Brian May
Latest about Brian May

Why old coins proved the perfect guitar pick for Brian May
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist is famed for his use of his Red Special guitar and a Vox AC30 amp, but a Queen expert believes his unusual choice of pick is just as important to achieving his tone

Brian May makes a surprise appearance at Coachella to perform Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"
By Elizabeth Swann published
The guitarist had teased his appearance with the singer on Instagram. But apparently not everyone in the audience was as excited to see May as Boone had hoped

A British teenager has channeled his hero Brian May by building a guitar from scrap wood
By Phil Weller published
The youngster's project shares many similarities with May’s Red Special, while it bears the distinctive shape of Randy Rhoads' Jackson-built guitar

11-year-old shredder blows away the competition with medley of AC/DC, Van Halen and Queen songs
By Joe Bosso published
The young guitarist has been playing since he was seven and learned with the help of his grandfather

Brian May blasts a new law that will make it easier for AI to use artists' music
By Elizabeth Swann published
“My fear is that it’s already too late” the guitarist says. “This theft has already been performed and is unstoppable”

Brian May’s new signature Gibson JS-200 features a subtle tribute to Freddie Mercury
By Phil Weller last updated
May's new acoustic has another quirky feature — reversed string pairs that suit his style of strumming

Brian May tells how he fought the naysayers to make the Red Special Queen's secret weapon
By Phil Weller published
The homemade guitar had its issues at first, but the guitarist and his father refused to give up and forged one of rock’s most iconic guitars

Queen’s Brian May on Jeff Beck and the six guitar tones that changed his life
By Phil Weller published
May says guitars were illegal at his school, but he snuck one in and practiced Hank Marvin, Elvis and Buddy Holly songs with his friends

Brian May recalls meeting Rory Gallagher in the late ‘60s and how it changed his tone forever
By Phil Weller published
He’s also revealed how he had initially craved a second guitarist in Queen but moved away from the idea after learning how “to make people feel they’d heard an orchestra”
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