Queen plotting reunion with Paul Rodgers behind the mic

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Queen are planning an early 2005 reunion tour featuring Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers on vocals.

Queen last toured in 1986, before late frontman Freddie Mercury began showing symptoms of AIDS. Mercury died of the disease in 1991.

"We are in the process of looking at venues for a Queen tour in the spring," guitarist Brian May wrote on his official website. "It really all came about because of the Fender 50th Anniversary gig that I did with Paul Rodgers [in September]. We were both so amazed at the chemistry that was going on in 'All Right Now' that suddenly it seems blindingly obvious that there was 'something happening here.' And if we were to play together some more, which we both thought was an exciting possibility, who would be the drummer? Well, the expression 'No Brainer' comes to mind.

Last month, Rodgers sang with May and Queen drummer Roger Taylor during Queen's induction into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame.

"The rest, in a way, is already history," May wrote. "The show went so incredibly well from our point of view, and we got so many rave reactions from out there, we decided almost then and there that we would look at a tour together."

It's not yet known if Queen's other member, bassist John Deacon, will participate in the tour.

"I won't go into more details right now, but, barring accidents, Queen and Paul Rodgers will be on the road, pretty much for sure, around April 2005," May concluded.

According to British press reports, the tour will probably launch in the U.K., and will probably hit the rest of Europe next.

The surviving members of Queen have played together at a few events since Mercury's death, including a 1992 tribute to Mercury and at the band's 2001 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.