ROCK group Queen with singer Adam Lambert, beat competition from K-pop band Blackpink and former Spice Girl Melanie C to claim the top spot with their live concert album Live Around the World.
It's Queen's 10th number one overall and the first for US singer Adam Lambert, who joined the group in 2011.
Lambert first sang with Queen guitarist Brain May and drummer Roger Taylor in 2009 when he was a finalist on American Idol season eight, and began performing in concert with Queen as their lead singer two years later. This is their first album together.
Live Around The World is Queen’s 10th Number 1 album in the UK, and the first for almost 25 years since Made in Heaven (featuring vocals from Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991) reached No.1 in November 1995.
"Number one - my favourite number," said drummer Roger Taylor. "It's a thrill, still."
Queen + Adam Lambert have become one of the world's most sought-after live acts, going on tour worldwide and playing to audiences in the millions. This live album was released as a thank you to fans after their 2020 tour was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"As we all grapple with the challenge of creating live shows in a world dominated by a formidable viral enemy, it seemed the perfect time for us to create a collection of hand-picked live highlights," said May.
Korean girl band Blackpink, whose debut Korean-language album titled The Album, enjoyed a sales surge towards the end of the week, putting them in at number two.
Meanwhile, UK band Oasis made a chart comeback with What's The Story (Morning Glory)? at number three, thanks to a 25th anniversary reissue of the album, the UK’s fifth best-selling album of all time.
Former Spice Girl Melanie C picks up her first Top 10 in 17 years with her self-titled eighth studio album at number eight. – The Vibes, October 10, 2020
