He has received numerous awards, including the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to music.
Brian May formed his first band, 1984, while still in school, demonstrating his early passion for music.
May earned a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College London in 2007, 37 years after he initially began his studies.
Biography
Early Life
Brian Harold May was born on July 19, 1947, in Hampton Hill, near Twickenham, Middlesex, England. He is the only child of Ruth Irving and Harold May, who worked as a draughtsman. Growing up, May showed an early interest in music, forming his first band, named 1984, while attending Hampton Grammar School. He excelled academically, achieving ten GCE Ordinary Levels and three GCE Advanced Levels in physics, mathematics, and applied mathematics. May pursued higher education at Imperial College London, where he graduated with a BSc degree in physics in 1968. He later returned to complete his PhD in astrophysics in 2007.
Musical Career
May's musical journey began with the formation of the band Smile in 1968, which included future Queen drummer Roger Taylor. However, it was in 1970 that he co-founded Queen with Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor. As the lead guitarist and a key songwriter, May contributed to many of Queen's iconic hits, including "We Will Rock You," "I Want It All," and "Who Wants to Live Forever." His unique guitar work and vocal harmonies helped establish Queen as one of the most successful rock bands in history. Beyond his work with Queen, May has released several solo albums, including "Back to the Light" and "Another World."
Personal Life and Activism
May's personal life has seen its share of ups and downs. He was married to Christine Mullen from 1976 to 1988 and has three children. He later married actress Anita Dobson in 2000. May has been open about his struggles with depression, particularly following the deaths of his close friend Freddie Mercury and his father. A passionate animal welfare activist, May has been a vegan since 2020 and advocates for wildlife conservation, even creating May's Wood in Dorset to protect local wildlife. He has received numerous accolades, including being named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and an honorary doctor of the University of Exeter.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Golden Days2017
- 1.Love in a Rainbow4:30
- 2.Roll With You3:55
- 3.Golden Days4:22
- 4.It's Gonna Be All Right (The Panic Attack Song)3:46
- 5.Amazing Grace2:48
- 6.One Voice3:22
- 7.If I Loved You3:33
- 8.Born Free3:11
- 9.Parisienne Walkways3:44
- 10.I Who Have Nothing4:08
- 11.The Kissing Me Song3:43
- 12.Story of a Heart4:23
- 13.Can't Help Falling in Love3:13
The Candlelight Concerts: Live at Montreux 20132013
- 1.I Who Have Nothing
- 2.Dust in the Wind
- 3.Born Free
- 4.Somebody to Love
- 5.Nothing Really Has Changed
- 6.Life Is Real
- 7.The Way We Were
- 8.'39
- 9.Something
- 10.Last Horizon
- 11.Love of My Life
- 12.The Kissing Me Song
- 13.Tie Your Mother Down
- 14.We Will Rock You
- 15.No One but You (Only the Good Die Young)
- 16.Crazy Little Thing Called Love
- 17.Nothing Really Has Changed
- 18.Born Free3:18
- 19.I Loved a Butterfly4:49
- 20.I Who Have Nothing3:45
- 21.Dust in the Wind4:21
- 22.The Kissing Me Song4:25
- 23.Nothing Really Has Changed4:56
- 24.Life Is Real4:30
- 25.The Way We Were3:43
- 26.Something4:32
- 27.Love of My Life4:37
- 28.I'm Not That Girl3:26
- 29.I Can't Be Your Friend4:32
- 30.In the Bleak Midwinter3:44
- 31.Crazy Little Thing Called Love3:47
- 32.No One but You (Only the Good Die Young)6:04
Starmus: Sonic Universe2013
- 1.Supernova (Real Star Sounds)10:41
- 2.Last Horizon5:58
- 3.Marmontel Riding on a Clef8:14
- 4.Trauma9:32
- 5.Nothing and All2:13
- 6.Nutshell Awakening7:20
- 7.Shining Ray5:35
- 8.Beauty of Magic Antagonism6:26
- 9.Novice5:07
- 10.One Night in Space7:33
- 11.Calymba Caly3:43
- 12.Omniscience5:32
- 13.Janus Parade8:05
- 14.Loved by the Sun3:29
- 15.Fire on the Mountain7:34
- 16.Darkness Veiling the Night8:56
- 17.Living in Eternity4:06
- 18.Bells of Accra10:00
- 19.Sally’s Garden4:41
- 20.We Will Rock You (extended)12:48
- 21.Tenderness (Russian Song)3:54
- 22.Mr. Alexey Leonov’s Speech2:56
Acoustic by Candlelight: Live on the Born Free Tour2013
- 1.Born Free3:19
- 2.I Loved a Butterfly4:49
- 3.I Who Have Nothing3:45
- 4.Dust in the Wind4:21
- 5.The Kissing Me Song4:25
- 6.Nothing Really Has Changed4:56
- 7.Life Is Real4:30
- 8.The Way We Were3:43
- 9.Something4:32
- 10.Love of My Life4:37
- 11.I'm Not That Girl3:26
- 12.I Can't Be Your Friend4:32
- 13.In the Bleak Midwinter3:44
- 14.Crazy Little Thing Called Love3:47
- 15.No One but You6:04
Furia2000
- 1.Furia Theme - Opening titles4:41
- 2.First glance (Solo flute)1:35
