May 11, 2025
The Parker | ParkerPlayhouse.com
By Sara Menco Arenas, Nova Southeastern University
For Gary Mullen, performing as Freddie Mercury has been both a career and a lifelong love affair with Queen. This year marks the 25th anniversary since Mullen won the British talent show Stars in Their Eyes, where participants impersonated famous musicians. This victory helped launch Mullen’s career as one of the world’s leading Freddie Mercury impersonators.
Mullen returns to the U.S. with his two-hour stage show One Night of Queen, set to tour across North America. The production will stop at the Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on May 11, 2025.
Although the show is performed by Gary Mullen and his band, The Works, this stage production carries a long history in the tribute industry. Reflecting on the band’s anniversary and their return to the U.S., Mullen shared how meaningful it is to still be performing after all these years.
“You know, you become very grateful when doing this. When I was a kid, America was the moon and you become very grateful, especially at this age, to be able to still go out on tour and perform,” the 51-year-old singer said.
Before the rise of tribute bands—groups dedicated to recreating the music and performances of iconic bands—Mullen was simply a passionate fan of Queen and Freddie Mercury but Stars in Their Eyes became a catalyst for a career he hadn’t imagined.
Still, his connection to Queen began long before participating in the show. Mullen has been a Queen fan since a teenager in the 90s in Glasgow, Scotland—inspired by Freddie’s frontman personality and electrifying stage presence. He calls Mercury his hero and says he strives to honor his legacy with every performance.
“It’s all about making everybody in the room feel that they are part of the show—that was Freddie’s mission,” Mullen said.
Over the years, Mullen’s performance has continued to evolve. He acknowledges that he’s always learning, adapting his approach to communicate and connect with different audiences around the world.
Of course, Mullen isn’t taking the stage alone. One Night of Queen is brought to life by his band, The Works — a group of four musicians who help recreate the magic of Queen’s sound live on stage. Some of them have been with him since the very beginning in the 2000s.
David Brockett, the band’s guitarist and musical director, leads the lineup alongside drummer John Halliwell and keyboardist Malcolm Gentles. On bass, band member, Alan McGeogh, joined the group last year.
While most of the band members are in their 40s and 50s, Mullen joked that McGeogh, at 34, has already made an impact in the group.
“He’s 34 years old, we’re all in our 40s and 50s, so he’s brought the average age of the band down to 41,” Mullen said jokingly. “It’s great because he’s brought youth and energy into the band as well.”
Looking back on how far the show has come, Mullen also finds himself reflecting on his own journey and how long he’s been performing. Early in his career, he thought he might stop once he reached 45 — the age Freddie Mercury was when he passed away.
Mullen, who calls this the best job in the world, admits he doesn’t see himself walking away anytime soon but also recognizes the importance of taking care of himself — both physically and mentally — to keep up with the high energy of the show throughout the tour.
“You’ve got to look after yourself, I’m 51 now, so I ain’t no spring chicken you know, there’s got to be 110% energy every single night,” he said. “We really look after ourselves and before the show make sure you’re warming up your voice and the guys are warming up the instruments before the adrenaline starts.”
Even after years of performing, Mullen is still learning, not just how to sing but to also connect with his audience.
“As a musician, you’re always learning something new,” he said. “And as a front man, you’re always learning how to communicate with your audience to make them have as much fun as you can.”
Mullen goes by a famous saying of Mercury, “Deafen, blind the audience by song four,” he said. “And by the end of the show, leave them wanting more.”
As Mullen and his band prepare to rock Fort Lauderdale fans will get a chance to relive the magic of Queen, experiencing the band’s music performed live once again. For Mullen, this is more than just a job—it’s a passion, a tribute to Freddie Mercury, and a love affair with Queen that lives on.
Sara Menco Arenas is a student reporter in NSU’s feature writing course taught by Dr. Megan Fitzgerald in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts.
