Queen Quiz — Outsider

Dale Tatnell
May 7
2 min read

Cover Artwork for Roger Taylor's album “Outsider”

“Outsider” is the sixth studio album by Roger Taylor, released in 2021 on vinyl, cassette, CD, digital download and on streaming platforms. The album was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and was mostly recorded during this time, with almost all the instrumentation recorded by Taylor himself.

The album was conceived using Taylor's time within the music industry, as a kind of mature late-career statement, its prevailing mood autumnal and bittersweet. In an interview, Taylor reflects this by stating that “Autumnal is a very good word for it; It's slightly nostalgic and wistful, and quite adult, a bit more grown-up than my last couple of albums.”

As with previous albums, Taylor does not shield away from using his music to make political statements, which is captured in the tracks “Gangsters Are Ruling The World” and it's punch rock sister “Gangsters Are Ruling The World (Purple Version)”.

The album artwork cover was based on an idea that Taylor's daughter (Tigerlilly) had, and so produced a sketch that lead to the final design. The lone figure on a clifftop was to give the impression of aloneness.

At the time of the launce of “Outsider”, Roger Taylor announced that he would embark on a 14-date tour of the UK, which commenced in Newcastle and concluded in London. After touring, Taylor would then release a live album of the “Outsider Tour Live”.