Roger Taylor releases seventh solo album ahead of UK tour

Queen drummer Roger Taylor has released his seventh solo album, Violence Insane In a Beautiful World. The 10-track record arrived on Friday, Sept. 18, five years after his last solo set, Outsider, Billboard reported.

The gap is the longest in a solo run that stretches back to 1977, according to Queen’s official site. His first solo album, Fun in Space, came out 45 years ago. Outsider was released in 2021.

Taylor recorded the new album at his home studio in the U.K. He co-produced it with Joshua J. Macrae. Taylor played all of the instruments himself.

The record brings in outside voices in a few places. The Ndlovu Youth Choir from Limpopo, South Africa sings on the two Beautiful World tracks and on Come on Summer (It’s Party Time). The album also includes a rendition of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy.

One new song is directly political. Taylor told Billboard that Chump is about U.S. President Donald Trump. Of America, he said Trump “seems to be demolishing all the good things about it.”

Taylor will support the album on the road in Britain. The run is six concerts, starting Sept. 21 in Newcastle. The dates are his only U.K. shows of the year, Queen’s official site said, and his touring band includes several musicians from the Queen + Adam Lambert lineup.

The release follows a summer rollout of singles and videos. I See You Now was issued as the second single on Aug. 12, while Come On Summer (It’s Party Time) received an official lyric video in June. An official music video for A Beautiful World with the Ndlovu Youth Choir was featured on Sept. 18.

Vinyl buyers have several options. The album is offered in Black Vinyl and Picture Disc formats, with an Earth Blue Vinyl version also listed. Queen’s official site announced two new editions on Sept. 16, alongside a giveaway of five signed test pressings, early vinyl copies made to check the sound before full production. The site listed the album as “Out Now” on Sept. 18.