band Free accepted to take the place of Mercury, who died of AIDS (news - web sites) in 1991.
"The dates will be in the United Kingdom and across Europe initially, possibly starting in March, but yet to be set in stone," said the official Queen fan website (link.
Queen guitarist Brian May (news) said there had been "amazing chemistry" when he played alongside Rodgers in concert at London's Albert Hall and on British television.
"Suddenly it seemed blindingly obvious that there was something happening here," said May, who has spent the last few weeks organising the tour.
Drummer Roger Taylor will take part in the revival tour, but it is not yet clear if the other member of the band, bassist John Deacon, will join him.
Queen, famous for rock anthems such as "We Are the Champions", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Radio Gaga", stopped playing in the late 1980s due to Mercury's deteriorating health.
But the band's cult status has been kept alive with occasional concerts and releases of live recordings.
Rodgers achieved world fame in 1968 as a member of the seminal blues group Free, which with Led Zeppelin and Cream led a revival in British blues music.