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(#1) He Completed A Ph.D. In Astrophysics After Taking A 33-Year Break
Queen formed in 1970, while guitarist Brian May was still pursuing a degree in astrophysics at Imperial College London. As the band reached international fame, May put his research, which concerned zodiacal light, on hold to tour, write, and record music.
While zodiacal light is visible from Earth’s surface, its exact cause wasn't fully known when it caught May’s attention. Astronomers determined its origins - the phenomenon stems from sunlight reflecting off clustered space debris.
Fortunately, May’s particular area of interest was still viable when he returned to his studies to finish his thesis. He earned a Ph.D. in May 2007.
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(#2) He’s A Major Stereoscopic Photography Buff
In the mid-19th century, a fad known as “stereoscopic photography” took Victorian London by storm following Queen Victoria’s enthusiastic encounter at the 1851 World’s Fair. One stereo photo employed two nearly identical images presented side-by-side that, when looked at through a special viewer, combined to form 3D images. Though the popularity of these images waned as 3D photography advanced, the old double images have long fascinated Brian May.
Today, with the help of fellow enthusiasts and academics, May has worked to revive the form by publishing books documenting his sizable collection of original Victorian stereo photos and launching modern viewers for his interested readers to experience the antiquated curios properly.
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(#3) He Built His Own Guitar When He Was 16
May got his start playing guitar at age 7. When he was 16, he and his father built a guitar which has become an icon in Queen lore. The instrument that resulted from their combined efforts ultimately came to be known as both “The Fireplace” and “The Red Special.”
The duo built the original from materials sourced directly from the May household, including wood from a disused oak table and a fireplace mantel.
Despite its humble origins, May went on to use the guitar in both live performances and studio recordings with Queen. While he continues to play an upgraded version of the original today, fans can purchase a factory-produced version on his website.
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(#4) Queen Boasts Numerous Distinctions
Among its many rare achievements, Queen boasts an accomplishment even The Beatles didn't manage: each member wrote multiple chart-topping singles, landing them all in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Additionally, in 2005, the Guinness Book of World Records certified the band’s albums had spent more time on UK music charts than anyone else, beating out Michael Jackson, Madonna, and U2.
May, in particular, had a hand in writing more than 200 of the band's songs, including classics such as “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “We Will Rock You.”
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(#5) His Second Wife, Anita Dobson, Inspired 'I Want It All'
"I Want It All" is one of the band’s major late-period singles, but Freddie Mercury never got a chance to perform it live. Mercury passed away in 1991. Queen played the song one year later at the band's tribute concert to Mercury, with The Who’s frontman Roger Daltrey filling in on vocals.
May wrote the song as his marriage to Christine Mullen was disintegrating, inspired by a line regularly said by Anita Dobson, who became his second wife. It was one of the only tracks with settled lyrics before the band entered the studio in 1988 to record The Miracle.
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(#6) He’s A Dedicated Animal Rights Activist
During the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, May expressed disdain regarding a proposed badger and fox culling in Gloucester and Somerset. He appeared on the stage wearing an outfit prominently featuring the two animals. May has been an activist for years and has long since expressed outrage at the Conservative Party’s support for the culling through his group Save Me, which he founded in 2010.
Despite his role in Queen and astrophysicist accomplishments, May has stated he’d most like to be remembered for his activism. He has since made many high-profile moves in support of animals, including playing on the protest single “Save the Badger Badger Badger” with Weebl and Brian Blessed.
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(#7) He's Enjoyed Solo Hits Outside Of Queen
Aside from his work with Queen, May released two full-length solo albums, numerous singles, and a live album. None of May's solo ventures skyrocketed to the top of the U.S. music charts. However, he did fare well in his native UK with singles like “Driven By You” and “Too Much Love Will Kill You."
On his first album without Queen, “Star Fleet Project,” he appeared as “Brian May + Friends.” It was a modest cover for an impressive lineup which included the likes of Eddie Van Halen, Phil Chen, and more. He’s since continued to collaborate with some of music’s biggest names.
