Queen drummer Roger Taylor has announced his seventh solo album Violence Insane In A Beautiful World, arriving on September 18.
Marking his first full-length release since 2021's Outsider, Taylor launched the album with a new single, Come On Summer (It's Party Time), featuring a vibrant performance from South Africa's Ndlovu Youth Choir, who went viral for their Zulu-language version of Bohemian Rhapsody.
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The album, recorded largely by Taylor with long‑time collaborator Joshua J. Macrae and members of his touring band, explores what he calls the tension between the world's beauty and its escalating turmoil.
"There is a theme… what a beautiful world we live in, don't f*** it up," he said.
"The violence in the world seems to be as bad as it ever was… but kindness is very important. It seems to be forgotten quite a lot."
Although not a concept album, the record threads together Taylor's reflections on global conflict, environmental damage and political unrest, while still leaning into optimism and the "eclecticism" that has defined his solo work.
The Ndlovu Youth Choir appear on three tracks; a collaboration Taylor describes as transformative: "They're just wonderful… it gives the songs a whole new dimension."
The album also includes an emotional cover of John Lennon's Jealous Guy, which Taylor calls "one of the greatest ballads ever written."
To mark the album's release, Taylor will embark on a short UK tour starting on September 21 in Newcastle before heading to Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Swansea and London's Roundhouse.
