Queen's Roger Taylor announces 'intimate' surprise 2021 UK solo tour: Dates, tickets and more

1 June 2021, 14:40

After Queen + Adam Lambert’s epic UK and European tour was put on pause until 2022, drummer Roger Taylor has announced he is set to go on tour on his own in 2021.
After Queen + Adam Lambert’s epic UK and European tour was put on pause until 2022, drummer Roger Taylor has announced he is set to go on tour on his own in 2021. Picture: Lola Leng Taylor/Xavier Vila

By Giorgina Ramazzotti

Queen's Roger Taylor made the surprise announcement today (June 1) that he will play a UK solo tour this Autumn, introducing brand new material and revisiting some of his very own Queen classics.

After Queen + Adam Lambert's epic UK and European tour was put on pause until 2022, drummer Roger Taylor has announced he is set to go on tour on his own in 2021.

Marking his first live performances outside Queen in over two decades, Taylor will tour the UK across October 2021, playing 14 intimate shows that will coincide with the release of his latest solo album Outsider on October 1.

See more: The top 20 Queen songs of all time

Taylor promises a solo tour with an enthusiastic foray into Queen and his own classic catalogues, while also including new songs written in lockdown that feature on the multi-instrumentalist's new release.

Marking his first live performances outside Queen in over two decades, Taylor will tour the UK across October 2021 playing 14 intimate shows that will coincide with the release of his latest solo album Outsider on 1st October.
Marking his first live performances outside Queen in over two decades, Taylor will tour the UK across October 2021 playing 14 intimate shows that will coincide with the release of his latest solo album Outsider on 1st October. Picture: Getty
Roger Taylor promises a solo tour with an enthusiastic foray into Queen and his own classic catalogues, while also including new songs written in lockdown that feature on the multi-instrumentalist’s new Outsider album.
Roger Taylor promises a solo tour with an enthusiastic foray into Queen and his own classic catalogues, while also including new songs written in lockdown that feature on the multi-instrumentalist’s new Outsider album. Picture: Getty

Roger Taylor is the songwriter of many of Queen’s biggest hits and much-loved tracks, including 'A Kind of Magic', 'Radio Ga Ga', 'I’m In Love With My Car', 'Sheer Heart Attack' and 'These Are the Days of Our Lives'.

See more: QUIZ: How well do you know Queen's song lyrics?

"This is my modest tour, I just want it to be lots of fun, very good musically, and I want everybody to enjoy it. I'm really looking forward to it," Taylor said in a statement, adding: "Will I be playing Queen songs too? Absolutely!

See more: When Adam Lambert and Roger Taylor sang 'Under Pressure' and Roger’s son stepped up to play drums

"For some time now, we've all just been trying to get by," says Taylor. "Now, it's back to the basics, myself and some great musical pals getting back out there to play some rock.

"Will I be playing Queen songs too? Absolutely!" Roger Taylor says of his upcoming tour. Pictured far left with Queen in 1977.
"Will I be playing Queen songs too? Absolutely!" Roger Taylor says of his upcoming tour. Pictured far left with Queen in 1977. Picture: Getty

Queen - Roger Taylor's Drum Solo [Rock Montreal 1981]

"Obviously we'll include some of the Queen classic catalogue, and some of my earlier solo work, but we'll also be introducing them to some of the new stuff. So we hope folks are going to come on down."

See more: Queen and Adam Lambert harmonising in unseen backstage video is incredible

The rock legend will perform with a specially assembled band for the tour, made up of Queen + Adam Lambert’s keyboardist Spike Edney and supporting drummer Tyler Warren, plus guitarist Jason Falloon, and Goldfrapp live players keyboardist Angie Pollock and bassist Charlie Jones.

Ticket pre-sale starts at 10am on Tuesday 8 June. Visit here for details.

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The full tour dates are:

Sat 2 October NEWCASTLE, O2 Academy
Sun 3 October MANCHESTER, Academy
Tue 5 October YORK, Barbican
Wed 6 October CARDIFF, St. David’s Hall
Fri 8 October LIVERPOOL, O2 Academy
Sat 9 October NORWICH, University East Anglia (UEA)
Mon 11 October BATH, Forum
Tue 12 October BOURNEMOUTH, O2 Academy
Thu 14 October PLYMOUTH, Pavilions
Fri 15 October NOTTINGHAM, Rock City
Sun 17 October BEXHILL, De La Warr Pavilion
Tue 19 October GUILFORD, G Live
Wed 20 October COVENTRY, HMV Empire
Fri 22 October LONDON, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire