Adam Lambert Going to the "Edge" with Kinky American Music Awards Performance

Act to Incorporate Leather, Chains, Handcuffs -- and Dragging Around a Shackled Woman?

Adam Lambert, the over-the-top vocalist who shot to fame on American Idol by doing vocal calisthenics that none of his competitors could even come close to emulating, said his performance at the 2009 American Music Awards was going to be edgy. Using props like handcuffs and chains, Adam Lambert said Friday that his performance at the AMAs was going to be "exciting and motivating all at the same time." The self-professed resurrector of glam rock will be performing the title single from his debut major label release, "For Your Entertainment," live at Sunday's American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

"I can't wait to see people I look up to as artists in the audience watching," Lambert said.

His act will also incorporate leather with the chains and handcuffs, making for a somewhat kinky performance. He even drags a shackled woman across the floor at some point in the number.

"It will be really interesting to see what kind of reaction the number gets. It's different. It really does have an edge to it."

And that's what Adam Lambert fans have come to expect from the 27-year-old glam rocker. With his piercing vocals and no fear attitude toward attempting unique arrangements of established tunes, Adam Lambert quickly became a fan favorite on American Idol. At one point, he was deemed to be the clear victor of Season 8 on the competition reality show, but, as often happens on shows like American Idol, seemed to suffer the underdog backlash that would ultimately see his roommate, Kris Allen, become the American Idol winner.

While on American Idol, viewers saw Adam Lambert perform songs by Queen, Led Zeppelin, Wild Cherry, KISS, Steppenwolf, Tears for Fears, Smokey Robinson, and Johnny Cash, bringing to each performance that little something that made the performance uniquely Adam Lambert. Whether it was the Persian-sounding "Ring of Fire" or the more pop-oriented "Born To Be Wild," Adam Lambert pushed the envelope of performance standards on American Idol -- and viewers loved him for it.