No Freddie Mercury hologram for Queen’s Roger Taylor

Not for me: Roger Taylor

Queen drummer Roger Taylor says he won’t perform with a hologram version of Freddie Mercury – but others might.

And he’s confirmed he and bandmate Brian May considered using the technology to add their fallen frontman to their We Will Rock You musical, before deciding against it.

Speculation has exploded over who might be reincarnated for new stage shows after rapper Tupac Shakur, who was shot dead in 1996, “appeared” at the Coachella Festival alongside Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg in California.

Mercury, who died in 1991, has appeared on the wish-list of many who embrace the new technology.

Taylor tells Billboard: “I don’t think I want to. It just doesn’t sit too well with me. I don’t want to appear with a hologram of my dear friend. It’s the real one or no hologram for me.”

But he adds: “I think it’s an amazing effect when used properly, obviously in darkness.

“Were somebody to use a hologram of Freddie, I would have no objection.”

Queen are poised to launch their Extravaganza tour of North America, after which they’ll play five shows across Europe with TV gameshow winner Adam Lambert fronting the band. Taylor says of Mercury: “He would have loved the idea of keeping our musical flag flying. Brian and I always sort of imagine he’s in the room.”

Meanwhile, readers of Rolling Stone magazine voted Mercury No4 in a top-ten of stars they’d like to see reincarnated with new technology, with Jimi Hendrix listed their favourite.

Rolling Stone’s top ten holograms

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Kurt Cobain
3. John Lennon
4. Freddie Mercury
5. Jim Morrison
6. Jerry Garcia
7. Janis Joplin
8. Michael Jackson
9. Bob Marley
10. Notorious BIG