Freddie Mercury sang the show must go on.

Gary Mullen ensures the show does go on.

On Friday night (22nd October) at the Stroud Subscription Rooms, to the joy of a full house of Queen fans, the show did go on.

Queue of fans

The queue of fans stretched right out of the doors, eagerly awaiting the sound check to be completed so that they could get to the seats with the best view.

The stage was in darkness and the main lights dimmed down, a feeling of excitement and anticipation filled the hall.

Reverberating music. Vibrating the very structure of the impressive, late regency building.

A light show that would not be out of place at any large rock venue sent beams of light into the audience.

ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN WAS UNDER WAY.

One vision

The sound of One Vision filled the room and on came Gary Mullen or was it Freddie. You could be forgiven if you thought it was the latter, in complete sync with the music and lights, cavorting across the stage.

Then came the vocals, as close to the original as I would think that you could get.

As the set progressed, and the crowd who knew all the words, sang when spaces were left for them to carry on the vocals that everyone seemed to know so well.

It was an energetic performance from Gary, who had sweat glistening on his skin.

His voice was powerful enough and his range wide enough to handle the vocals made so well known by the original Freddie.

We will rock you

Set two started with We Will Rock You, moving on to the long awaited Bohemian Rhapsody.

It was difficult at times to remember that the music came not from Queen, but from the Works. Accurately and faithfully performed with the feel of the original preserved.

As always when you're enjoying yourself the mandatory three encores arrived all to soon. Leaving the building, it was difficult not to take note of the conversations taking place.

It becomes obvious that fans of Queen, although sad that their heroes were not here tonight,
were more than happy with this tribute.

And as one said, It was a kind of magic...

Review by Kenny Savage

This article is user-generated content (i.e. external contribution) expressing a personal opinion, not the views
of BBC Gloucestershire.