Adam Lambert has confirmed he will tour with Queen as the band’s frontman this summer.

“The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie [Mercury] and the band by singing some great songs,” Lambert said, in an interview with Britain’s Daily Star.

“It’s to keep the music alive for the fans and give it an energy that Freddie would have been proud of.”

This past December, Queen drummer Roger Taylor had fueled speculation that Lambert might soon join him and guitarist Brian May.

Taylor said, “[Lambert] has grown into a really great performer with an astonishing voice. We would like to work with him again. There’s nothing signed just yet but we’re talking about live dates.”

The full slate of dates for the tour has not been announced, but the trek will include a performance at Knebworth in England, where Queen played their final show with Mercury in 1986. Lambert said he has “no intention in his mind” to replace the late Queen singer.

“That’s impossible,” he said. “The way I’m choosing to view it is that it’s a great honor and one I’m in no way going to shirk. Being asked to front Queen is the best thing that can possibly happen.”