QUEEN guitarist Brian May and rock singer Kerry Ellis will be kicking off their new tour at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall.

Anthems: The Tour is the new live version of Ellis’s 2010 hit album featuring a fusion of rock and musical theatre songs from shows including Wicked, Chess and We Will Rock You.

May will be performing new arrangements of the favourite songs he has specially chosen to be sung by Ellis, accompanying her on both guitar and vocals.

He says: “She is now acknowledged as a phenomenon, equally at home in musical theatre and rock.

“I was convinced from the moment we worked together on We Will Rock You nine years ago, that she was destined to be a worldwide star.

“The challenge was to develop songs and arrangements to allow that amazing voice to reach its true potential.”

The duo performed together on the Royal Variety Show in 2008, at BBC Proms in the Park and at last year’s The Night of 1000 Voices as well as opening the Remembrance Day concert at the Royal Albert Hall last November.

They are also about to release a club remix of Defying Gravity, the lead track from the musical.

ANTHEMS: The Tour is at the Philharmonic Hall on May 3.