RIO DE JANEIRO: Thirty years after their late lead singer Freddie Mercury led an adoring Rio crowd in a legendary rendition of “Love of My Life,” Queen returns to the Rock in Rio festival this weekend.

That performance, with 250,000 people singing along in the rain, was the highlight of the inaugural festival, and this year’s gathering, starting Friday, hopes to recapture the magic.

Queen will take back the stage, with guest frontman Adam Lambert, on Friday.

Some 85,000 people are expected for each day of the concerts, running through Sunday at Athletes’ Park.

In addition to Queen, this year’s version will feature some of the artists from that original event, including Rod Stewart.

Brazilian golden oldies Paralamas do Sucesso, Lulu Santos and Erasmo Carlos will be there, as will Metallica, System of a Down, Slipknot, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Elton John and A-ha.