Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBEis an English musician, singer, songwriter and astrophysicist, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. He uses a home-built electric guitar, called the Red Special. His compositions for the band include "We Will Rock You", "Tie Your Mother Down", "I Want It All", "Fat Bottomed Girls", "The Prophet's Song", "Flash", "Hammer to Fall", "Save Me", "Who Wants to Live Forever" and "The Show Must Go On"...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionGuitarist
Date of Birth19 July 1947
CityLondon, England
My children hate me being such a big star. It's very hard for them to have a father who is always in the public eye.
I'm hopeless at playing scales. Try and be instinctive first and analytic afterwords, although it's good to study the theory of music.
I was actually perfectly happy when I had no money, which lasted right up until we had a hit with Killer Queen, in 1974. I never wanted for anything.
Sometimes if the guitar is the last thing to go on, it's very fresh.
I think Queen tribute bands are great. However, we have to keep them at arm's length, otherwise it could be too dangerous.
What we were trying to do differently was this sort of layered sound.
My mum says I wanted to be a surgeon, but I don't remember that. I think from the time I knew what was happening, I wanted to be a guitar player.
I think Hammer's very cool: he has a great voice and great presence.
I'm a much better musician than astronomer. I think the world got the right choice.
I'm pretty basic as far as technique is concerned. I don't use many gadgets, and I like the sound my guitar makes, anyway.
I spent 20 years of my life building up Queen, and now Im spending years of my life trying to get away from it.
Everybody thought I was a bit of an eccentric for wanting to be out there looking at the stars, but I still do
The first nine albums there was never a Synthesiser, never any Orchestra. There was never any other player except us on the albums.
A good video can make all the difference