Killer Queen Books Joliet's Rialto For October: 'The Show Must Go On'

JOLIET — One day after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued a press release letting everyone know that the Rialto Square Theatre and its representatives are in trouble over the release of asbestos inside the 98-year-old theater, Rialto marketing officials issued a Friday morning press release encouraging everyone to buy tickets to see Killer Queen - A Tribute to Queen Featuring Patrick Myers as Freddie Mercury.

Killer Queen will be at the Rialto Square Theatre on Wednesday, October 9. Tickets are on sale on Friday, August 9. Tickets at the box office will be $61, $49, and $41.

The Rialto press release states makes no mention of the theater's ongoing troubles with the EPA, which were the focus of a Thursday news article in the Joliet Patch headlined, Rialto Nailed By EPA Over Asbestos In The Theater: Agency.

The EPA referral has asked the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to represent the Illinois EPA and requests that the entities implement protective measures, including stopping all activities at the facility and prohibiting entry except for Illinois-licensed asbestos professionals and asbestos workers approved by the Illinois EPA to carry out abatement activities.

Meanwhile, Friday morning's press release from the Rialto Square Theatre includes a quote from Killer Queen lead singer Patrick Myers saying, “It's been an amazing journey. That first show changed my life. We thought our band would last maybe a summer at the most, but it's a very addictive thing performing these songs. The concerts grew and grew, and we've ended up playing and selling out the same arenas that Queen played at their peak. It was quite a surreal ride. Becoming regular performers at Red Rocks Arena in America is another highlight. The Beatles, U2, Springsteen, and Dylan all played on that stage. It's really got its own kind of magic going on there.”

Killer Queen's first public shows were at London University, following in the footsteps of the real Queen who had played their first shows there decades earlier.

Killer Queen's UK popularity grew to such an extent they soon secured a residency in London's Strand Theatre attracting nationwide BBC coverage - the first tribute to have a show in the West End.

The band's reputation continued to grow both in the UK and abroad leading to an awards ceremony in Leicester Square, hosted by Suggs from Madness who presented them with the award for “Worldwide Best Tribute Band”. They also scored a number one hit when they were asked to recreate Queen's harmonies for “The Real Life” with Fatboy Slim.

2023 saw the band play packed arenas across Europe: Stavanger in Norway and Cardiff, Nottingham, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Leeds in the UK. 2024 includes an arena tour of Lithuania, UK arena shows in Liverpool.