A QUEEN tribute band on the brink of fame in America have had their plans dashed by coronavirus.

Frontman Patrick Myers was excitedly looking forward to playing in the US on what would have been his biggest tour yet.

But despite having the taxi to the airport booked, Patrick, who doubles as Freddie Mercury, was suddenly told it was all off.

And for his bandmates in Killer Queen, it meant their final night was performing to a packed crowd at the Theatre Royal in Brighton before the lockdown in March.

For Patrick, life in lockdown with his family near Brighton has given him some time to reflect.

“I miss singing for people but I’m horrified by the daily tragedies unfolding around the world,” he said.

“The tour to America was hopefully our biggest yet.

“The taxi was booked on a Sunday morning to take us to the airport.

“I’d spent the last few months buying lights and having a touring Queen-style set welded together.

“It was expensive but worth it. Planning the look is half the fun and we wanted to have a beautiful looking show for the States.”

But on Friday, March 14, the group played their last gig before being told the tour was off as the “nightmare” from around the world reached the UK and venues started to close.

He said: “Singing is brilliant fun. Performing Queen’s songs is special for me and I know their music is very special for our audiences. Music is a magic that unites us and speaks to the fabric of us.

“It is a privilege to be able to sing for thousands of people, all together on one night, their arms in the air, singing those beautiful songs along with us, but that vanished overnight.

“I feel a lot of conflicting emotions all at once every day.

“I’m thankful I have a home and family. I have no income.

“I’m in awe of the frontline workers.

“I’m scared I don’t know how the life I had a few weeks ago will return. I miss singing for people. In the middle of all these things, life goes rolling on.

“My wife and I get used to washing and disinfecting our shopping – we develop a system with door handles and gloves. We go for walks and slow down at corners.

“We have got used to Zoom calls with our parents, even if they insist they don’t need the internet.

“They want you to tell them how long this will last for and that everything will be all right. You cheer each other up with jokes.”

Patrick wonders when it will be safe for shows to be staged and whether there will be venues to stage them.

Meanwhile the group has released a new song online and is raising cash for the NHS. Called We Will fight Again, it is one of Patrick’s own songs and he says it seems more fitting in the current climate than perhaps it did when he wrote it.

He said: “Queen songs always felt exciting, witty and brilliant but it also felt like a security blanket, with a sense of defiant optimism.

“This is my attempt at a makeshift home-made security blanket.”

To listen visit killerqueen.com/lockdown or to donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/musicians4nhs