03-16-2005 – Western Daily Press – Robbie Williams

Pop icon Robbie Williams came close to stepping into Freddie Mercury’s shoes as Queen’s lead vocalist.

Robbie, who recorded a version of Queen’s We Are The Champions for the 2001 movie A Knight’s Tale, was keen to tour the US with the band, Queen drummer Roger Taylor revealed.

“America appealed to him. He was quite keen on the idea at one point and it did seem like a good idea, but then we all drew back a little,” he said.

Queen guitarist Brian May added: “We got close with Robbie. We talked to him, but not in an auditioning kinda way. We just thought ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if we did something.”

Former Free and Bad Company vocalist Paul Rodgers will front Queen when the group tour for the first time since Mercury’s death from an Aids-related illness in 1991.

Bass player John Deacon has not rejoined the band.