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(#8) He Created The Soundtrack For An Early Marion Cotillard Film Based On A Julio Cortazar Story
The director Alexandre Aja is probably best known today for his 2006 remake of the Wes Craven horror film The Hills Have Eyes, but he crossed paths with the legendary Queen guitarist early in his career. His 1999 film Furia, an adaptation of the Argentine novelist Julio Cortazar’s short story “Graffiti,” features a soundtrack by May.
Though the film is mostly obscure now, May’s work is moody and undersung. Plus, it does feature a pre-English-language performance from Oscar winner Marion Cotillard.
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(#9) He's Co-Authored Several Books
In keeping with his varied personal interests and achievements, May has lent his name to books covering a host of subjects. For those who prefer astrophysics, May offers Bang! The Complete History of the Universe, a concise work of popular science that boils down the entirety of the universe’s origins into a digestible 176 pages.
For those who prefer the Victorian stereo photo enthusiast, May's Diableries: Stereoscopic Adventures In Hell offers more than 100 eye-fooling, 19th-century 3D images. And for those who love stereo photos and enjoy May the guitarist for Queen, Queen In 3D delivers as well.
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(#10) His Astrophysics Background Has Been A Boon To Asteroid Research
Given his research area, it’s no surprise the paths of Brian May and asteroids have been on a collision course for some time. Shortly after receiving his doctorate, an asteroid discovered 10 years prior was renamed in his honor, and is today known as (52665) Brianmay.
May also helped initiate “Asteroid Day” in 2015, a UN-sanctioned annual awareness campaign that aims to boost global preparedness for asteroid impact through events and education.
Finally, in a marriage of two of his great passions, he recently released a stereo photo of Ryugu, an asteroid currently under close observation by a Japanese research team.
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(#11) He Did A Five-Year Stint As A University Chancellor
Not content to rest on his laurels after his academic accomplishments, the newly minted Dr. Brian May assumed substantial duties at Liverpool John Moores University in 2008 as chancellor. He succeeded Cherie Booth, a barrister, and wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
In the role, mostly honorary, May issued degrees to graduates and served as a public face for the university. The position was awarded to May as much for his work with Queen as for his advocacy “popularizing astronomy.”
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(#12) He Built His Own Wildlife Refuge
In keeping with his animal activism, May dedicated a piece of his land to the rehabilitation of injured animals in the early 2010s. At one point, May had 36 hedgehogs, seven badger cubs, and two tawny owls.
May attributes his dedication to animals in part to a desire to regain a “sense of tranquility,” as he told The Sunday Times.
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(#13) He And Lady Gaga Have A Mutual Admiration
On her 2011 album Born This Way, Lady Gaga called in the assistance of legendary producer Mutt Lange (AC/DC’s Highway To Hell, Back In Black). Lange enlisted May to provide anthemic, heavy guitar, lending her single “You and I” a distinctive rock sound.
The two performed the song together at the MTV Video Music Awards, and May has gone on the record stating he’d be interested in having Gaga front a reassembled version of Queen. While her solo work is likely to prevent that from happening, the pair’s mutual admiration is well-documented.
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(#14) He Has A Wild Website
Despite his considerable achievements in the worlds of music, astrophysics, and animal rights, one area where May lags is web design. His site, which he updates regularly, is a fascinating web 2.0 construction. Posts include a semi-decipherable account of a trip he took to Las Vegas and some badger-related lamenting.
While the design could benefit from serious upgrades, there’s something wonderfully intimate about it - there’s even a forum where fans can ask technical questions of May and his production staff, some of which get answered and subsequently posted for anyone interested.
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About This Tool
Brian May is a famous British musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen, he is also one of the founders of Queen. The Queen has become one of the greatest rock bands in the world. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Queen member in 2001 and won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
He not only has great achievements in music, his life is full of legends, such as he built his own guitar when he was only 16 years old. This page randomly shows 14 fascinating life stories of Brian May, we know he is also a dedicated animal rights activist.
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