December 13, 2004 13:38

DON'T STOP THEM NOW!

The rock legends are to go on tour with a new singer...

Rock legends QUEEN are to reform for a tour next year - with Seventies rocker PAUL RODGERS replacing deceased legend FREDDIE MERCURY on vocals.

Queen guitarist Brian May confirmed the news in a posting on his official website brianmay.com.

A UK tour will definitely go ahead, with the possibility of a European leg and a world tour under discussion. The tour will feature material by both Queen and Rodgers, one-time vocalist with both Free and Bad Company.

The statement on May's website reads: "It really all came about because of the Fender 50th Anniversary gig that I did with Paul Rodgers. We were both so amazed at the chemistry that was going on in 'All Right Now', that suddenly it seems blindingly obvious that there was something happening here."

While Queen's drummer Roger Taylor is definitely taking part, there is no news on whether bass player John Deacon will get involved.

Queen stopped touring in 1986, after frontman Mercury fell ill. He died of an AIDS-related illness in 1991.