A Night of Royal Rock

Gary Mullen and the Works Bring Queen’s Legacy to Columbus to Kick off RiverCenter New Season

By Monica Jones

Get ready to rock, Columbus. The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts is kicking off its new season in high style. We’re talking about a full-throttle, high-energy rock show fit for a queen – literally.

On December 7th, the stage will come alive with the electrifying tribute performance, One Night of Queen, featuring the man who channels the spirit of Freddie Mercury himself: the charismatic and incredibly talented Gary Mullen.

Mullen, a Scottish native, has been living and breathing Queen for over two decades. His journey began in 2000, when his wife and his mother—in a delightful act of family conspiracy—secretly submitted him to audition for the UK’s hit TV show, “Stars in Their Eyes.” He went on to win the grand finale, setting an all-time record for votes and proving he was born to perform the part.

That one audition led to a career which has spanned 25 years and over 150 shows a year. “I thought that would be it,” Mullen muses. “[I thought] it would be all over and done, and then I go back to my day job … and that didn’t happen.”

What sets “One Night of Queen” apart from other tribute shows is its authentic, rock-and-roll heart. Mullen isn’t just backed by hired musicians; he’s part of a living, breathing rock band called The Works, a brotherhood of fiercely talented artists who share his passion for Queen’s music. The band—Davy Brockett, John Howells, Malcolm Gentles, and Alan McGeoch—approach every performance with 120% effort. “I never wanted it to be just, ‘Oh, there’s Gary and a group of session players just reading the dots,'” Mullen explains. “It’s got to be a fully breathing rock band … you’ve got to come out of the traps, all guns blazing.”

This shared passion is evident on stage. The band breathes fresh life into Queen’s legendary catalog, from the biggest anthems like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You” to deep cuts and lesser-known gems. Mullen says they constantly update their setlist and production, including lights and costumes, to ensure no two shows are the same. This constant evolution keeps the show fresh and exciting, even for a touring band on the road for months at a time.

When it comes to the stage, Mullen embodies the flamboyant energy of Freddie Mercury. “Freddie would come out like a champion, as he would say, ‘I’m a giant peacock, darling,'” Mullen says with a chuckle. “And that’s what I try to do.” He doesn’t just sing the songs; he commands the stage with the same “dazzling choreography” and presence that made Mercury a legend.

Mullen’s connection to Freddie Mercury runs deep. He reveals a side of Mercury the public rarely saw: a shy, quiet, and incredibly giving person. “That’s the other side that a lot of people don’t know about,” Mullen says, adding that this private side of Mercury made his public persona even more captivating.

This intimate knowledge of the man, and not just the artist, allows Mullen to bring an authenticity to his performance that can only come from true admiration. “I just love everything that he was,” Mullen says. “He was a funny person. You would never know if he was being serious or not.” That sense of fun and a bit of cheekiness is what Mullen strives to bring to every show. “You’ve got to have that twinkle in your eye,” he says, “and a bit of fun with the audience.”

It’s clear that for Mullen, this show is about more than just playing music; it’s about creating an experience. “Forget your troubles out there,” he says. “Come in and immerse yourself in it and sing and dance … and just let yourself go.” This shared energy between the band and the audience is what makes the “One Night of Queen” show so powerful.

When asked what Queen song he never gets tired of performing, Mullen’s answer was incredibly fun. It’s not “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but “Fat Bottomed Girls.” Why? He says it’s because of the audience’s reaction. It’s the one song where a guy can look at his wife and laugh, and “every woman in the audience suddenly wants to be a fat bottom girl.” The shared laughter and high spirits of that moment, he says, is something he always looks forward to.

The show, he says, is a “rock and roll party” that lifts the energy to another level and spreads joy. That’s exactly what he hopes to do in Columbus. The band is ready to give their all and leave every last bit of energy on the stage. After all, he says, they’ve got to go home tomorrow, so why hold anything back? You’ll be able to feel the enthusiasm, and you’ll “take a bit of that joy and happiness and positivity with you,” he says.

“One Night of Queen” is the perfect way to kick off the new season at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. As a cornerstone of the Columbus community for over two decades, RiverCenter is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a stunning lineup of shows, including:

• Legendary rock act Three Dog Night on December 4th.
• The “ultimate feel-good show,” The Choir of Man, on December 19th.
• The return of Riverdance on February 10th.
• The Motown magic of The Miracles featuring Sydney Justin & The Delfonics on February 28th.
• And the riveting rhythms and bold beats of Drumline LIVE! on April 4th.

RiverCenter also has a few more exciting shows yet to be announced, so keep an eye out for those.

So mark your calendars for December 7th and get ready to witness a show which promises to be nothing short of a royal coronation of rock and roll. To ensure you don’t miss this one-of-a-kind experience, we highly recommend purchasing your tickets directly from the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts box office or its official website at rivercenter.org.

This isn’t just a concert; it’s an evening of music, nostalgia, and pure, unadulterated fun with a band that gives everything they’ve got. You won’t want to miss it.