Originally published by L.S. Media. August 1st 2009.

Imagine a time when live music is banned and outlawed, to even think of picking up a musical instrument is to be condemned by an organisation that rules over all that it sees. Everybody thinks the same, dresses the same, works for the same company and all expressions of individuality erased and considered a dangerous idea of a degenerative past.

From this simple idea and with the help of music from one of the best rock bands to ever grace the stage, Queen, Ben Elton created a masterpiece of enjoyment and a cracking night out that will lift your spirits and leaving you slightly concerned for a section of iPod generation who will never attend live music events, preferring to download every track they own.

So much has been written about this particular stage show that it comes across as slightly odd as to even try to add anything of note, but the fact that We Will Rock You has now finally gone on tour around Britain with a cast that is almost on par with those that have been down at the Dominion theatre, London deserves much praise.

Even with a couple of the main cast missing for the night, this would not devalue the over all sense of occasion. Amy Hathaway was quite superb as every rocker’s dream girl Scaramouche, and her voice was hitting all the right notes on ‘Somebody to Love’ and the duet of ‘Under Pressure’ with Alex Gaumond as Galileo.

Every body on stage looked as though they were having the time of their lives performing to a packed Birmingham audience, especially the incomparable Kevin Kennedy as Pop and the outlandish Wayne A Robinson as Britney.

With a host of songs from Queen’s back catalogue, there was something for everybody to join in with, whether it was dancing along to the timeless music or singing out at the top of your voice. Certain crowd pleasers were always going to be part of the overall feel to the play, these would include ‘Killer Queen’, ‘the cry of a certain generation, ‘I Want It All’ and ‘Hammer to Fall’.

There was a supreme and yet bitterly ironic moment when the Bohemians talk about those that died far too young but whose star will never diminish, including the late great Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, Jimmy Hendrix, John Lennon and the recently deceased Michael Jackson and the brightest star of them all the still much missed Freddie Mercury.

When this particular tour has finished, surely there must be call to extend it and bring it to Liverpool, for as a city of perpetual music, there can be no finer place to hold this truly British extravaganza.

Ian D. Hall