It turns out that Brian Harold May is not only an outstanding musician. He is an astrophysicist. After graduating from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of London's Imperial College, he published several scientific articles on astronomy. Moreover, he received a doctorate in science, defending a thesis on a topic related to astronomical research in the infrared range. True, Brian succeeded only 30 years after it was written - a musical career did not allow it before.
“When the music called me in the early 70s, I couldn’t help but respond,” the musician recalled in an interview. - As if the sixth sense gave a hint, and intuition did not fail. After all, if I had not used this opportunity then, this door would have closed forever. Therefore, I am sure that by abandoning astronomy in favor of music, I made the right choice.” But the decision to return to science and complete the dissertation, May is just as true. “After doing this, I experienced a huge relief,” he shared his feelings. “I am very pleased that I managed to bring the work started many years ago to the end.”
Rector of the University of Liverpool John Moores Brian Harold May. Photo: Josh Parry/LJMU
In 2008, the asteroid 52665 Brianmay was named in his honor for May's outstanding contributions to astrophysics. In the same year, Mr. May took up the post of rector of the University of Liverpool. John Murs and stayed on it for over 5 years. To this day, he is a research astronomer and continues to conduct scientific activities in the field of mathematics and theoretical physics. Co-authored a book: “Big Bang! The Complete History of the Universe. In addition, Brian has a lifelong passion for historical stereo photography and has amassed a solid collection.
Guitar from mother-of-pearl buttons
Brian May received his first children's guitar as a birthday present at the age of 7. By this time, he already knew how to play the ukulele quite tolerably - following the example of his father. And at the age of 16, the guy got a real acoustic guitar. There was no money in the family to buy a decent instrument, so the future musician, together with his father (Harold was an electronic engineer by profession, and a jack of all trades in everyday life), designed it on his own, manually. As May recalled: "From all the rubbish that lay around in the dad's workshop." That is: from an oak beam from an 18th-century fireplace, parts from an old wardrobe, motorcycle valves, a knife blade, and mother-of-pearl buttons. And pickups were made from magnets and wire stuck in a home-made father's radiogram. The work lasted more than two years and cost the future musician only 8 pounds. This guitar, the Red Special, remains Brian May's main instrument to this day and is the most popular guitar on Queen's hits.
Photo: twitter.com
Pay off Brian May
Another "trick" of May - instead of a pick, he uses a sixpence coin all his life, which he holds between his thumb and bent index finger. A particularly curious detail: in the early 1970s, such jagged-edged coins were withdrawn from circulation, but in 1993 the Royal Mint minted a special batch of them: personally Brian May with his image - on the eve of the solo tour of the famous musician.
Brian May personalized coin
About high and eternal
In the Queen group, Brian May is taller than all the members: his height is 188 centimeters. His innovative, unique guitar playing skills, combined with the exceptional vocals of Freddie Mercury, created the inimitable style of the famous rock band. At the same time, Mei is not only a composer and guitar virtuoso. Often he acted as a keyboardist, played the organ and synthesizers, and also acted as a lead vocalist. In addition, Brian is a poet who wrote such brilliant hit songs and ballads as: "We Will Rock You", "The Show Must Go On", "Too Much Love Will Kill You", "Who Wants to Live Forever" , "39", "Save Me", "Hammer To Fall..." and many more.
May also writes musical scores for films, TV series and television projects. His filmography includes several dozen of them. By the way, "Queen" was the first rock band to be the author of the soundtrack for a feature film: it was a fantastic adventure action movie of the 80s "Flash Gordon" - about a total solar eclipse. Surprisingly, this picture was intertwined with another fantasy film - the cult "Highlander", which was released six years later and laid the foundation for many sequels of the same name. The instrumental compositions for it were written by Michael Kamen, and the songs, again, by the Queen group.
