Adam Lambert has opened up on filling Freddie Mercury's boots as the temporary singer of Queen.

The vocal star is set to front Queen at two special gigs this summer in Moscow and then at the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth.

Speaking to Gay Times, Lambert spoke freely about late Queen singer Freddie Mercury and said that he can identify with some of his lyrics. When asked if he feels his sexuality means he can play the role of Mercury better, Lambert replied:

"I don't know, I don't think I'm playing Freddie, I think I'm me, and the tricky thing that people need to realise is that I'm doing it my way. But I think the coincidence that we're both gay men - the best thing about it is that I can identify maybe with some of his writing. Especially when I listen to the lyrics of The Show Must Go On, from what I've been told, Freddie wrote that about dealing with his secrets and dealing with his illness and facing the world. I can only feel for him because I on the other hand have been openly gay and I'm very healthy, so I'm not dealing with those issues. But I can understand and empathise really closely."

He continued: "I have friends who have dealt with those types of issues, and I know what the struggle is of being in the closet. I know what it feels like, and I know what it is to be an openly gay man, or a closeted gay man in the music industry. I think the good thing about the coincidence that we're both gay men is, I can understand where he was coming from. It's a kindred thing and I get it."