Brian May

Latest about Brian May

Musician Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen perform on stage during TRNSMT Festival Day 4 at Glasgow Green on July 6, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotland
“I don’t only think in barre chords – that’s a slightly arrogant statement to make”: Brian May and Roger Taylor disagree about their guitar contributions to Taylor’s Queen tracks

By Phil Weller Published

The pair have offered a fresh insight into their songwriting partnership

Guitarists
Queen live in 1974: Freddie Mercury and Brian May stand shoulder to shoulder on stage, while (left) John Deacon holds down the bass.
Brian May on reworking Queen’s regal debut, bad reviews, and Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Magic”

By Henry Yates Published

As the new Queen I boxset drags once lost songs into the daylight, May tells us about poverty, parental disapproval, the Red Special’s first runout – and the perils of playing through Jimi’s Marshall stack

Guitarists
Brian May Gibson SJ-200
Brian May’s Gibson 12-string has a subtle tribute to Freddie Mercury that you might have missed

By Phil Weller Published

The artistic easter egg helps carry the singer’s spirit into future live shows

Acoustic Guitars
Gibson Brian May SJ-200 12-string
Brian May’s first Gibson signature is here – and it’s got nothing to do with the Red Special

By Matt Owen Published

When the Queen legend announced he’d be working with Gibson, many expected a Custom Shop Red Special – but first, we have a 12-string SJ-200 that’s like no other

Acoustic-electric Guitars
Brian May playing live onstage with Queen + Adam Lambert
Brian May fought to add a rhythm guitarist to Queen in their early years – and several players would eventually grant his wish

By Janelle Borg Published

While May got into the habit of playing lead and rhythm at the same time, he did sometimes get the extra helping hand he had envisioned – including from Freddie Mercury himself

Guitarists
Left-Brian May of Queen performs at The O2 Arena on June 05, 2022 in London, England; Right-Irish blues and rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer, Rory Gallagher (1948-1995), poses for a portrait with his guitar on September 25, 1982 at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco, California
In 1969, a young Brian May hid in a venue to speak to Rory Gallagher – and it led to his tonal breakthrough

By Janelle Borg Published

The Irish blues rock legend gave May a tonal template that he says he’s never bettered

Guitarists
Brian May of Queen performs at Chase Center on November 08, 2023 in San Francisco, California
Brian May issues health update after suffering ‘minor stroke’ last year

By Matt Owen Published

The Queen guitar hero suffered a health scare late last year, which left him briefly fearing he might not be able to pick up the guitar again

Guitarists
Freddie Mercury (left) and Brian May perform onstage with Queen
“It sounded awful. I could hardly play”: Brian May on the one time he experimented with a Marshall stack

By Jackson Maxwell Published

The Vox AC30 amp/Red Special guitar combo is one of the most iconic in rock, but the Queen guitar hero didn't solidify that setup straight away

Guitarists
Fender Chris Shiflett Cleaver Telecaster Deluxe
“There was a time you wouldn’t have touched a Superstrat”: How Chris Shiflett learned to love his inner shredder

By Ellie Rogers Published

The Foo Fighters guitarist discusses playing with Brian May, the lessons of his podcast – and how his new Cleaver Telecaster Deluxe got its name

Guitarists
Chris Shiflett
Chris Shiflett on what it's like to share the stage with Macca – and Brian May

By Phil Weller Published

After joining the Foo Fighters, Shiflett found himself rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the business

Guitarists
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