IT'S a sad fact we'll never get to hear the live performance of one the best frontmen to have ever been - Freddie Mercury - but you can at least lose yourself in this well-reputed performance of Flash, a Queen tribute band, who are booked to visit two Essex theatres this year.

Flash have been performing across the world since 2002.

Italian born front man, Claudio Desideri plays an uncannily realistic ‘Freddie’ with just the right look and stage persona. From an early age Claudio has trained and developed a vocal range capable of performing these iconic songs, recreating the magic that made Queen’s live shows so special.

Claudio is joined on stage by an enormously talented band including Nathan Mathers who brings all the electric guitar virtuosity required to play a very convincing Brian May.

For over four decades’ millions of fans have been enjoying the music of Queen. The band released a total of 18 number one albums, 18 number one singles and 10 number one DVDs with estimates of their record sales ranging from 150 million to 300 million records.

With a catalogue of timeless hits including Under Pressure, Bohemian Rhapsody and I Want To Break Free, Queen continues to reach out to music lovers of all ages.

The Best of Queen show features a selection of the most loved and iconic classics from across Queen’s entire back catalogue creating a live stage show which really catches the essence of this most incredible British band.

The show will be coming to the Thameside Theatre, Grays on Saturday January 27 at 7.30pm, and the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, on June 19, 7:30pm

Q: Hello Claudio Desideri. How did you end up being part of Flash ?

A: I was approached by the group back in 2015. t=Their previous vocalist had just stepped down to spend more time at home with his growing family and they had exhausted all UK efforts in trying to find a replacement. John the drummer with the show had made contact with me online after watching some footage of me performing in my Italian Queen Tribute show and rest they say is history.

Q: When did you first get involved with the show?

A: My first official show with Flash was in April 2016. We had been rehearsing in private over the winter months, perfecting the set list and the performance of the show and since then we’ve performed over 110 shows together.

Q: Have you ever seen Queen live and if so how does it compare to your concerts?

A: None of us were ever lucky enough to watch the original Queen line-up live, obviously growing up we all studied in awe the footage of their live performances and always hoped the opportunity to watch them would come one day but sadly not. We have however all seen members of Queen performing solo shows and have all seen Queen with different vocalists since, but whenever they show the footage of Freddie at these shows and the audience reaction, you know you’ve missed out on something very special indeed.

Q: What is your favourite track from the band?

A: Personally I would pick These Are The Days Of Our Lives, it is so emotional and an honour to perform live, but, for the fun factor it has to be Fat Bottomed Girls, always a great number to hear the audience participation.”

Q: Tell us a little more about the band members and how you got together.

A: They have like me all been at some stage performing members of other Queen Tribute shows and we were all individually approached and asked to join Flash to form a kind of best of the best tribute to Queen. We have all throughout our own musical development been hugely inspired by Queen and our individual counterparts and as such this has had a huge influence in shaping the way in we perform on stage, along with using identical instruments and equipment as Queen this influence and upbringing adds what other shows have lacked. “

Q: What preparation do you need to do to get ready for the performance?

A: We are extremely lucky and very grateful to have a busy calendar which keeps us performing on a regular basis; this takes away the necessity to rehearse every single week - that is unless we’re adding new songs to the show. But we do have to take great care in looking after our voice as performing the repertoire of Queen is no easy task. As we all know, vocally Freddie was unique and had such a vast vocal range. Performing these songs in the way in which they were intended to be performed is challenging and looking after all our voices night after night is the biggest challenge we face.

Q: What can the audience expect from attending one of your concerts?

A: We simply want every single member of the audience to enjoy and celebrate with us the musical legacy of Freddie Mercury and Queen. The show is a hit after hit, anthem after anthem, jukebox of Queen’s Greatest Hits, all performed live with identical instruments and in authentic costumes.

Q: What do you enjoy most about the performances?

A: Simply the interaction and enjoyment in the audience, these songs evoke the greatest response from people and it’s always a surprise and amazing to see younger audience members lip syncing all the lyrics word for word.

Q: What has been the highlight of your career so far?

A: think performing at a sold out Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury had to be the highlight so far. Not only had we been working on the inclusion of new material and a larger than usual stage and lighting set but it also saw us add the final piece to the jigsaw when we were joined by Nathan, lead guitarist and without doubt the very best Brian May performer by far.