Queen group. Photo: East News
Director Russell Mulcahy approached the musicians with a request to write a soundtrack for his "Highlander". The band members watched a 40-minute version of the film, and Brian May was most impressed by the scene in which the main character, the immortal Connor MacLeod, holds a mortal woman in his arms - his dying wife. Already on the way home, the composer began to sketch the future hit "Who Wants to Live Forever" ("Who Wants to Live Forever"), which sounded not only in the film - in the same episode, but later in different parts of the television series "Highlander".
Recalling this trip, May told British journalists: “I heard this song in my head, and then, in the car, it was almost finished. My manager, to whom I sang it when he brought me home, was very surprised. He asked: “Where did it come from?”, and I answered: “I don’t even know ...” A noteworthy detail: the name of this symphonic ballad was taken by Brian just from the movie “Flash Gordon”. And one more interesting moment: in the "Highlander" the song is performed by Freddie Mercury, and on the disc the first verse and several lines from the third verse are sung by May.
The Great Depression
In the late 1980s, after the death of his father, with whom Brian was very close, and the divorce proceedings with his first wife, the musician fell into a deep depression. Once he frankly admitted that in his thoughts he reached suicide. A particularly acute mental crisis came in 1991, after the death of Freddie Mercury, following his incurable disease (AIDS). Realizing that he was unable to cope with his state of mind on his own, Mei turned to a psychiatric clinic. Explaining his act later, he said: “I felt completely sick - exhausted and torn to pieces ... I grieved for a long time. I was overwhelmed by a sense of irreparable loss ... I had a complete breakdown ... "
Brian did not try to get out of the psychological impasse with the help of drugs. Unlike many of his emotionally unruly fellow rock musicians, May did not use drugs. “I never even smoked weed, although I inhaled a lot of smoke from others,” the guitarist said. And he commented on his position as follows: “I felt that I should not get into drug addiction in any case. This is dangerous, especially during the period of depression, when I lost emotional control over myself and over my life.
With Freddie Mercury. Photo: twitter.com
Peace, work, May!
The legendary guitarist leads a very reserved lifestyle: he does not eat meat at all, and occasionally eats fish. Of alcoholic beverages, he prefers Guinness beer and Baileys liqueur. Smoking is taboo (as opposed to his father, who was a heavy smoker). In promiscuous sexual relations is not noticed. Does not accept beach holidays. He is actively involved in charity: he helps various foundations and makes considerable donations to various projects related to global problems. Especially fiercely protects nature and animals, selflessly fights for their rights.
In an interview, Brian explained his position as follows: “In my youth, I didn’t really believe the“ stars ”who said that they adore animals and fight for their rights. And now I'm doing it myself." The musician actually goes to the authorities, collects signatures, knocks out audiences with high-ranking officials. “It takes a lot of nerves and strength,” May once admitted in an interview. - But when I return home in the evening and lie down on the sofa with a can of beer, I realize that the day was not lived in vain. Basically, while protecting animal rights, I do the same thing when I create something in music. And I also rejoice in success, if it happens - no matter how grandiloquent it may sound ... "
In addition, Mei constantly participates in charity concerts. Recently, in the company of other legendary musicians: Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, and others, he recorded a video in support of people affected by the grandiose fire that unfolded on June 14 in London, in a 27-story residential building. All proceeds from the sale of which and broadcasts on the air will go to the victims and families of the victims.
By family ties, Brian tied himself twice. In 1976 he married Chrissy Mullens. The marriage, which lasted 8 years, gave the musician three children: in 1978, son Jimmy (James) was born, three years later, daughter Louise was born, and five years later, the second daughter, Emily Ruth.
With wife Anita Dobson and son Jimmy. Photo: twitter.com
With daughters Emily and Louise. Photo: twitter.com
For many years, May officially remained a bachelor, although since the beginning of the 90s he had been living in a civil marriage with actress Anita Dobson. And to meet with her - according to the tabloid media, - he began much earlier, while still being married. In 2000, Anita became Brian's legal wife and remains so to this day.
