MUMBAI: Legendary rock band 'Queen', which released their first studio album, The Cosmos Rocks with multi instrumentalist and Grammy nominated vocalist Paul Rodgers recently, was paid tribute by Mumbai's music connoisseurs on Tuesday at the Hard Rock Cafe.

The album, released in the EU on 13 September, is scheduled to be launched in North America on 28 October.

This is Queen's first album after a 13 year long break. Mumbai's classic rock purists 'The Works' were chosen to play some hand picked tracks by Queen for the launch. The band played some of Queen's old classics like, I want to be free, We Will Rock You and also a few Elvis tracks, as Queen's lead vocalist Freddie Mercury was known to be a big fan of the rock and roll star.

'Cosmos Rocks' is produced and performed by Brian May, Paul Rodgers and Drummer Roger Taylor. It is said that, while recording the album, the trio swapped duties and played all instruments. This full bodied group endeavor of legendary guitarist Brian May, Rodgers and Taylor is completely a democratic union. The album's dedication to legendary Queen front man Freddie Mercury, shows the band mates still feel his presence strongly enough to dedicate this entirely new work to him.

There's guitar orchestras and some of Queen's trademarks sounds, where one can hear the trio playing together in the studio. Brian May and Roger Taylor have always acknowledged the mighty presence of Mercury and said that he provided to the band energy on stage and his extraordinary creativity even off it.

Their first single 'C-lebrity' which has Taylor Hawkins, (Drummer of 'Foo Fighters') on backing vocals is available in an enhanced CD, this disc will also include exclusive live performance of Queen and Paul Rodgers playing their classic hits like 'Show Must Go On' and 'Fire and Water' filmed during Q + PR's 2005 Japan tour. The album is available in three physical formats; standard CD, deluxe package (featuring 15 highlight performances) and a double gate-fold vinyl release. The digital release will include some bonus tracks.

The Cosmos Rocks was recorded and mixed at Taylor's Priory studio between November 2007 and August 2008. The album was co-produced and engineered by Joshua J Macrae, Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson.

All the tracks are written by Queen and Paul Rodgers. Queen fans should definitely not miss this one.

Pic by Mitesh Bhuvad