Robbie close to Queen role

Robbie Williams came close to replacing Freddie Mercury as Queen's new vocalist, two of the band's surviving members have admitted.

Robbie, who recorded a version of Queen's We Are The Champions for the 2001 movie A Knight's Tale, was keen to tour the US with the band, drummer Roger Taylor has revealed.

"I think America appealed to him and he... I think he was sort of quite keen on the idea at one point, and it did seem like a good idea, and then I think we all sort of drew back a little - thought about it a little harder, and then thought 'Maybe not', you know," Taylor told
Capital Gold radio.

Guitarist Brian May said: "We got close with Robbie... yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, we talked to him, but not in an auditioning kinda way. We just thought 'Wouldn't it be fun if we did something'.

"We kind of talked about it and talked about it and came close but..."

Former Free and Bad Company vocalist Paul Rodgers will front Queen when the veteran group tour for the first time since Mercury's death from an Aids-related illness in 1991.

Queen's third surviving member bass player John Deacon has not rejoined the band because he doesn't want the "stress" of touring, May said.

Rodgers says they are currently rehearsing Free's Alright Now and Feel Like Makin' Love and Bad Company's Can't Get Enough Of Your Love in their set.

Last week Queen announced they will play Hyde Park on Friday, July 8. Queen begin their first UK tour in 19 years at the Newcastle Arena on May 3.

Source: Ananova