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Born in England 79 Years Ago Today, the Out-of-This-World Guitar Hero Who Helped NASA Explore the Cosmos
Brian May, the guitarist and co-founder of Queen, has turned 79, prompting a look back at his life and career. Alongside Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and John Deacon, May helped make Queen one of the best-selling bands in history, contributing distinctive layered guitar work to hits such as "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Will Rock You" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", and is widely regarded as one of the finest guitarists of his generation.
Born in Hampton, Middlesex, in 1947, May built his own guitar, the "Red Special", with his father using household materials including firewood, and played it throughout his career. He formed pre-Queen bands 1984 and Smile before Mercury joined in 1970, and the classic line-up endured until Mercury's death in 1991. Beyond music, May earned a physics degree and later a PhD from Imperial College London, has consulted on NASA missions, released three solo albums, and is an active animal welfare campaigner.
In short
- Queen guitarist Brian May turns 79 years old
- Built his own "Red Special" guitar with his father
- Also holds a physics PhD and has advised NASA
Explained simply
Brian May is the guitarist and co-founder of Queen, the British rock band that became one of the best-selling acts in music history. With frontman Freddie Mercury, May contributed distinctive guitar work to some of the most recognisable songs of the past 50 years, including "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You".
Born in Hampton, Middlesex, in 1947, May built his own guitar as a teenager with his father using household materials including firewood. He named this homemade instrument the Red Special and played it throughout his career.
Beyond music, May studied physics at Imperial College London and later earned a doctorate in the subject. He has consulted on NASA missions, released three solo albums, and remains an active animal welfare campaigner.
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