This October and November, Queen and Adam Lambert are set to head back out on the road with a new North American tour.
Since that announcement, Sir Brian May, Roger Taylor, and the singer have been asked if there are any more plans for shows in 2024.
Earlier this summer, the guitarist teased on The One Show: “We’re going to the States in the Autumn and I think maybe somewhere else in the Spring.”
Now the band has announced exactly where they’ll be headed next after North America. And by the sounds of it, this may be the last time ever Queen performs there.
Queen and Adam Lambert will be performing five mega dome concerts across Japan in February next year. This will be the first time the band has performed there since just before the pandemic in early 2020.
Roger Taylor, speaking alongside Brian May, said: “We are so excited to be returning to Japan, the country that has always held a special and most honored place in our hearts. This may be the last time…who knows? We promise to bring a very real spectacular for you to enjoy!” The guitarist almost emphasized that this will be an even more ambitious version of the Rhapsody tour show and among the biggest concerts they’ve ever played in Japan.
As noted in the announcement: “Since their first arrival in Japan in April 1975 to scenes of fan mob mania, the bond between Queen and Japan has been richly woven into band history. Despite their absence on the touring circuit, Queen’s music continued to be treasured in Japan throughout the 90s and into the 21st Century, thanks in part to their inclusion in TV commercials and television dramas. Featured in a beer commercial, the band’s I Was Born To Love You reached No. 1 on the singles chart. Invited to return in 2014 – now fronted by Adam Lambert – to headline at Japan’s largest rock festival, Summer Sonic, Queen’s status as Japan’s favorite foreign band was reconfirmed.
“Japan is now once again a regular feature on the touring schedule, Queen and Adam Lambert having returned as recently as 2020 to perform four massive sold-out shows playing to a combined audience of over 132,000 people across the country, clearly evident that the bond between Queen and Japan continues to remain as strong as ever.”
An enthusiastic Adam Lambert added: “The Japan shows back in 2020 were so much fun, the audiences were incredible! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to come back. Can’t wait!” Will the band perform in more countries across 2024? At the moment, there are no plans, but Sir Brian did tease in that The One show interview that maybe they’ll be back to the UK and Europe eventually as well.
Queen and Adam Lambert’s 2024 Japan tour dates are as follows:
February 4th (Sun) Nagoya – Vantelin Dome
February 7th (Wed) Osaka – Kyocera Dome
February 10th (Sat) Sapporo – Sapporo Dome
February 13th (Tue) Tokyo – Tokyo Dome
February 14th (Wed) Tokyo – Tokyo Dome
Pre-sale lottery for Japanese residents only is open from 12pm on August 10 until the end of October 6. Pre-sale for overseas customers then opens on October 7 until the end of October 25 here and public general admission from 10am on October 28.