Originally published by L.S. Media. May 3rd 2011.
Brian May’s name is already assured in the annals of rock music just by being part of the British band Queen and yet time doesn’t seem to diminish his joy at being on stage playing the songs that made him an iconic figure and by making the first night on tour with Kerry Ellis at the prodigious Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool, it set the standard very high for the remainder of the tour.
In 2010 Brian produced Kerry’s first full album Anthems and it was from that top twenty album that some of the songs were taken from. However Brian and Kerry had to arrive on stage and as they finally appeared, the crowd’s reaction was nothing short of incredible. This outpouring of genuine sentiment would not die down during the evening and at every opportunity the audience got, they rose as one to give the artistes and the simply brilliant band a standing ovation.
The duo opened up the night with the numbers Infinity and the soul grabbing I’m Not That Girl for which Kerry had performed magnificently during her run at the West End hit show Wicked.
Both Kerry and Brian looked comfortable on stage and as the evening progressed, they combined to give an emotional and heart stirring performance as they played a version of Diamonds are Forever, which included some new lyrics by Don Black and songs that made Brian the hero to millions in the form of Somebody to Love, the rousing and poignant Love of my Life for which Brian enjoyed the company of a crowd willing to take part in and a rather special version of One by One for which Kerry had wowed Brain and Roger Taylor with for the musical We Will Rock You.
Kerry Ellis looked stunning all throughout the night, managing to get in several changes of costume, each one more beautiful than the last, all of which added some incredible glamour into already fascinating spectacle.
The band were outstanding on a night normally would have belonged to the two people up front, but Rufus Taylor on drums was on top form as he gave it all on songs such as We Will Rock You, We are the Champions and the bouncy Tie your Mother Down.
For fans of Musicals and of one of Britain’s favourite bands, the night was one of the finest nights of the year, for the interested onlooker it will be a night they will never forget.
Ian D. Hall