Brian May
Brian Harold May (born
19 July 1947) became famous as the
guitarist of rock group
Queen and composed many of
Queen's hits:
We Will Rock You,
Hammer to Fall and
Who Wants to Live Forever. He remained an active musician in the 1990s, after
Freddie Mercury's death. He was born in
Hampton,
United Kingdom.
He has played a range of guitars, most often the
Red Special, which he designed with his father, Harold May, and built from 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 his homemade guitar, he also prefers to use coins (especially sixpence pieces) instead of more traditional plastic
plectra, on the basis that their rigidity gives him more control.
May's early heroes were Cliff Richard and the Shadows, whom he says were the most metallic thing out. Many years later he gained his opportunity to play on separate occasions with both Cliff Richard and Shadows lead guitarist Hank Marvin. May was also proud when 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 (Dire Straits), Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Pete Green (Fleetwood Mac), Neil Young, and Francis Rossi & Rick Parfitt (Status Quo).
He had been part way through a PhD course when
Queen took off, and never completed his astronomy doctorate. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science in November 2002 by Hertfordshire University.
Albums
- Star Fleet Project (Mini Album, 1983)\n*Back To The Light (1992)\n*Live At The Brixton Academy (1994)\n*Another World (1998)\n*Furia (Soundtrack) (2000)
\n\n\n\n