By TOM LAVIS

TLAVIS@TRIBDEM.COM

Gary Mullen uses wigs and a fake mustache to capture the look of Queen’s Freddie Mercury, but there’s no disguising the talent in duplicating his voice.

Mullen is the front man of the full-scale light and sound extravaganza that is “One Night of Queen,” which takes the stage at 8 p.m. March 25 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St., Johnstown.

Mullen said he taps into the spirit of Mercury as he struts, poses, and hits dramatic big notes.

“I’m a lucky man,” said Mullen in a telephone interview from Aspen, Colo.

“I’m 35 years old, but I feel like a big 8-year-old kid playing dress up when I come on the stage.”

“One Night of Queen” pays tribute to the stage theatrics and music of Queen.

The Scottish-born singer won the British television show “Stars in Their Eyes” grand finale in 2000 as Mercury, and his life changed forever.

Mullen and his band, The Works, delivers all of Queen’s classics, including “We Are the Champions,” “Somebody to Love” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

The band understands Mercury’s legacy and members are keenly aware of keeping the music as close to the original as possible. Mullen said some things in the show are changed to keep it fresh, but they strive never to lose the essence of a Queen concert.

“Freddie was the ultimate showman and ultimate performer who had the X-factor that kept audiences in the palm of his hand,” Mullen said.

Growing up, Mullen used to pretend to sing Queen songs.

“I used a hairbrush as the microphone while practicing my moves in my bedroom,” he said.

“I never imagined that I would be doing this as my life’s work.”

While playing throughout Europe to critical acclaim, the tribute group didn’t bring its show to the United States until 2008. In America alone, they have sold nearly 100,000 tickets over two tours and sold out in 75 cities.

Mercury and Queen are icons in the United States by virtue of the constant playing of “We Are the Champions” or “We Will Rock You” at many sporting events.

“The fans in America are even more enthusiastic and crazier than the ones in Europe,” Mullen said.

“We were in Wichita (Kansas) last week and had two guys jump on the stage to give us a high five and dove back into the crowd. Security wasn’t happy about that, but the lads looked harmless and were caught up in the show.”

Much of that excitement is generated by the songs and in the manner they are presented.

“We like to start off slow with ‘Somebody to Love’ and like a crescendo, we will build toward the more powerful songs like ‘We Will Rock You,’ ” he said.

Mullen has no illusions of being Freddie Mercury.

“I’m an actor on the stage,” he said.

Mullen’s physical appearance resembles that of Mercury as well.

“It’s something I don’t have to work at because I can eat anything and never gain any weight,” he said.

While doing as many as 170 concerts a year, Mullen decided to take voice lessons.

“I never took a voice lesson in my life until I realized that developing a proper technique would preserve my voice for such a grueling schedule,” he said.

Mullen was quick to point out the talents of his band mates: Davie Brockett on guitar; Jonathan Evans on drums; Billy Moffat on bass; and Malcolm Gentle on keyboards.

“Davie is such a good guitar player he could get music out of a baseball bat,” Mullen said.

“Johnny, our drummer, is the happiest guy in the group and always has a smile, even while he’s giving his kit a good beating.

“Billy not only plays bass, but he sings all the high parts in the songs while Malcolm plays a mean piano.”

The concert is a mutual effort involving the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Arcadia Theater in Windber and the arena.

“This show is phenomenal,” said Frank Cunsolo, Arcadia chairman and program director, who saw the show in Florida in 2009.

“Gary Mullen not only sounds and looks like Freddie Mercury, he thinks he is Freddie Mercury onstage. That’s how good he is.”

Cunsolo said when a concert of the magnitude of “One Night of Queen” is available, producing the show in cooperation with the War Memorial and the Pasquerilla arts center is a viable option.

“This is something we should take a look at and explore doing again in the future,” Cunsolo said.

Michael Bodolosky, Pasquerilla’s executive director, had high praise for Mullen and his band.

“This show represents Queen at its best, if not better,” Bodolosky said.

“This is a tribute show to one of the greatest rock bands in the world and from a remarkable group of performers who have taken this stadium-style show internationally.”

Tickets are $38 plus handling. Tickets are available at the box office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; Ticketmaster outlets; by phone at (800) 745-3000; or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.



Show

What: “One Night of Queen.”

Where: Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St., Johnstown.

When: 8 p.m. March 25.

Tickets: At box office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; Ticketmaster outlets; by phone at (800) 745-3000; or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

Cost: $38 plus handling.