Brian May

Latest about Brian May

Brad McDowall's headless Red Special guitar
A luthier has made a headless version of Brian May’s Red Special, and it’s dividing opinions online

By Phil Weller Published

It’s a Brian May tribute like no other

Electric Guitars
Steve Cropper press photo
Posthumous Steve Cropper album announced, featuring some of electric guitar’s biggest names

By Janelle Borg Published

The late Stax guitar legend has touted the star-studded affair as “the best record he’d ever made”

Guitarists
Left– Tony Iommi performing on stage during a live concert appearance with Heaven and Hell; Right–Brian May performs live on stage during a concert of Queen & Adam Lambert
What happened when Brian May recorded with Black Sabbath – and played through Tony Iommi’s rig

By Janelle Borg Published

The Black Sabbath legend weighs in on the ‘gear versus player’ debate

Guitarists
Matthieu Lucas of Matt's Guitar Shop
Who is buying $15 million guitars? One of the world’s leading dealers lifts the veil on the collectible guitar market

By Janelle Borg Published

At 32, Matthieu Lucas hosts guitars wielded by the likes of Slash, Eric Clapton and AC/DC at Parisian guitar emporium Matt’s Guitar Shop. He is driven by his core belief that vintage guitars, once owned by legendary musicians, are meant to be played on stage again

Guitars
Steve Vai and Brian May
Why Steve Vai struggled to play Brian May’s iconic  Red Special

By Phil Weller Published

Vai was just a youngster when May invited him to a Queen rehearsal – and offered him the chance to play the legendary six-string

Guitarists
Jimmy Page performing on stage at the Seattle Coliseum
Guitar expert reveals the guitars that could surpass the new auction record held by David Gilmour’s Black Strat

By Janelle Borg Published

Matthieu Lucas from Matt’s Guitar Shop in Paris gives Guitar World the lowdown on which guitars could likely break the Gilmour record one day

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Guitars
Benson Boone and Queen guitarist Brian May on the Coachella Stage at the 2025 Coachella in Indio, CA on Friday, April 11, 2025
Brian May returns to the stage for a fiery three-song cameo with Benson Boone – then hands him the Red Special

By Phil Weller Published

The Queen guitarist received a hero’s welcome at the singer’s recent Birmingham show

Guitarists
Brian May and Steve Vai
Steve Vai pays tribute to Brian May as he receives his radical custom Red Special

By Phil Weller Published

Guyton Guitars' highly customized version of May’s iconic axe is now in Steve Vai’s “humbled” hands

Guitarists
Tony Iommi Red Special
Brian May gifts Tony Iommi a customized Red Special replica

By Phil Weller Published

It stays faithful to the original recipe, save for two important changes

Electric Guitars
A close up of various stompboxes from Dirty Boy.
Dirty Boy’s pedals are loved by the likes of John Frusciante and Neal Schon – is Brian May next?

By Andrew Daly Published

The future’s bright for the boutique guitar and pedal brand. Its CEO tells us its story so far and why he believes he has just what Brian May needs for his tone

Guitar Pedals
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