Queen star to join SAS Band for Indigo2 show

The band rarely play public shows, but when they do it usually sees some of the biggest names in music turning up, with Saturday's line-up featuring Roy Wood and Queen drummer Roger Taylor.

Edney explained to The Wharf the ethos behind the band he started back in the early 1990s.

"It's like a human jukebox," he said. "The whole essence of the SAS Band is to put the best possible musicians with the best possible singers and just play some great music.

"Artists sing their hits and then come off to let others sing theirs and then we all go on stage for a big finale. It's a real party atmosphere and a lot of fun."

Roger Taylor's involvement gives away Edney's roots. He played keyboards with Queen from 1984 and was part of the band when they headlined The O2 Arena last year with Paul Rodgers.

Touring with the Freddie Mercury-led band in the mid-1980s meant playing in some of the biggest stadiums in the world and shared the stage with the band at Live Aid in 1985.

That seemed to have ended when Mercury died in 1991 but remaining Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor vowed to carry on, starting with the Freddie tribute concert at Wembley in 1992.

Since then the band have toured and released an album last year with Rodgers taking the mic.

And Edney revealed May and Taylor are enjoying the freedom they have to explore Queen's back catalogue.

"We really enjoyed the O2 gigs," he said. "It was a real buzz and both Brian and Roger like being able to play some of the songs that might not have been aired back then. They have been really fired up to play those songs as well as new material."

And he admitted things had calmed down a bit since the 1980s.

He said: "They were great days. We had private jets, huge productions and fantastic parties. It's not like that now, mainly because we've all got a bit old for the kind of parties we had back then."

Edney, who is in his "late fifties", has shared a stage with some of the biggest names in the music business, including Duran Duran, Peter Green, and Ben E King.

He toured with Green, legendary guitarist, founder member of Fleetwood Mac and 1960s drug casualty, in the mid-1990s when the reclusive star resurfaced with his Splinter Group project.

"That was a good band," said Edney.

"We had Cozy Powell on drums - he's sadly no longer with us - and guys like Neil Murray in there.

"I haven't seen Pete for a couple of years but I think he's emerging from his hibernation. I think he's doing alright."

Green will not be among the stars on show at the Indigo2 on Saturday but there should be plenty to keep fans entertained, including an appearance by World Superbikes champion James Toseland and his band Crash.

"James's music is definitely within our sphere and I think people will be pleasantly surprised," said Edney.

"He's got a great voice and great presence and he's even made me a big fan of Superbikes now!"

It should be a busy year for the SAS band with plans to do more shows in Europe and America, as well as continuing work with the Mandela Foundation.

The SAS Band play the Indigo2 on Saturday, January 24. For tickets visit www.indigo2.com