- 3.Landscape1:15
- 4.Tango: 'Cuesta Abajo'3:00
- 5.The Meeting (Solo guitar)1:35
- 6.First Kiss2:03
- 7.Storm2:19
- 8.Phone1:07
- 9.Pursuit3:46
- 10.Diner1:19
- 11.Apparition1:37
- 12.Arrest1:29
- 13.Father and Son1:35
- 14.Aaron0:49
- 15.Fire0:56
- 16.Gun (Solo violin)1:56
- 17.Reggae: 'Bird in Hand'3:30
- 18.Killing1:13
- 19.Escape1:51
- 20.Go On2:20
- 21.'Dream of Thee'4:36
- 22.Alternative Gun1:33
Another World1998
- 1.Space0:48
- 2.Business5:07
- 3.China Belle4:01
- 4.Why Don't We Try Again5:24
- 5.On My Way Up2:57
- 6.Cyborg3:54
- 7.The Guv'nor4:13
- 8.Wilderness4:52
- 9.Slow Down4:18
- 10.One Rainy Wish4:05
- 11.All the Way From Memphis5:16
- 12.Another World4:13
- 13.F.B.I.3:11
- 14.Hot Patootie3:21
Live at Brixton Academy1994
- 1.Back to the Light5:41
- 2.Driven by You4:18
- 3.Tie Your Mother Down4:39
- 4.Love Token3:05
- 5.Headlong6:08
- 6.Love of My Life4:44
- 7.39/Let Your Heart Rule Your Head4:12
- 8.Too Much Love Will Kill You4:34
- 9.Since You've Been Gone3:42
- 10.Now I'm Here6:59
- 11.Guitar Extravagance6:06
- 12.Resurrection10:08
- 13.Last Horizon3:14
- 14.We Will Rock You3:54
- 15.Hammer to Fall5:31
Back to the Light1992
- 1.The Dark2:21
- 2.Back to the Light5:00
- 3.Love Token5:56
- 4.Resurrection5:28
- 5.Too Much Love Will Kill You4:28
- 6.Driven by You4:12
- 7.Nothin’ but Blue3:31
- 8.I'm Scared4:00
- 9.Last Horizon4:11
- 10.Let Your Heart Rule Your Head3:51
- 11.Just One Life3:38
- 12.Rollin’ Over4:37
Radio Voices1985
- 1.Eight Letters Three Words One Meaning3:54
- 2.Lies4:33
- 3.Bye Bye Love3:52
- 4.We Gotta Get Out of This Place3:30
- 5.Blue Water4:02
- 6.Dr. Rock4:03
- 7.Spirit of the Night4:53
- 8.Inside Our For Your Love3:53
- 9.A Shift in the Wind (Part 1)4:29
- 10.A Shift in the Wind (Part 2)2:15
Star Fleet Project1983
- 1.Star Fleet8:06
- 2.Let Me Out7:14
- 3.Blues Breaker12:50
The Business (Rock On Cozy mix) - A Tribute To Cozy Powell (1947 - 1998)1998
Tracklist not collected yet.
Why Don't We Try Again1998
Tracklist not collected yet.
Another World1998
Tracklist not collected yet.
Nobody Knew (Black White House)1995
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Man from Manhattan1994
Tracklist not collected yet.
Resurrection1993
Tracklist not collected yet.
Last Horizon1993
Tracklist not collected yet.
Too Much Love Will Kill You1992
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Show all 13
Back to the Light1992
Tracklist not collected yet.
We Are the Champions1992
Tracklist not collected yet.
Driven by You1991
Tracklist not collected yet.
A Time for Heroes1987
Tracklist not collected yet.
Star Fleet1983
Tracklist not collected yet.
Back to the Light2021
Tracklist not collected yet.
Red Special1998
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Parlophone
- Record label
- Hollywood Records
Achievements
- Award
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Award
- Audience Award for Most Popular Show
- Award
- honorary doctor of the University of Hertfordshire
- Award
- Order of the British Empire
- Award
- Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
- Award
- Order of the Badge of Honour
- Award
- honorary doctor of the University of Exeter
- Award
- Knight Bachelor
Groups
- Queenbackground vocals, guitar, original · 1970current
- Artists United for Naturecurrent
- Brian May & Friendscurrent
- Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroescurrent
- Queen + Adam Lambertcurrent
- Queen + Paul Rodgerscurrent
- Rock Therapyguitarcurrent
- 19841964–1968
- Smile1968–1970
- Hale & Pace and the Stonkersadditional, guitar · 1991–1991
- The Brian May Bandlead vocals, original
Played together with
- Barry MitchellQueen · 1970–1971 · bass guitar
- C.J. SmithSmile · 1969–1969
- Doug BogieQueen · 1971–1971 · bass guitar
Freddie MercuryQueen · 1970–1991 · lead vocals, original
John DeaconQueen · 1971–1997 · bass guitar- Mike GroseQueen · 1970–1970 · bass guitar
Paul RodgersQueen + Paul Rodgers
Roger TaylorQueen · 1970 · background vocals, drums (drum set), original- Roger TaylorQueen + Paul Rodgers
- Roger TaylorSmile · 1968–1970
Tim StaffellSmile · 1968–1970
Similar artists
Archive
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Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: B. May, Brian Harold May
Sir Brian Harold May is an English musician, animal welfare activist, and astrophysicist. He achieved global fame as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the rock band Queen, which he co-founded with singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor. His guitar work and songwriting contributions helped Queen become one of the most successful acts in music history.
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Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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