83 Top Quotes By Brian May On Optimism, Life, Music, Dreams & Astronomy
Brian May, the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen, has achieved a place in the 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame' alongside his band-mates for the distinctive music he created through layered guitar work. As someone who has been performing for over five decades, he understands how to balance nostalgia and freshness in his performances. Alongside his contributions to music, he has committed himself to charity work, for which he was appointed a CBE by Queen Elizabeth II. He also has a PhD in astrophysics. We have collected several excerpts from his speeches and interviews. These predominantly reiterate his ideas about songs, music, band, life. Dreams, science, astronomy and his ultimate ideal of being remembered for the way he treats others.
I'd put a lot of work into playing guitar and was thinking I was pretty damn good. But Hendrix came along and destroyed everyone.
We wouldn't have put it out with the name Queen on it if we didn't think it was musically up to scratch.
What we were trying to do differently was this sort of layered sound.
When we were touring heavily in America, we based ourselves there for a couple of years, but now we're all back here and it seems to be the place.
I think Hammer's very cool: he has a great voice and great presence.
Doing Made In Heaven was like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, but I wouldn't have put my seal of approval on it if I hadn't thought it was up to standard.
A Queen track has those big, thick, block harmonies.
I think Queen tribute bands are great. However, we have to keep them at arm's length, otherwise it could be too dangerous.
I don't surf the net in general. I have someone do it for me instead, because I find it sluggish.
 truly possessed the greatest voice in the history of rock. Journalists, culture experts and analysts have already made several hundred comments on this topic and nothing can be added here. ){kind=small}
This man (FreddieMercury) truly possessed the greatest voice in the history of rock. Journalists, culture experts and analysts have already made several hundred comments on this topic and nothing can be added here.
My children hate me being such a big star. It's very hard for them to have a father who is always in the public eye.
My big hobby is photography. I collect stereo photographs from the 19th century.
You want to go in the steam bath to get your vocals sounding well, but you don't want your fingers to get soft.
I've always lived in that guitar world. I have noticed kids being more into the real essence of guitar music now.
For a time I didn't want to answer any questions about Queen. I'd like to be viewed as something alive and relevant, not some fossil.
The potential audience seems to be dwindling in the states. I was kind of embarrassed for the band because of the size of the audience.
If I go to places where other people are playing, I often get up and play myself. I just enjoy the sound and feel of playing.
I had this idea... I wanted the sound to sing and have that thickness but yet still have an edge so that it could articulate. So my dad and I designed the guitar... the one that was made from an old fireplace.
Queen had its time and place, and at the moment I'm not concentrating on that era.
We've done an arrangement with an orchestra, but I think the best stuff tends to come when it's just the four of us.
I think a lot of people would be better off in America, where at least you would find some radio station somewhere that would play you.
I don't think anybody comes close to The Beatles, including Oasis
My mum says I wanted to be a surgeon, but I don't remember that. I think from the time I knew what was happening, I wanted to be a guitar player.
I tend not to write on guitar very often. I tend to start off with keyboards.
A good video can make all the difference
To my mind Keep Yourself Alive was never really satisfactory. Never had that magic that it should have had.
I'm hopeless at playing scales. Try and be instinctive first and analytic afterwords, although it's good to study the theory of music.
Sometimes if the guitar is the last thing to go on, it's very fresh.
I'm pretty basic as far as technique is concerned. I don't use many gadgets, and I like the sound my guitar makes, anyway.
There's nothing I'm embarrassed about
