There are many Queen tribute bands around the world but there is now only one official group. Drummer Roger Taylor has announced the finalists that will perform in the Queen Extravaganza Tour.
Taylor travelled around the USA auditioning singers and musicians for the ultimate Queen tribute band.
“As the audition videos began posting, we could see right away that the caliber of talent was very high,” says Taylor in a statement. “But when I got into the studio with the final 25 musicians, I realized that these guys are seriously good players. They went way beyond my expectations. It was an incredibly difficult decision to choose the final line-up. I wish I could’ve kept them all, but in the end, I’m very happy with this group of exceptional musicians.”
The winners are Jennifer Espinoza of San Antonio, TX (vocals), Marc Martel of Nashville, TN (vocals), Tristan Avakian from Toronto, Canada (guitar), Brian Gresh from Tulsa, OK (guitar), Tyler Warren from Camden, TN on drums and Francois-Olivier Doyon from Quebec City, Canada on bass.
“What an amazing and unexpected opportunity to come our way – not to mention the timing of it all for me,” said Marc Martel , whose audition video for Somebody to Love earned him an MTV O Award and an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. “Having gotten to know the other contest winners a bit in LA, I’m confident we have what it takes to gel as a unit and give our best to do justice to some of the best rock music ever recorded. I am so thankful for the chance to do this. Gonna be Fun!”
The US tour will be booked for sometime in 2012. “The Queen Extravaganza will not be a traditional tribute show,” says Taylor. “It’s a brand-new show specially designed to enable fans to celebrate the music of Queen in a heart-stopping event.”
