HISTORY
The Beginning 2009 - 2013
Way back in 2009 at one of their usual breakfast brainstorming meetings, 2 friends, Martyn Jenkins who was in Highway To Hell at the time and Rich Rubin from Maximum Bands chatted about bringing a Queen show to the States. Martyn had longed to do it. He had a great run as Freddie in Europe with the famed Queen show "Night At The Opera". Rich knew a musician named Dave Vanell a guitarist who looked just like Brian May. They all met up at Jannus Live at a show and there was immediate energy that this could be possible. Martyn marveled at how Dave looked just like Brian May! So they got in the studio, brought in some of the guys from Martyn's very successful AC/DC show Highway to Hell and Absolute Queen was born.
The band debut happened at Bike Week 2010 at Boot Hill Saloon and soon after BIG shows started happening. Great events like Giving Hunger the Blues in Sarasota and the huge massive stage at the Meyer Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Parkland Amphitheater, the Lake Eola series in Orlando, legendary venue Jannus Live and they also played in Texas at Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso and a massive Fest in Kentucky to name a few. he band had a great run until 2013 when band members moved on, as changes happen in bands all the time and Absolute Queen was on hiatus until..
2016 - 2025
Late 2016 Rich and Martyn once again over one of their many breakfast brainstorming meetings planned the next phase of Absolute Queen. The Highway to Hell band had also become a Judas Priest and Iron Maiden show and they felt the new players would be a great fit for a new Queen show.
One natable new player 1st up Chris Kinder on drums came from the famed world touring act Jon Oliva's Pain and he worked with Jon Oliva the producer of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Chris was a fantastic progressive drummer in his own right and fit Queen music well and Absolute Queen was back! The band had an amazing run until the end of 2025, building box office success across the country and Canada at many theaters and casinos and massive outdoor events and more until....
2026 and Beyond
The close of 2025 marked a significant strategic evolution for Martyn Jenkins. Since 2009, Martyn has been the steadfast front man and lead vocalist for Absolute Queen, consistently defining his performance through a compelling portrayal of Freddie Mercury and powerful renditions of Queen's generational anthems. What truly distinguishes his stage presence are the unique, personal narratives he weaves into every show, sharing his own experiences with members of Queen and the making of their iconic songs. Throughout this tenure, he has also served as the primary liaison to hundreds of buyers and top booking agents.
Entering 2026, Martyn is elevating his trajectory, focusing exclusively on high-profile venues, major events, and large-capacity theaters.
Martyn has forged a dynamic new partnership with Florida-based musicians who are integral members of the renowned "Classic Albums Live" series. These exceptional players bring years of experience performing entire Queen albums in massive venues and provide the flexibility to accept premier show opportunities anywhere. Their addition ensures that this new iteration will be the most musically accurate Queen tribute show available on the market. Furthermore, this versatile ensemble will be available for booking as three distinct, high-caliber tribute acts:
- Highway to Hell: The Ultimate AC/DC Tribute Band
- Ramble On: The Led Zeppelin show
- A special Zeppelin vs. Queen collaborative performance