With wife Anita Dobson. Photo: Global Look Press
From Brian May:
I have neither the desire nor the need to do anything for the sake of money. And I no longer need fame - I have seen enough of it, fed up with it and seen enough of what it can do to people. The question is, why am I doing so many things? Just because I love it very much and just can’t stop…”
Knowing that Queen's music has had an impact on the lives of people all over the world makes me happy. This is an honor for me.
In life, you always need to take steps, but not small ones, but big ones. Because if you move in tiny steps or, which is really bad, you don’t do anything at all, nothing in life will change. You will stagnate, not developing, and years later you will regret that you wasted time in vain. This is my life philosophy.
Music and art bring people together better than anything else.
- In rock music, in order not to die, you can not repeat. You need to look ahead and be open to everything new. This is the only way to feel the fullness of life.
Brian, there are rumors about a new disc of archived Queen recordings...
We thought there was nothing like it. But then a few things surfaced, and even I was surprised that they survived. These are unfinished records. With new technology, we can complete them without Freddie, as we did on the Made in Heaven album. We hope to release before the end of the year.
Will you sing yourself?
What do you miss the most from Queen's time?
Definitely not touring nine months of the year... I still feel like a member of the family that Queen was to all of us. You can't replace it with anything. And, of course, I miss Freddie himself. It's like I lost my brother.
How was the real Freddie Mercury different from how we imagine him?
From the side it might seem that he is frivolous, hovering in the clouds. But he was very collected and specific, always very clearly articulated his thoughts, separating what is important to him and what is not. It sometimes seemed not very polite. If at the wrong moment they approached him and asked “Can I have an autograph?”, Freddie could say: “No, you can’t.” And if he was very busy, he could put it even stronger: "Fuck off, darling." And a lot of people were like, “Wow! Freddie Mercury himself told me "Fuck off"! Great!" I remember we were supposed to play in South America, there were a quarter of a million spectators. And before the concert, the interviewer asked him: “What is it like to perform in front of such a huge audience?” Freddie replied: “I don’t know, we haven’t performed yet”, which made us laugh a lot.
You wrote half of Queen's hits, but for the layman, Queen is Freddie. Isn't it embarrassing?
No. Freddie was the face of the group and it was our common conscious decision. I myself came up with the design of the cover of the first disc, and there, if you remember, we are not there, only he is in the spotlight.
Brian, you're not your typical rock star: astronomer, no drugs, no alcohol, no bullying.
Maybe it's true, I'm not exactly typical. Although we were all atypical in our own way. But no one has ever come up to me and said, “Why didn’t you trash the hotel room? You're a rock star!" Yes, we had fun parties, but the issue of alcoholism and drug addiction was not on our agenda.
Hero Hit List
Hobby: old stereophoto
Drink: Guinness beer
Actor: Clint Eastwood
We are still impressed by your performance with George Michael at the Freddie tribute. Have you ever considered calling him to perform with you?
We are very good friends with George, and he is a great singer, but we are too different both musically and stylistically. So the answer is no. In addition, he has his own career, which he is unlikely to want to quit.
What do you feel when they sing your We Will Rock You in the stadium?
I am very proud ... And I always smile, and maybe even blush a little. At such moments, I feel that music can sink into the human soul much deeper than it is customary to think about the songs that are played on the radio.
So, Brian, what can we expect from your concert with Kerry Ellis? Is it for your fans, Queen fans or just music lovers?
I think this is for those, and for others, and for the third. Our performances with Kerry are not like Queen concerts, although we will be playing a lot of songs from Queen's repertoire. It is something intimate, free and changing from time to time. It's like it's happening at home in the living room: we communicate with the audience, candles are lit, Kerry sings, and I play the guitar and a little keyboard. In this context, old songs acquire new unexpected power. There will be not only acoustics, some electricity too.
It is clear what to expect in Moscow from Brian May. And what does Brian May expect from Moscow?
Since childhood, Red Square has been a symbol of enemy territory for all of us, something very frightening. And now, being on Red Square and feeling the warm attitude of people towards me, I still feel some kind of mystery. And this applies to all of Moscow. Over the years, Moscow is becoming Europeanized, but I would not want it to lose this mystery.
