Queen + Rodgers London concert

PRESS RELEASE
Statement from Queen and Paul Rodgers:

"We feel it is fitting to thank London's emergency services for their extraordinary response in dealing with the effects of the bombing attacks and and to indeed celebrate the historical resilience of Londoners in their response to yet another atrocity."

Queen and Paul Rodgers are working with London Mayor Ken Livingstone's office to invite thousands of those from London's emergency services who played a part in the rescue operations last week to be at the band's concert this coming Friday evening.

The concert sees Queen return to Hyde Park twenty-nine years after they played a free concert in the park to a record audience of 150,000. This Friday's concert has a capacity of 85,000. Joining the band for the show will be band-of-the-moment Razorlight, comedian Peter Kay, and special guests, Darkness band members Justin and Dan Hawkins.

Queen have always considered themselves "a global band, but always a London band" - all four band members, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon and the late Freddie Mercury met while living in London.

They took the decision with Paul Rodgers after seeing news coverage of the unfolding events in London.

Says Brian May: "We were away playing a concert in Germany and arrived back Thursday morning to see all this going on. We were unbelievably shocked and saddened. The heroes that day, and since then, are the police and emergency services coming together as one, calmly and bravely dealing with the tragedy and getting London's wheels turning again. We'd like to offer an appreciation."

Says Roger Taylor: "You can only admire how calmly, how bravely they behaved in such appalling circumstances. They deserve the thanks of everyone in London."