Music / News
Queen play secret gig in Brabazon hangars
Beholding the magnificent sight of Queen guitarist Brian May rising up from a stage in a puff of smoke wearing a fluorescent catsuit was not originally in the news diary for Bristol24/7 on Monday afternoon.
Even after the event, it still seems slightly ludicrous that four decades after their famous Live Aid performance, Queen would put on a performance to 100 people at a former aircraft hangar in Filton.
Surprisingly though, in the vast expanse of the Brabazon Hangars, an enraptured audience soaked up the band’s legendary anthems – including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions and We Will Rock You.
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After having spent the last few days rehearsing here ahead of their upcoming tour, the band performed to an audience of just 100 people two years before this space is set to be transformed into the 17-000 capacity YTL Bristol Arena.
After the small audience had their phones locked away ahead of the performance, Queen – with Adam Lambert taking over from Freddie Mercury on vocals – electrified the immense space as they performed an exclusive preview of their tour show.
Brian May was a fluffy-haired, grizzled triumph, silk and sequined shirt billowing and strutting down a stage in the central hangar. Meanwhile, Adam Lambert, glitter-clad and fantastically flamboyant, sung the band’s classic songs camped-up and at one point wearing a crown.
Their unlikely performance, alongside drummer Roger Taylor, marked 45 years to the day since Queen played at Bristol Hippodrome.
The band said: “We’ve been made to feel very welcome by YTL, and the Rhapsody Tour would have loved the opportunity to include a Bristol show if this fantastic venue was open.
“Hopefully we can come back and play here again, to a packed house, when YTL Arena Bristol is ready to welcome the public.”
The future YTL Bristol Arena within the hangars will be divided into three sections – including a festival hall, hub for eating and drinking and convention space.
It is part of plans from YTL who want to transform Filton’s former airfield land into a “new urban community” for Bristol, with Brabazon the name of the new residential development.
Talking after Queen’s performance, arena chief executive Andrew Billingham said that he is “honoured that Brian, Roger and Adam wanted to play their part in our story”.
Main photo: Queen
Read more: First look at latest plans for new neighbourhood built on former airfield site
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