ADAM LAMBERT Says He Studied Video Footage Of FREDDIE MERCURY Performing With QUEEN

"American Idol" finalist Adam Lambert — who has been singing for QUEEN on their tours, filling in for his idol Freddie Mercury — was asked by U.K.'s Absolute Radio if he studied video clips of Mercury's performances with QUEEN in order to prepare for the role as the band's new frontman. He responded (see video below): "I did do some studying, yeah. I felt like I really needed to. To be able to get on stage and front the band, I had to do my homework, you know. And I was pretty familiar with the band before that. But when I first started working with them about four years ago, that's when I kind of went into the Internet and just scoured everything and checked out live performances."

He continued: "Montreal was one that kind of stuck out to me; it's the concert where he's running around in shorts, with no shoes on. I just thought that was the funniest thing in the world. I have to say watching him in that zone really made me understand him even more — 'cause he just didn't give a shit. He was, like, 'I'm gonna do whatever I want' — in rock-star fashion. He really kind of… I don't know… I think he kind of defined what a rock star was to me. When I started really getting into QUEEN when I was in my early 20s, I went, 'Oh, that's rock and roll. He doesn't actually care. And he's so fabulous doing it.'"

Speaking about the similarities and differences between Mercury and Lambert, QUEEN guitarist Brian May said during a press conference in Brazil in September: "Well, there are differences, you know, but I think perhaps the greatest thing about Freddie is his connection with people, with an audience, and Adam has that. And I don't think that's something you can learn; I think it's something which you either perhaps have in you or not. You have to dedicate yourself, and Adam, like Freddie, is dedicated to his art. But without that — whatever that wonderful talent is — I don't think it would happen. When Adam walks onto a stage, it's not Freddie, and it's not him trying to be Freddie, but when Adam walks on and when Freddie walks on, something happens; there's some kind of catalytic action that happens between people, and it's a very rare and special thing. So I would say that's something that Adam and Freddie share, and I know that Freddie would agree with that. I mean, without even speaking about the voice. I mean, the voice… they both had, and have, incredible voices — the kind of voice that you don't find in a billion people. And, of course, the voice is very special, but it's not enough. You have to have the will and the spirit to use that wonderful instrument that you've been given to make that connection."

Lambert, May and Taylor first shared the stage during "American Idol" in May 2009 for a performance of "We Are The Champions". They teamed up again in 2011 at the MTV European Music Awards in Belfast, Ireland for an electrifying eight-minute finale of "The Show Must Go On", "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" and in the summer of 2012, Lambert performed a series of shows with QUEEN across Europe as well as dates in Russia, Ukraine and Poland. They also performed three sold-out gigs at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

After completing QUEEN's most recent European tour in January, May described Lambert as the only singer the band had found capable of filling Mercury's shoes. "Adam is the first person we've encountered who can do all the QUEEN catalogue without blinking," said May. "He is a gift from God."

Lambert, for his part, downplayed the Mercury comparisons, saying: "There's never going to be another, and I'm not replacing him. That's not what I'm doing. I'm trying to keep the memory alive, and remind people how amazing he was, without imitating him. I'm trying to share with the audience how much he inspired me."

Lambert released his third studio album, "The Original High", on June 16 through Warner Bros.