George was never going to replace Freddie in Queen Updated / Monday, 1 Mar 2021 19:38 George Michael: never a runner for permanent frontman Queen drummer Roger Taylor has put an official end to the rumour that George Michael was set to replace Freddie Mercury as the band's permanent frontman. George performed as singer with Queen for their final three songs at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley in 1992. Queen now perform with American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert as front man. "I remember hearing the rumours but it wouldn’t have suited us," Taylor told Classic Rock magazine. "George wasn’t really used to working with a live band. When he heard the power he had behind him in rehearsal, he couldn’t believe it. He thought he was on Concorde or something".