Killer Queen brings Freddie Mercury and company to life

"I see a little silhouetto of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning
Very, very frightening me
(Galileo) Galileo
(Galileo) Galileo
Galileo Figaro
Magnifico-o-o-o-o"
- lyrics from Bohemian Rhapsody

Those lyrics from Queen's iconic song "Bohemian Rhapsody" is woven in the fabric of the music of so many people's lives. But like so many of us, we've never seen those lyrics sung live with the pomp and circumstance that comes with the Queen concert experience.

From Freddie Mercury's soaring vocals to him marching around with his sawed-off mic stand with the audience clapping in unison, that Queen experience can't be replaced.

Killer Queen is coming close.

The Queen tribute band, which will play Marathon Music Works on March 11, bring those classic Queen songs alive during a concert which People Magazine said "A real life Bohemian Rhapsody. Freddie Lives! A Pop Legend Is back."

Lead singer Patrick Myers takes on the daunting role of Freddie , and puts the same passion into every performance as Mercury put during his years when he ruled stadiums around the world.

"We are fans just like everyone else," he said. "We love these songs and want to share them with as many people as possible. This is a celebration. What drew me to Queen is how much fun it looked like Freddie Mercury was having on stage. That's why we've been doing this so long. The songs are so great and that feeling you get when you're on stage is so amazing."

If you close your eyes, you'll almost believe that you've been transported to 1985 when Queen stole the show at Live Aid – one of Myers' favorite performances by Freddie Mercury.

And it's not just the sound that Myers and Killer Queen have reproduced, but the whole concert experience.

"We use the costumes and the look of Queen, so it's not just a celebration of the music, it's a celebration of the whole Queen aesthetic," he said. "And that's really what our mission is with all the concerts we do all over the world."

Killer Queen was formed back in 1993 and played their first public shows at London University, following in the footsteps of the real Queen, who had played their first shows 21 years earlier.

"We were only just kids when I formed the band," Myers said during a recent phone interview from his home in England. "Freddie had just passed away. We were all in shock. Many of us had grown up with their music. I was simply blown away by their last album "Innuendo" and we decided to put the band together and play their songs for fun and to honor the band.

"We thought the band would last a summer, but performing these songs is very addictive."

One show led to another, and it wasn't long before Killer Queen's reputation grew in the UK and was named "Worldwide Best Tribute Band" in 1999. In 2016 Killer Queen took the show to America including Red Rocks Arena in Colorado – one of the country's most prestigious venues. The Beatles, Springsteen, U2 have all played there.

"The concerts grew and grew and we've ended up playing and selling out the same arenas that Queen played at their peak," he said. "It's been quite a surreal ride. Becoming regular performers Red Rocks Arena in America is another highlight . The Beatles, U2, Springsteen, Dylan all played on that stage. It's really got it's own kind of magic going on there”

And Myers said they effectively set the market for the tribute band circuit, but that they've taken it to a whole new level.

"Back in 1993 when we formed the band, there wasn't a whole "tribute band" industry like there is today," he said. "We put a lot of preparation into our show. We wanted people to feel that Queen concert vibe because we knew it would never happen again. We work hard on the songs that mean so much. I mean this is the soundtrack to people's lives."

Myers said it wasn't easy to step into Freddie's shoes, but his love of the music was the driving force that helped the whole band give a compelling "Queen" performance.

"It was a challenge to try and emulate Freddie," he said. "He has a crying quality to his vocals. You could hear a broken heart in his voice. He was so expressive. I went through some serious vocal training to give that performance. He was a master and you've got to bring everything you've got to the table."

When asked about his favorite Queen songs to perform, Myers gave a cryptic answer as to not give away any hint of what's in the setlist.

"That's the magic of performing Queen," he said. "They're songs are so amazing. It's like opening a treasure chest every night."

After he departs the stage to the roaring of the crowd, Myers said he enjoys the reaction he gets from the fans and listens to their feedback.

"The best reactions are from people who saw Queen in concert and they are very appreciative of our performance," he said. "We're not a museum piece. This is a celebration. We try and give a very immersive experience for the audience.

"Queen are unique. Bottled lightning. We want to get as close as you can to recreating that magic. We want to give the audiences the best night of their lives with some of the best rock tracks ever written."

KILLER QUEEN 2022 U.S. TOUR DATES

• 3/9 Clearwater, FL Capitol Theater
• 3/11 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Works
• 3/13 Myrtle Beach, SC Carolina Opry
• 3/18 Sheboygan, WI Weil Center
• 3/19 Aurora, IL Paramount Theater
• 3/25 Florence, IN Beltera Resort and Casino
• 3/26 Kansas City, MO Ameristar Casino
• 3/27 St. Paul, MN Fitzgerald Theater
• 3/30 Eau Claire, WI Pablo Center at the Confluence
• 4/1 Dubuque, IA Five Flags Theater
• 4/2 Quincy, IL Lindsay Center
• 4/7 Williamsport, PA Community Arts Center
• 4/8 Northfield, OH MGM Northfield Center Stage
• 4/9 Warren, MI Andiamo Celebrity Show Room