Brian Harold May, CBE (born 19 July 1947) is a British musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. As a guitarist he uses his home built guitar, "Red Special", and has composed hits such as "Now I'm Here", "Tie Your Mother Down", "We Will Rock You", "Who Wants to Live Forever", "Hammer to Fall", "Save Me", "Fat Bottomed Girls", "I Want It All" and "Too Much Love Will Kill You".May earned a PhD in astrophysics in 2007 and is currently the chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 for "services to the music industry".In 2005, a Planet Rock poll saw May voted the 7th greatest guitarist of all time. He was ranked 39th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time", reflecting the magazine's editorial opinion.
His favorite film composer was Jerry Goldsmith , who in turn was also a fan of Mays work.
Won the Golden Award from the Australian Performing Rights Association for his musical achievements.
The ABC Melbourne Show Bands recording of Mays arrangement of the theme for the dramatic TV series, "Rush" sold over 100,000 copies in Australia.
Liked to orchestrate his own scores.
Shouldnt be confused with Brian May , the guitarist from Queen.
Guitarist with the rock group Queen.
Left his wife Chrissie for British soap-actress star Anita Dobson.
Brian May and his ex-wife Chrissie have 3 children: James (aka Jimmy), born in 1978 Louisa, born in 1981 Emily, born in 1987
After much experimentation, he found the best guitar sound came from using an old English sixpence coin as a pick. These coins went out of circulation in the early 70s, and in 1992 he had the Royal Mint make up some more with his likeness on them.
Attended Imperial College, London University where he completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in physics and mathematics. Commenced a Doctorate in astronomy, but dropped out to join Queen.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 (as a member of Queen ).
He has performed with the SAS (Spike Edney s All Stars) Band.
(19 July 1986) Brian made a guest appearance playing with rock band Marillion at the Mungersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, West Germany.
As a member of Rock Against Repatriation, Brian collaborated with fellow star guitarists Steve Hackett (formerly of Genesis ), Mike Rutherford (also of Genesis ), Phil Manzanera (of Roxy Music ), Steve Rothery and many other rock stars for the charity single "Sailing".
Opened the Queens Jubilee concert by playing "God Save The Queen" from the top of Buckingham Palace.
(June 2004) Two of his riffs were voted into the Total Guitar Magazine poll of the 100 greatest riffs; "Tie Your Mother Down" was 84 and "One Vision" was 60 on the list.
He used to teach Mathematics at Stockwell Park Secondary School, in Stockwell, South West London.
He was awarded the C.B.E. in the 2005 Queens Birthday Honours List for his services to music.
Shares a birthday with fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Grateful Dead keyboardist Keith Godchaux and Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon.
His trademark Red Special guitar was constructed essentially from old junk. Among the components that make up the guitar are motorcycle valve springs, a knitting needle, mother-of-pearl buttons, and a discarded fireplace mantle.
Queen won the 2005 Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection.
(11 November 2004) Queen were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture.
Resumed pursuit of PhD in Astronomy, updating research and data re: presentation of dissertation on motion of interstellar dust.
Penned the hits Keep Yourself Alive, Thirty-Nine, Tie Your Mother Down, and Fat Bottomed Girls.
Submitted Astronomy Ph.D. dissertation for review and approval mid-2007. Upon approval, Ph.D. will be given May 2008.
Attended the Genesis concert at Twickenham Stadium on 8th July 2007.
After more than 30 years lapsed since first starting doctoral studies, he earned his doctorate from Imperial College London in astrophysics after a successful thesis defense on August 23, 2007. The thesis is entitled, "Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud".
Has a guitar solo in the song "Bad For Good" on the Meat Loaf album "Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose".
Enjoys the music of younger bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers , Foo Fighters and Muse.
Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.
Very close friends with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.
Is the only person to guest feature on a Black Sabbath song, "When Death Calls", on The 1987 Album "Headless Cross".
Is a vegetarian and a non-smoker.
Queen was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6356 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Shouldnt be confused with Australian composer Brian May.
Apart from writing the classic Queen songs We Will Rock You, Flash, Hammer To Fall and The Show Must Go On, Brian also has a PhD in astrophysics and even has an asteroid named after him. He campaigns as an activist for animal protection. Furthermore, he recently did a five-year stint as the chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.
(March 2006) Queen + Paul Rodgers led a surprise North American tour, starting on 3 March in Miami, FL, and ending 13 April in Vancouver, BC. This was the first tour Queen had taken in North America since the death of Freddie Mercury.
(April 2008) Installed as the Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, replacing Cherie Blair, QC (wife of ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair).
(March 2005) Embarked on a world tour with Roger Taylor and Paul Rodgers (as Queen + Paul Rodgers), including stops at the Meadowlands Arena and the Hollywood Bowl.
He has an Erds-Bacon-Sabbath number of 9, which ties him with Carl Sagan and is among the lowest on the planet.
Met his second wife at a preview screening of Down and Out in Beverly Hills .
Counts Irish rock guitarist Rory Gallagher as a major influence on much of his own personal guitar sound.
People are giving you two hours of their time, so you have to give them,everything for those two hours.
I wanted to do an album on [paradoxes]. The band told me I was a,pretentious fart. They were right.
[Speaking in 2003] I do think that maybe now people are looking at more,depth to what we did. Yes, we were pretty flashy and we were pretty,loud and at moments we seemed very outrageous, but there was a lot of,honest craftsmanship that went on behind that.
I regard Planet Rock as rather more than just a radio station - it is a,symbol of free radio . . . radio which is not run by large corporate,organisations for the purpose of making tons of money, and has a free,choice of what it plays.
I am dedicated to the welfare of animals. These days I spend more time,campaigning for animal rights than I do on music. My biggest difficulty,is trying to juggle everything in my life. Time is a big problem. My,family comes first, and then my devotion to helping animals. I love,making music, but I no longer have much time to do that.
The Wedding March has a bit of a death march in it. .