You have settled in well in the new digital world: you blog, you sit on Twitter ...
We have to! Maybe it was easy for me, because, as you know, I am also an astrophysicist, a scientist. I communicate a lot virtually, although during the days of Queen I had little contact with the world, I did not even answer fan letters - I thought that I did not have time for this. And now I'm tweeting and dozens of people are replying to me, and I'm replying to them. I do charity work, animal rights, and without the Internet, I simply would not be able to carry out this activity.
For many, the names of Mercury and May, printed in brackets after the title of the song, mean more than Page and Plant or Lennon and McCartney. For a number of reasons, we were unable to talk with the first one, but it turned out with Brian May, the main poodle of rock, who, together with the new Queen, is going to Moscow.
Tell me, Brian, how did it happen that a serious guy, an astrophysics student, once got an electric guitar, and then went ahead and turned pampering into a profession?
I started to be interested in music and astronomy at the same time, around the age of eight. They got along well in me, so I can’t say that I left one hobby for the sake of another. West London, where I grew up, was a real musical anthill in the early sixties. Two of the Yardbirds went to my school, and the Rolling Stones played once a week at a club in Richmond, five minutes' walk from my house.
And so one fine day you came up with the fateful idea of making yourself a guitar.
No, buddy, I'm older than you think. I designed the guitar for myself much earlier. I really liked the sound of The Shadows, which Cliff Richard started with, and I wanted to reproduce it on my instrument.
How did you meet Freddie Mercury?
Fred was a friend of Tim Staffel, the guy who sang and played bass in my college band Smile. We had a group of three: Tim, Roger Taylor and myself. They played prog-rock, they could easily stretch five songs for three hours. Tim left us when he was called to another team. After that, Freddie declared: "I will be your singer!" And we answered: “Yes, well?”
You just admitted that it took a while for Mercury to be one of the most tinned mouthfuls of rock music.
And so it was. He was then working in a clothing store in the market in Kensington. When we met, Mercury started to put his pom-poms in my face. Freddie then studied to be a designer and most of the time he painted portraits of Jimi Hendrix. I still have a few pieces lying around somewhere. At that time, Freddie was a rather uncouth guy. It was then that he turned into a refined connoisseur of beauty, and then he rushed around the room like a windup and yelled something all the time. Many considered him crazy, and we often asked ourselves the question: “Does it really suit us?”
Well, when did your doubts dissipate?
Freddie had several qualities that convinced me: his overflowing enthusiasm and amazing faith in himself and all of us. In addition, he worked on his mistakes with pleasure: it was as if a strict teacher was sitting in his head, each time hitting him with a ruler on his hands. So Freddie was very easy to work with.
Is that why you have merged so well into a single whole?
We were lucky. We got along great with each other and never fought on tour. In the studio, everything was the other way around: everyone stood his ground to death. While working on albums, everyone constantly slammed the door and threatened to leave the group. All of us, contrary to popular belief, are very modest and shy people, and Freddie was the most shy of all. Naturally, he fought this by portraying the Lord God on stage!
Do you think Freddie's penchant for theatrical effects was a derivative of his sexual orientation?
Freddie was an extremely colorful character, but for quite some time I had no idea that he was gay. After all, he began to drive men backstage already in the eighties. In the early years, on the road, we constantly shared a hotel room with him, and at that time it was mostly girls who stayed with us at night. Freddie had a lot of them, and many were hopelessly in love with him. At the time, we thought that Freddie was, in modern terms, a metrosexual. Clothes and hairstyles worried him in the first place. Us, however, too, but Freddie in this matter would give odds to anyone.
Aside from your full head of hair, every other part of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle seems to have bypassed you.
No, I bit off my piece of threshold. But back in college, I made the decision to never take drugs because I wanted to make sure everything that was happening to me was really happening. I cherish my spiritual subtlety. I'm a very emotional person. Music once blew my mind and I don't need anything else. To this day, I have not tried a single drug. I am also afraid of aspirin.
