Could Queen return to the stage once again? According to drummer Roger Taylor, fans shouldn’t rule it out just yet.
The legendary rock band, which has toured with singer Adam Lambert since 2012, has remained relatively quiet in recent years. Their last North American tour took place in 2023, followed by a short run of shows in Japan in early 2024.
During the break from Queen activities, Taylor has focused on his own music career. His upcoming solo album, A Beautiful World, is set for release on September 18 and will be supported by a UK tour.
But despite his solo plans, Taylor insists he hasn’t given up hope of bringing Queen back together for future performances.
Speaking to BBC Radio 2, the drummer explained that any decision largely depends on guitarist Brian May.
“It is a big machine to gear up,” Taylor said. “I think it’s more down to Brian than me. I love playing live. I enjoy it, always have.”
He added that if both he and May felt the time was right, he would gladly return to the stage with Queen.
“If we both want to do it, I’d be happy to. But we’ll see. Never say never.”
Taylor also praised Adam Lambert, who has fronted Queen for more than a decade.
“We have been working for a while with Adam Lambert, who has the most incredible voice.”
However, there are still obstacles standing in the way of a full-scale return. Earlier this year, Brian May revealed that the current political climate had made the band hesitant about touring the United States.
“America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account,” May said.
The guitarist admitted that the situation was particularly disappointing given Queen’s long history with American audiences.
“Queen grew up in America and we love it, but it’s not what it was. Everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Adam Lambert recently confirmed that there are currently no Queen performances scheduled.
“There’s nothing on the books with Queen right now,” Lambert said. “We’ve never had the conversation saying we’re done, but there’s nothing actually planned. It’s sort of up to them. They’re the boss. I’m the guest.”
While a major tour may not be on the horizon, there is still one exciting possibility that continues to generate interest among fans: a potential residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere venue.
May previously revealed that seeing the Eagles perform at the futuristic arena sparked his imagination.
“I’m very keen on the Sphere,” he said. “I sat there watching the Eagles, thinking, ‘We should do this. The stuff that we could bring to this would be stupendous.’”
For now, Queen’s future remains uncertain. But if Roger Taylor’s latest comments are anything to go by, the door remains open — and for Queen fans around the world, that may be all the hope they need.