Brian Harold May (born 19 July 1947 in Hampton, London) became famous in the 1970s and 1980s as the guitarist of the rock group Queen and composed many of Queen's hits: "We Will Rock You", "Hammer to Fall", "Tie Your Mother Down", "Who Wants to Live Forever", "I Want it All", "The Show Must Go On". He remained an active musician in the 1990s, after Freddie Mercury's death, publishing two solo albums and taking part to special events like Pavarotti and Friends, Montreux Jazz Festival, 46664 at Capetown, and Party at the Palace for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Brian May

May has played a range of guitars, most often the Red Special, which he designed with his father, Harold May, and built with wood from a most unlikely source — an old fireplace. His comments on this instrument, from Queen In Their Own Words (ed. Mick St. Michael, Omnibus Press, 1992, p62) are:

"I like a big neck - thick, flat and wide. I lacquered the fingerboard with Rustin's Plastic Coating. The tremolo is interesting in that the arm's made from an old bicycle saddle bag carrier, the knob at the end's off a knitting needle and the springs are valve springs from an old motorbike."

In addition to using his homemade guitar, he prefers to use coins (especially sixpence pieces) instead of a more traditional plastic plectrum, on the basis that their rigidity gives him more control in playing.

May's early heroes were Cliff Richard and The Shadows, whom he says were the most metallic thing out at the time. Many years later he gained his opportunity to play on separate occasions with both Cliff Richard and Shadows lead guitarist Hank Marvin. May was proud upon hearing that Cliff Richard had mentioned in an interview that he would have Brian May in his personal fantasy band. As well as recording with Hank Marvin, May also contributed to the 1996 album "Twang!: A Tribute to Hank Marvin & the Shadows," playing FBI. The album featured other greats such as Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, and Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt of Status Quo.

May, apart from fellow bandmates Mercury and Roger Taylor, never recreationally used drugs, was not sexually promiscuous, and rarely drank. He was known for being rather quiet and reserved at parties. In Queen's three-part vocal harmonies, his was generally the mid-range backing vocal, sounding not unlike Mercury's, albeit not quite as strong. On some of his songs he sings the lead vocal, such as "Some Day One Day", "All Dead, All Dead" and "Leaving Home Ain't Easy".

May had been part way through a Ph.D. course when Queen became successful, and never completed his astronomy doctorate. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science in November 2002 by Hertfordshire University.

Throughout the last several years, he has overseen the remastering of Queen albums and various DVD and Greatest Hits releases. In 2004, he announced he and drummer Roger Taylor were going on tour for the first in 18 years as "Queen," along with Free/Bad Company vocalist Paul Rodgers. The tour is being billed as "Queen + Paul Rodgers Spring 2005."

He has been quoted throughout the years as saying: "I live in my head too much."

Albums

• Star Fleet Project (Mini Album, 1983), featuring Eddie Van Halen
• Back To The Light (1992)
• Live At The Brixton Academy (1994)
• Another World (1998)
• Furia (Soundtrack) (2000)

External links

• Brian May's official homepage