Inside The Fascinating Life Of Queen Guitarist Brian May

Queen formed in 1970, while guitarist Brian May was still pursuing a degree in astrophysics at Imperial College London. As the band reached international fame, May put his research, which concerned zodiacal light, on hold to tour, write, and record music.

While zodiacal light is visible from Earth’s surface, its exact cause wasn't fully known when it caught May’s attention. Astronomers determined its origins - the phenomenon stems from sunlight reflecting off clustered space debris.

Fortunately, May’s particular area of interest was still viable when he returned to his studies to finish his thesis. He earned a Ph.D. in May 2007.

In the mid-19th century, a fad known as “stereoscopic photography” took Victorian London by storm following Queen Victoria’s enthusiastic encounter at the 1851 World’s Fair. One stereo photo employed two nearly identical images presented side-by-side that, when looked at through a special viewer, combined to form 3D images. Though the popularity of these images waned as 3D photography advanced, the old double images have long fascinated Brian May.

Today, with the help of fellow enthusiasts and academics, May has worked to revive the form by publishing books documenting his sizable collection of original Victorian stereo photos and launching modern viewers for his interested readers to experience the antiquated curios properly.

May got his start playing guitar at age 7. When he was 16, he and his father built a guitar which has become an icon in Queen lore. The instrument that resulted from their combined efforts ultimately came to be known as both “The Fireplace” and “The Red Special.”

The duo built the original from materials sourced directly from the May household, including wood from a disused oak table and a fireplace mantel.

Despite its humble origins, May went on to use the guitar in both live performances and studio recordings with Queen. While he continues to play an upgraded version of the original today, fans can purchase a factory-produced version on his website.

Among its many rare achievements, Queen boasts an accomplishment even The Beatles didn't manage: each member wrote multiple chart-topping singles, landing them all in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Additionally, in 2005, the Guinness Book of World Records certified the band’s albums had spent more time on UK music charts than anyone else, beating out Michael Jackson, Madonna, and U2.

May, in particular, had a hand in writing more than 200 of the band's songs, including classics such as “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “We Will Rock You.” 

"I Want It All" is one of the band’s major late-period singles, but Freddie Mercury never got a chance to perform it live. Mercury passed away in 1991. Queen played the song one year later at the band's tribute concert to Mercury, with The Who’s frontman Roger Daltrey filling in on vocals.

May wrote the song as his marriage to Christine Mullen was disintegrating, inspired by a line regularly said by Anita Dobson, who became his second wife. It was one of the only tracks with settled lyrics before the band entered the studio in 1988 to record The Miracle. 

During the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, May expressed disdain regarding a proposed badger and fox culling in Gloucester and Somerset. He appeared on the stage wearing an outfit prominently featuring the two animals. May has been an activist for years and has long since expressed outrage at the Conservative Party’s support for the culling through his group Save Me, which he founded in 2010.

Despite his role in Queen and astrophysicist accomplishments, May has stated he’d most like to be remembered for his activism. He has since made many high-profile moves in support of animals, including playing on the protest single “Save the Badger Badger Badger” with Weebl and Brian Blessed.