SIR BRIAN MAY CBE
BIOGRAPHY
Sir Brian Harold May CBE (born 19 July 1947, Hampton, Middlesex) is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer, astrophysicist, author, and animal welfare campaigner. He rose to fame as co-founder and lead guitarist of Queen, of which he remains the only constant member, guiding the band’s creative direction since 1969.
Musical Innovation & Queen Legacy
Brian’s early experiments in sound design led to building his iconic “Red Special” guitar with his father—an instrument that helped shape Queen’s signature layered tones. His riffs and solos have powered legendary Queen tracks like We Will Rock You, Fat Bottomed Girls, Who Wants to Live Forever, and The Show Must Go On.
Queen performed globally, headlining iconic events such as Live Aid in 1985. After Freddie Mercury’s death in 1991, Brian rekindled the band’s legacy through tribute concerts, collaborative tours with Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert, and his ongoing role as Queen’s creative backbone.
Science, Writing & Advocacy
Outside music, Brian is a distinguished astrophysicist. He earned a PhD from Imperial College London in 2007, decades after beginning the research in the 1970s. He worked with NASA on the New Horizons mission and co-founded the international Asteroid Day campaign. His academic contributions have been recognised by scientific communities worldwide.
As an author, Brian has published books on stereoscopic photography, astronomy, and music history. A passionate conservationist, he founded the Save Me Trust in 2009 to protect wildlife and campaign against badger culling and fox hunting in the UK.
Honours & Recognition
- Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005 for services to music and charity.
- Knighted in 2023 as Sir Brian May, in recognition of his enduring contributions to music, science, and animal welfare.
- Consistently ranked among the greatest guitarists of all time by music publications and fellow musicians.
Grand Order of Water Rats
Brian is a proud and active member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, where his contributions to music and philanthropy reflect the organisation’s values of charity and variety excellence. He has participated in Water Rat events and continues to support its charitable mission alongside his artistic and scientific work.
Enduring Influence
Sir Brian May stands as a towering figure in modern culture. Whether on stage with Queen, writing scientific papers, championing animal rights, or inspiring future generations of artists and scientists, his legacy is as expansive as it is extraordinary.
PHOTO GALLERY
ARCHIVE VAULT
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