Queen is one of the most famous and influential bands in the rock music industry. Although a group formed in the 70s, Queen has retained its popularity. The iconic leader Freddie Mercury was the band’s lead vocalist and songwriter. His creative and theatrical performances, combined with his powerful voice, paved the way for the rise of a breathtaking rock star who captured the hearts of many around the world.

Sadly, Freddie Mercury robbed the world of his incredible talent with his death on November 24, 1991. He left a lasting impression on popular music that would endure long after his death. The rocker has influenced many artists, and these artists have carried his legacy through their music, style, and charisma. After the death of Freddie Mercury, the remaining members debated who would be good enough to replace himand one of the names Brian May suggested was Lady Gaga.

Was Lady Gaga going to replace Freddie Mercury?

Freddie Mercury was the flashy and talented rocker everyone wanted to be in the industry. After her tragic death, her legacy to a wide range of genres and artists over the decades has become a testament to Queen’s talent. His timeless musicianship, unparalleled stage presence and unique touch he brought to every song and every performance is what separates him from his peers.

Given Mercury’s presence in the industry, it was nearly impossible to fill his shoes. When the band got together to discuss the right fit for the band, Brian May told the Daily Express in 2011 that Lady Gaga could get away with it. May explained that while there were several offers from people to work with Queen, they were looking for someone who could carry on Freddie Mercury’s legacy. He explained that he had worked with Lady Gaga on a song before, so they talked about taking him on.

Brian May’s words when considering Lady Gaga reprising the role of Freddie Mercury:

“We talk all the time about going out on the road, but there’s a little singer problem, to put it mildly. We get a lot of offers to work with other people. I’ve worked with Lady Gaga, and she is very creative and is someone we talked to about singing and leading the band. She’s not just a singer; she writes her material.

Lady Gaga was one of the artists most influenced and inspired by the art of Freddie Mercury. Everything from her stage name, a play on the Queen’s hit “Radio Ga Ga,” to her larger-than-life stage persona, has followed in the icon’s footsteps. Gaga even collaborated with May on the single “You and me” taken from his album “Born This Way”, sampled after “We Will Rock You”. Even though the other members of Queen considered Lady Gaga, she was never part of the line-up.

However, even before Lady Gaga was a possible candidate for the lead singer, Brian May had proposed Paul Rodgers in 2004 to sing with them on their European tour. To respect and honor the name of Freddie Mercury, they started shooting under ‘Queen + Paul Rodgers’ in 2005 and 2006. They even released an album, “The Cosmos Rocks”, in 2008. However, after five years with Queen, in 2009 they mutually decided that Rodgers was not a perfect fit.

After Rodgers left, Brian May became interested in Adam Lambert after his audition on American Idol. Queen ultimately wanted Adam Lambert to join them under ‘Queen + Adam Lambert’ after being impressed with his stage performance. To date, they have toured several times and given numerous concerts.