The Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody had a huge night last night in Hollywood at the 91st Academy Awards, taking home four Oscars, including the trophy for Best Actor, which went to star Rami Malek for his stunning portrayal of the late, great Freddy Mercury. The film also took centerstage at the very beginning of the show, as Queen, fronted by singer and former American Idol contestant Adam Lambert, kicked off the televised ceremony with a rousing medley of two of their most iconic hits, “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions,” becoming the first rock band to ever open the Academy Awards and winning a standing ovation in the process.
Bohemian Rhapsody has taken Queen to new heights since its release: The band was recently the No. 1 streamed artist on Spotify and the single “Bohemian Rhapsody” has been recognized as the world’s most-streamed song from the 20th Century, as well as the most-streamed Classic Rock song of all time. For its part, the film — as well as winning four Oscars — is also the highest-grossing biopic of all time.
Last night’s Queen performance served as not only a celebration of the milestone movie and the group’s massive legacy, but also a preview for the band’s upcoming North American tour. Kicking off in mid-July, the trek — dubbed the “Rhapsody” tour — will see original band members Brian May and Roger Taylor teaming up once again with Lambert for a 25-date run scheduled through late August. Check out the full itinerary here.
