Hollywood Popular Artists

May 11th 2012, 17:13

By Zachary Swickey

The remaining members of the legendary rock group Queen might want to have a chat about whether or not they want to get into the hologram business. Drummer Roger Taylor insisted that it would never happen, but now guitarist Brian May pretty much says that's exactly what is about to go down.

Following Tupac's holo-appearance at Coachella this year, many people were speculating about which acts could utilize such an effect, with Queen being an obvious choice. However, drummer Roger Taylor was quick to suggest the group would never do such a thing.

"I don't want to sit up here with a hologram of my dear friend," Taylor told Rolling Stone. "Were somebody to use a hologram of Freddie, I don't think I would have an objection. But I don't want to. It just didn't sit too well with me."

However, in complete contradiction of that statement, the group is now set to use a similar special effect that will make it appear as if the late, great Freddie Mercury is onstage with them yet again.

Brian May told the BBC that the band has been working on the effect and will use it for their special performance at the West End musical of "We Will Rock You" on May 14. However, May stresses that the effect will be an "optical illusion of sorts" and not a hologram, but says, "People will come out saying, 'Did we actually see Freddie?'"

Regardless of the confusion, May says the digital Mercury won't be exactly like the projected image of Tupac that appeared with Dr. Dre and Snoop dog during their set at Coachella last month.

"It's a little unfortunate they did that thing with Tupac as we've been trying to make Freddie appear on the stage for quite a while," he told the BBC. "[That technique] is something we've looked at ourselves, but I think probably for a show that runs eight shows a week it's not really quite practical."

Looks like we'll just have to see what exactly Queen has up its sleeve when the performance takes place on May 14 in London.

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