Queen + Adam Lambert had a couple of reasons to celebrate during their concert at the Forum in Los Angeles last night (July 19). For starters, it was guitarist Brian May's 72nd birthday, and they also paid tribute to May's other passion, astrophysics, by recognizing the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

After "I Want It All," the midway point of the main set, May went out to the end of the catwalk and addressed the crowd. "It's strange enough it's my birthday today," he said. "To tell you truly theres no place I'd rather be than right here. Thank you for being with us here tonight."

May then performed "Love of My Life" solo with a 12-string acoustic guitar while late frontman Freddie Mercury appeared on the screen. That led into "'39," which featured footage of the moon landing. Upon its conclusion, drummer Roger Taylor led the crowd in a round of "Happy Birthday."

Typically for Queen, they pulled out all the stops in the production, with the musicians occasionally making grand entrances via hydraulics, including Lambert rising up from the stage on a motorcycle for "Bicycle Race" and May following suit for his first guitar solo on "Bohemian Rhapsody." Lasers were used during "Who Wants to Live Forever" and the next number, May's recent solo song "New Horizons."

The stage was watched over by a crown-like ring that featured the band's logo, guitars and a drum kit with Frank, the News of the World robot, on the bass drum head. Silver columns framed the stage, with a red curtain leading to the backstage. You can see our exclusive photos below.

Queen + Adam Lambert will play the Forum again tonight, with the Rhapsody tour running through Aug. 23, when it concludes at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. You can get more info here.

 

 

More From KLUB Tejano 106.9