Queen's Brian May, established as a risk-taking musician beyond his main band, assembled the Star Fleet Project in 1983 to collaborate with contemporary musicians he admired. The lineup included session musicians Phil Chen and Fred Mandel alongside other accomplished artists, creating an informal supergroup experience that May used to expand his musical horizons.

Guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen stood out as the most impressive collaborator in May's view, earning recognition for his innovative approach to the instrument and his ability to play with apparent effortlessness. May particularly valued Van Halen's technical contributions and personal humility. The admiration proved mutual—Van Halen revealed he had been performing Queen's "Now I'm Here" since 1974, demonstrating long-standing respect for May's work that predated their collaboration by nearly a decade.