QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS: 'The Cosmos Rocks' North American Release Pushed Back

The North American release date of QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS's new album, "The Cosmos Rocks", has been pushed back to October 28 from the previously announced October 14. The CD will still arrive in Europe on September 15 via EMI/Parlophone.

"The Cosmos Rocks" was recorded and mixed at QUEEN drummer Roger Taylor's The Priory studio between November 2007 and August 2008, and co-produced and engineered by Joshua J Macrae, Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson. It marks the first album of newly recorded material from QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS since they first set out on the road in 2005, and the first QUEEN studio album since 1995.

A first single from the album, "C-lebrity", will be released September 8 in enhanced CD, 7", and digital formats. Versions contain exclusive performances of QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS live performances of "Show Must Go On" and "Fire and Water" filmed during Q + PR's 2005 Japanese tour.

The track, according to Roger Taylor — and seemingly much in keeping with many on "The Cosmos Rocks" — is the writers' skew on the times in which we live: "'C-lebrity' is really a comment on the current concept of fame — success and all that goes with it. Getting your face on TV is enough — talent doesn't really enter into the equation. 'Celebrity' is an overused and devalued word today. I think the song shows we have lost none of the humour ofQUEEN!"

The album is released in three physical formats: standard CD, deluxe package which includes additional DVD featuring 15 highlight performances by QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS from the band's Super Live in Japan concert recorded live at Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo on October 27, 2005, along with double gatefold vinyl release. The album will also have a special digital release including bonus tracks.

Coinciding with the release of "The Cosmos Rocks", QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS embark on a 33-date Europe and Northern Eurasia tour beginning mid-September. The tour reaches the UK on October 10 with 11 dates including two at London 02 and the tour's final date at Wembley Arena on November 8.

"The Cosmos Rocks" track listing:

01. Cosmos Rockin'
02. Time To Shine
03. Still Burnin'
04. Small
05. Warboys
06. We Believe
07. Call Me
08. Voodoo
09. Some Things That Glitter
10. C-lebrity
11. Through The Night
12. Say It's Not True
13. Surf's Up . . . School's Out!
14. (small reprise)

A special edition CD/DVD featuring a bonus disc containing a recording of QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS at Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo on October 27, 2005 will also be made available.

The DVD track listing is as follows:

01. Reaching Out (Hill / Black)
02. Tie Your Mother Down (May)
03. Fat Bottomed Girls (May)
04. Another One Bites The Dust (Deacon)
05. Fire And Water (Rodgers / Fraser)
06. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury)
07. Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) (May)
08. These Are The Days Of Our Lives (Queen)
09. Radio Ga Ga (Taylor)
10. Can't Get Enough (Ralphs)
11. I Was Born To Love You (Mercury)
12. All Right Now (Rodgers / Fraser)
13. We Will Rock You (May)
14. We Are The Champions (Mercury)
15. God Save The Queen (Trad. Arr. May)

Video footage of QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS performing a new song, "C-lebrity", on the April 4, 2008 edition of the UK's ITV "Al Murray's Happy Hour" can be viewed below.

QUEEN's last studio album was "Made In Heaven", released in November 1995 and containing the last recordings with Freddie. The LP became the band's biggest selling studio album, with world sales in excess of 20 million.