Killer Queen, A Night at Bell Auditorium
Killer Queen: A Tribute to the Iconic Legacy of Queen. A Night at the Bell Auditorium, March 2.
When frontman Freddie Mercury famously described “Killer Queen” as a song he wrote that explored the complexities of high-class allure and the duality of human nature, he set the stage for a compelling character- Killer Queen: a high-class call girl,one with both charm and contradiction. With his rich Parisian lyrical imagery, Mercury highlighted the more complicated truth that even in the glitzy world of rock, every queen has her secrets. “It’s about a high-class call girl. I’m trying to say that classy people can be whores as well. That’s what the song is about,” Mercury said. “Though I prefer people put their own interpretation upon it-to read into it what they like.”
Recorded for their third studio album Sheer Heart Attack in 1974, “Killer Queen” featured intricate arrangements and blended rock with elements of pop and cabaret which elevated it beyond typical rock fare. The musical sophistication engaged listeners on multiple levels and invited them to appreciate not just the lyrics but the artistry behind the composition. Mercury was a master of theatricality, using his performances to tell stories that captivated audiences. His larger-than-life persona and dramatic stage presence transformed “Killer Queen” into an experience rather than just a song. This approach led many tribute acts like British super-fans Killer Queen to embrace that same theatricality once Mercury passed in 1991.
After learning of Mercury’s death, vocalist Patrick Myers and his band were devastated and started singing Queen songs at their shows with a different energy. “We thought, ‘Well maybe we could do a song because we’d all missed out on seeing Queen live ourselves. We were too young for their last tour. We were only sort of 13 or 14 when they did their last tour,@ Myers told Go Venue magazine. “We thought, ‘well maybe we can put on a show or two ourselves and feel like we’ve been at a Queen concert…”
“There wasn’t any other band that we knew of that was doing Queen. We (Killer Queen) were the only ones… I was studying acting at the time. I’d studied movement and I’d been in rock and roll bands before in my teen years when I was home. So, we put it all together. We did one show, and this one show took off. It was just like, extraordinary. We were playing in front of 1,500 people or so and they just went absolutely crazy for us. The guy who got us on said, “Yeah, now I’m going to give you a tour,” and booked the tour the next week… “We got national TV coverage and started winning awards. Then we started getting offered the same arenas that Queen had been offered. Like big places, they’d shot all their huge concert videos at…It was like a big, weird dream. In some ways, it still feels like a dream you know. I have gotten used to it now, it’s my day-to-day life. When I look back on it, it does seem quite fantastical inmany ways. It’s brilliant fun, and a real adventure.”
Touring in Europe and America as a tribute act for 30 years now, Myers continued,…” It’s been a lifetime, an odyssey. It’s been great fun,” he added. “We’ve ended up playing some of the same arenas that Queen sold out with Freddie…We’ve watched Queen’s star grow and grow and grow. Queen are bigger now than they ever were. The popularity is kind of universal. It’s brilliant fun to do, and the songs are a pleasure to perform. We’re looking forward to bringing all that magic out.”
This year, for the first leg of their North American tour, Killer Queen will perform at Bell Auditorium on March 2 for a night where music and storytelling collide, celebrating the legacy of a band that taught us all that high-class charm and raw humanity can coexist. This is more than just a tribute band, it’s a chance to relieve the magic of Queen and embrace the timeless, extraordinary celebration of rock royalty.
“We like getting back out in front of American audiences,” Myers said. “We get a really warm, enthusiastic and excited reaction from the various countries we play in. There’s a very particular style of reaction, hard to characterize really, but that’s an American audience. I don’t know if it’s a cliche or not, but it seems to hold true. I think it’s because rock and roll music kind of began in America.
You exported it to us, and we exported it back to you with the Beatles. It all came from America. There seems to be this sort of hunger for rock music that’s a very particular American brand. So really, we love playing in America. We play there three times a year we like it so much. We spend about three months, maybe more in America every year, and it’s a pleasure to do. It’s a huge place. I mean it’s exhausting touring it, but it’s worth the mileage. The audience is so electric and enthusiastic, and we like it”
What started as a one night stand has now led the band to welcome the world over due to their smashing attention to detail, energetic performances and of course, the most brilliant back catalog to draw upon. With Freddie’s trademark charm, Myers with guitarist Andrew Edwards donning Brian May’s incredible curls, many say Killer Queen is the closest they’ve seen to the real thing.
The band delves into the glamor, grit and grandeur of Queen’s music and as they launch into timeless hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Somebody to Love,” and of course “Killer Queen,” audiences are transported back to an era where rock was not just music, it was a celebration of individuality and expression. Each performance is a vibrant homage to the artistry of Queen and showcases the band’s ability to blend theatrically with rock-n-roll authenticity complete with elaborate costumes, dazzlingly visuals and that unmistakable energy that makes rock-n-roll so special.
Each song is not merely performed, it’s brought to life with passion and authenticity. They invite you to feel every note, every lyric and every powerful message. Whether you are a lifelong fan or new to their music, Killer Queen will rock you and offers a celebration that will leave you with a full heart and a renewed appreciation for the magic of music.
