Roger Taylor of Queen is certainly used to playing large arenas and stadia, so it was a treat for Bournemouth when he brought his exciting five-piece band to the more intimate O2.

As the Queen tour has been postponed due to the pandemic, the vacuum has neatly been filled by Roger’s first solo tour for over two decades, in support of his brand-new album, ‘Outsider’.

A less than full O2 gave Roger a rapturous welcome to this venue, and he launched straight in to ‘Strange Frontier’ followed by the first of six Queen songs, ‘Tenement Funster’.

Bournemouth Echo:

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Framed from behind by three huge lights, Roger takes on the role of frontman with ease, and had the audience in the palm of his hand.

This tour has given him the opportunity to demonstrate his vocal skills, either solo, or supported by bassist Neil Fairclough and guitarist Christian Mendoza.

Bournemouth Echo:

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‘More Kicks’ was the non-Queen highlight for me, with the band able to demonstrate their own personal skills within a hard-driving framework.

Spike Edney on keyboards and Tina Keys on violin showed how they could play together and intertwine their set pieces without losing their own individuality.

Bournemouth Echo:

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The drum battle followed with Tyler Warren playing with panache and showing how he is learning from the master by playing an impossibly skilful solo in an attempt to match Roger. Drum solos can be an off-to-the-bar moment for me, but to see these two play together was mesmerising.

Bournemouth Echo:

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‘These Are the Days of Our Lives’ was a pleasure for me as I always considered it a Freddie standard, not able to be followed by another, but Roger managed it with ease, fully expressing the emotion of the song.

Bournemouth Echo:

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‘Radio Ga Ga’ finished the main set with a massive show of hands clapping in the well-known approved manner. Roger obviously enjoyed every moment leading his followers with a broad grin on his face.

Bournemouth Echo:

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Led Zeppelin’s ‘Rock and Roll’ followed by David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ were the surprise songs of the night, as the encores, to finish up the set. ‘Rock and Roll’ should really be played only one way, but ‘Heroes’ contained some surprising twists, with a more acoustic interlude and a gentler feel overall.

Bournemouth Echo:

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The audience naturally lapped them both up and rocked along, sang along and thoroughly enjoyed themselves up to the end.