How about a drink?
Well, I won’t lie, in my life I drank a couple of cans of beer, which is already there. But I haven't had a drink before performances since 1974. We were playing a concert in an open field on a farm in Pennsylvania. They opened for Mott the Hoople, and the organizers could not decide who to release first - us or Aerosmith. While the trial was pending, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry and I decided to have a drink - and ended up having a bottle. When I got on stage, I could not figure out for a long time why the first chord I played lasted ten minutes. In addition, the field stank of manure. I remember thinking at the time, "Brian, this is all wrong, let's not do it again."
After that, success overtook you swiftly and irrevocably.
We slept well for many nights before waking up famous. On the eve of the recording of "A Night at the Opera" the band nearly broke up. We've already made a lot of money, but none of us have ever seen a penny in our eyes. It was a desperate situation. Freddie's piano was rented. Roger was told to save drumsticks. All this mess continued until John Reed, Elton John's manager, bought out our contract and signed us to another label. After that, everything went uphill.
And then Bohemian Rhapsody came in handy...
We were very pleased with the success of Rhapsody, but the main thing was the feeling of ecstasy in which we were working on it. I remember Freddie running into the studio with a bunch of papers (he dragged them from his father from work), which he filled with notes, and then began to pound the keys frantically. Freddie played the piano in much the same way that everyone else plays drums. The song was full of holes, but Freddie said that here there will be a chic operatic piece, and here - a powerful solo ... In his head, he had already thought of everything.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" was fiercely hated by punks. How did you feel about the arrival of punk rock?
I didn't have any problems with him. When we were working on News of the World, The Sex Pistols were writing in the studio next door, and I was constantly talking about something in the hallway with Johnny Rotten. He turned out to be a very sane guy, completely dedicated to his music. Once Sid Vicious came to our studio and said to Freddie: “Are you the same guy who brings opera to the masses?” To which Freddie replied: “Yes, but you seem to be Simon Feroshes or something like that!” In short, they hit it off. I sincerely consider Never Mind the Bullocks to be one of the best rock albums of all time. The only thing I disagree with is the statement that there was no good rock music before punk came along. This is nonsense: Never Mind the Bullocks is a classic mainstream rock album. Listen to early The Who and The Rolling Stones. Punk rock was not a revolution, but an evolution.
By the end of the seventies, Queen had established a reputation as party kings. People still remember the party in New Orleans in 1978 to celebrate the release of your Jazz album. You know, transsexual strippers, midgets with trays of coke on their heads and all that.
When we came to New Orleans, there were always a lot of freaks hanging around us, so we decided to arrange a disc launch there. Many memories of that party are, of course, exaggerated, but I will not debunk any myths. In fact, consider that I was not at that party. You see, I am an incurable romantic and that night I drove around New Orleans in search of a girl I fell in love with on one of my visits there. I didn't find the girl. Like this: no sex, no drugs, no rock and roll.
In June 2002, you played "God Save the Queen" on guitar at the Queen's Jubilee on the roof of Buckingham Palace. What were you thinking about at that moment?
It was very scary. Not because I was afraid to fall, but because it was impossible to make mistakes. During rehearsals, we never managed to play everything perfectly. Then, when we were about to go up to the roof, the doors of the old creaky elevator would not open at all. I had to go down and up again - up the stairs. I remember how I walked along the corridors, hung with paintings by old masters, and prayed. Looks like my prayers have been answered. Everything went well on the roof. Now every time I drive by I get goosebumps.
When you think about Freddie Mercury now, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
Where to start ... I miss his sense of humor, the mad fire in his eyes, his incorrigible depravity. But above all, I miss the very fact of his presence in this world. I often have the same dream, which leaves me completely convinced that Freddie is still alive. Then I remember that this is not so, and then I get really lonely.
Queen and Paul Rogers - at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex (Moscow) on September 15 and 16.
Biography of Brian May / Brian May
Brian Harold May was born on July 19, 1947 in Hampton, a suburb of London. He started playing guitar at the age of seven, and at 15 he rehearsed with amateur bands. Your famous guitar Red Special Brian May designed himself with the help of his father. Oak boards from a 200-year-old fireplace, parts from an old motorcycle and mother-of-pearl buttons went into business. Red Special took part in the recording of most of Queen's songs and faithfully serves her creator to this day.
Musical career of Brian May / Brian May
Brian May Graduated from the Department of Physics and Mathematics, London Imperial College. In 1964, he organized a student group called " 1984 » in honor of the novel George Orwell. In 1968, the group broke up, and together with the vocalist and bassist Tim Staffel Brian May decided to put together a new line-up. Responded to ad Roger Taylor, a dental student at Imperial College. The new group was named Smile. They performed in London's pubs and educational institutions and acquired their own fans.
In 1970 Slime left Tim Staffel and was replaced by Freddie Mercury. The updated group has been renamed queen. It remained unchanged until 1991.
Queen's first album was released in 1973, featuring four songs written by by Brian May. World fame musicians brought the second disc called queenII, and the album released in 1975 ANightAtTheOpera made a splash and to this day is considered one of the best albums of all time.
Brian May has been the author of many of Queen's hits. He wrote the song WeWillRockyou", which has become the anthem of many football clubs and has been repeatedly used in film and television. Brian May also owns the compositions " Fat Bottomed Girls», « 39 », « Tie Your Mother Down», « Who Wants to Live Forever" And " I want it all". He is also the author of the hit " showMustgoOn”, which has become one of the most famous songs in rock music.
Brian May uses a sixpence as a mediator. They went out of circulation in the late 70s, but in 1993, the Royal Mint released a small batch especially for the musician.
After Queen broke up in 1991, Brian May pursued a solo career. His album " BackToTheLeadht was released in 1992 and was a great success. The CD was later released resurrection", and as part of the tour of the album" AnotherWorld» Brian May visited Russia for the first time, giving concerts in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
In the mid 2000s Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor decided to revive queen. As a vocalist they invited Paul Rogers, former lead singer of the bands Free And bad company, and in 2005 went on a world tour. In 2008 a new album was recorded called " The Cosmos Rocks". Simultaneously with the release of the album, a world tour began, in which the musicians visited Kyiv and Moscow. In 2012 Brian May And Roger Taylor again went on tour, this time they were accompanied by an American singer as a vocalist Adam Lambert, reality show finalist american idol.
Brian May is the founder of the Save Me Foundation and has been working to protect animals from cruelty for many years. In particular, the musician opposes the abolition of the law prohibiting the "bloody sport" - hunting with dogs for foxes and other animals.
Personal life of Brian May / Brian May
The musician's first wife was Chrissy Mullens, their marriage lasted from 1976 to 1988. They have three children: Jimmy (1978), Louise (1981) and Emily Root (1987). In the early 90s, Brian May began dating the actress Anita Dobson, at the end of 2000 they legalized their relationship.
Solo discography of Brian May / Brian May
Star Fleet Project (1983).
Back To The Light (1992).
Resurrection (1994, released only in Japan).
Live At The Brixton Academy (1994).
Another World (1998).
Red Special (1998, released only in Japan).
Furia (2000).
Brian Harold May was born July 19, 1947, in Hampton, London (Hampton, London). He attended the local Hampton School and graduated in Physics and Mathematics from Imperial College. May named his first band, Nineteen Eighty-Four, after George Orwell's novel of the same name.
The next musical group, Smile, appeared in 1968. In addition to Brian, the group was represented by Tim Staffell (Tim Staffell), and later Roger Taylor (Roger Taylor), also a member of Queen. The legendary Queen was formed in 1970: with Freddie Mercury, pianist and lead vocalist; May, guitarist and vocalist; John Deacon, bassist; and Roger Taylor, drummer and vocalist.
Brian has composed international hits for Queen such as "We Will Rock You", "Fat Bottomed Girls", "Who Wants To Live Forever", "I Want It All" and "The Show Must Go On", as well as such iconic compositions , like "Save Me", "Hammer to Fall", "Brighton Rock", "The Prophet's Song", etc. As a rule, most of the songs from Queen's albums were written by either Mercury or May.
After Mercury's death in 1991, May voluntarily came to a clinic in Arizona (Arizona). He will explain his decision: "I considered myself sick, completely sick. I was exhausted and broken to pieces. I fell into a deep depression. I was consumed by a sense of loss." Determined to cope with his pain, Brian tried to fulfill himself as best he could, including finishing his solo album "Back to the Light" and embarking on a promotional tour. The guitarist often remarked that he considered creativity "the only form of self-therapy."
At the end of 1992, The Brian May Band was officially created, which on February 23, 1993, with an updated line-up, went on a world tour - both as a headliner and as an opening act for Guns N "Roses. In December 1993, May returned to the studio, where he worked with Roger Taylor and John Deacon on the tracks included on "Made In Heaven", Queen's final studio album.
May received an honorary Doctor of Science degree in November 2002 from the University of Hertfordshire. The musician took part in the BBC program "Sky at night", hosted by Brian's longtime friend, English astronomer Patrick Moore. Friends co-authored with Chris Lintott (Chris Lintott) released the book "Big Bang! Complete History of the Universe" ("Bang! - The Complete History of the Universe").
In 2007, Brian completed his dissertation in astrophysics and successfully passed the oral exam. On April 14, 2008, May became Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, where he remained until March 2013. The musician was awarded the Armenian Order of Honor in 2009, and the following year received an award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) for his contribution to animal welfare.
On April 18, 2011, Lady Gaga confirmed that Mei would play guitar for her track "You and I" from the album Born This Way. In June 2011, Brian performed in Tenerife (Tenerife) with the German band Tangerine Dream at the Starmus festival, organized in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first space flight of Yuri Gagarin (Yuri Gagarin).
Best of the day
In August 2012, Queen performed at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics. May played a solo segment of "Brighton Rock" before joining Taylor and Jessie J on the hit "We Will Rock You".
The very first musical instrument that Brian learned to play was the banjolele, which is used in the song "Bring Back That Leroy Brown" by Queen. May used a ukulele he bought in Hawaii for "Good Company". The musician also used other strings, such as a harp, and bass instruments in recording tracks (for some demos, solo works and albums of the Queen + Paul Rodgers project).
Although Freddie Mercury remained Queen's primary pianist, May occasionally served as keyboardist, including for the songs "Save Me", "Who Wants To Live Forever" and "Save Me". Since 1979, Brian has played synthesizers, organ (tracks "Let Me Live" and "Wedding March") and programmable drum machines - both for Queen and for third-party projects, his own and others.
May is a great vocalist. From Queen II to Queen's The Game, Brian has always been the lead vocalist for at least one song. He co-composed, with Lee Holdridg, the mini-opera Il Colosso for Steve Barron's 1996 film The Adventures of Pinocchio. This opera was performed by May with Jerry Hadley and Sissel Kyrkjebo.
From 1974 to 1988, Brian was married to Chrissy Mullen. The couple had three children: James (better known as Jimmy), Louise and Emily Root. Brian and Chrissy's divorce was made public by British tabloid newspapers. The media claimed that the musician had an affair with actress Anita Dobson, whom he met in 1986. Dobson and May formalized their relationship on November 18, 2000.
Brian stated in an interview that he suffered from severe depression in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The condition was so serious that the Queen guitarist considered solving his problems by committing suicide. May's mental balance was shaken by problems in his first marriage; a painful feeling that he is not able to properly fulfill the duties of a father and husband; lack of touring activity, as well as the death of his father Harold and the illness and death of Freddie Mercury.
May has been collecting stereo photographs of the Victorian era throughout her life.
The asteroid 52665 Brianmay and the dragonfly Heteragrion brianmayi are named after the musician.
A 2012 Guitar World reader poll ranked May as the second greatest guitarist of all time.
