| mickyparise 30.03.2012 20:19 |
You know Brian May as the frizzy-headed guitar-playing genius in Queen. But he’s also a PhD-in-astrophysics-holding chancellor at Liverpool John Moores University, a family man, and a tireless activist for his favorite causes. In fact, May is out on the road now — but not with Queen. He’s in South Africa, hoping to raise awareness about the plight of big cats through Pride of Cape Town. Previously, May has fought to save hedgehogs in his native England, started Save Me to promote humane treatment of hunting dogs and badgers, and has also been involved with the Born Free wildlife campaign. It’s not hard to see why May hasn’t been as active in recording, either as a solo artist or with Queen. His band has continued on with a series of guest singers in place of the late Freddie Mercury, with plans to appear this summer with American Idol finalist Adam Lambert. May also made a one-off appearance recently with space music-pioneers Tangerine Dream. [SOMETHING ELSE! FEATURED ARTIST: We dig into Queen favorites like "Under Pressure," "Spread Your Wings" and "Stone Cold Crazy," then return for spins of "You're My Best Friend," "Ogre Battle" and "Flash".] May hasn’t put out an new original studio solo project, however, since 1998's Another World — though he’s done some soundtrack work since. Queen, of course, hasn’t issued an album since May and fellow band co-founder Roger Taylor fashioned Made in Heaven in 1995 out of some left over sessions work by Mercury. There’s a reason for that. “I am dedicated to the welfare of animals. These days I spend more time campaigning for animal rights than I do on music,” May said told The Times. “My biggest difficulty is trying to juggle everything in my life. Time is a big problem. My family comes first, and then my devotion to helping animals. I love making music, but I no longer have much time to do that.” Here’s a look back at our recent thoughts on Queen. Click through the titles for complete reviews … SHOULD QUEEN CONTINUE WITHOUT FREDDIE MERCURY AND JOHN DEACON? ADAM LAMBERT SAYS: ‘IT’S THEIR PREROGATIVE’: The news that Queen will appear with yet another lead singer has some fans returning to what’s becoming an age-old conundrum: Is it Queen without Freddie Mercury? Heck, is it Queen without John Deacon? Don’t ask Adam Lambert, the American Idol finalist who’ll front Queen at this year’s Sonisphere Festival. “That’s really up to (Queen co-founders) Brian (May) and Roger (Taylor); it’s their band,” Lambert said. “I think that at this point the feel what they’re doing is appropriate and it’s their prerogative. If someone feels like their legacy should be left alone then they’re missing out on a great concert. That’s the bottom line.” QUEEN – DAYS OF OUR LIVES DVD (2012): As this sprawling new documentary makes clear, Queen knew — and from the very beginning — that they were on to something. That it took everyone else so long to notice only seemed to spark them to greater heights of genre-jumping, expectation-confounding genius. Because of the way that they had built their own legacy, Queen didn’t have a working template to get trapped in. “They were very opened minded, Queen audiences,” May adds. “We never felt constrained.” ONE TRACK MIND: TANGERINE DREAM WITH BRIAN MAY, “STAR SOUNDS” (2011): You suspected, just from listening to his wildly inventive work with Queen, that there was little guitarist Brian May couldn’t do. This live collaboration with space-music pioneer Edgar Froese’s Tangerine Dream confirms it. Sure, May has a well-known interest in the cosmos and its exploration, having earned a doctorate degree in astrophysics. But, for all of the many styles that May has excelled at over the years, for all of the times he’s played completely in service of the song — showing such great flamboyance, then such sharp-edged restraint — I still didn’t know what to expect once that famously bushy mane was dropped in amidst this kind of long-form, open-ended improvisational music. We will, we will … space you? ONE TRACK MIND: QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS, “SAY IT’S NOT TRUE” (2007): “Say It’s Not True” originally appeared on the group’s 2005 live album, Return of the Champions, in a more stripped-down acoustic form sung by Roger Taylor. This version, however, is a much more embellished studio recording with Brian May and Paul Rodgers contributing significantly. Otherwise, it’s a very typical charity song: The lyrics were a bit trite and obvious; the melody was also a bit simplistic. It felt like something we’d heard a million times before. Yet, while there were no real surprises in store, it managed to invoke some of the magic of Queen: It builds at just the right moment into a glorious power ballad. link |
| john bodega 31.03.2012 03:11 |
Brian's thinking is that he's using his fame to further a noble cause. Fair enough, but fame is not an endless well. Spend that long doing something that's frankly very boring (badgers? Who gives a fuck) and you'll have no oomph behind your actions. He should consider alternating between one hobby and the other so that people don't forget who he is entirely. Better yet - just give up on saving the animals. |
| e-man 31.03.2012 04:01 |
as long as he spends his time with badgers rather than adam lambert, it's all good |
| inu-liger 31.03.2012 04:59 |
"Queen, of course, hasn’t issued an album since May and fellow band co-founder Roger Taylor fashioned Made in Heaven in 1995 out of some left over sessions work by Mercury." Ummmm..... Convenient that they mention Adam Lambert, but they can't acknowledge that guy who some people mistake for Chuck Norris... |
| brians wig 31.03.2012 05:23 |
Chuck Norris was in Queen? |
| c-lebrity94 31.03.2012 07:55 |
Chuck is everywhere!!!!! |
| Donna13 31.03.2012 09:22 |
The animal rights people should not be so demanding of his time. Brian needs to be protected from the constant email from these people. And he should then have more time for music. Oh well. It is much easier to look at another person's life and know exactly what should be done. (But I still think we are right on this one.) |
| The Real Wizard 31.03.2012 11:49 |
e-man wrote: as long as he spends his time with badgers rather than adam lambert, it's all goodAmen. Maybe Brian likes doing things outside of music? After selling 300 million records and touring the world 15 times, it's not surprising that music is taking the back seat to other interests. Something which none of us can relate to - yet so many of us are so bloody opinionated and think we know what's best for him. |
| john bodega 31.03.2012 12:18 |
You act as though this is something that only happens to Brian, though. Everyone's got some opinion on how someone else should better spend their time. Fuck knows I get enough of it. Facts are that Brian is a great musician and not much of an activist. Watching him wait for the 'dialling 4, 6, 6, 6, 4' thing to catch on the same way the Radio Gaga handclaps did back in the 80's was bad enough. The ultimate decision is his as to how he spends the rest of his days. Meanwhile on Planet Earth, everyone else is more entitled to make the observation that he's probably better at playing guitar, and being thankful for those occasions that he elects to do so. |
| The Real Wizard 31.03.2012 14:43 |
Fair play. |
| brENsKi 31.03.2012 16:20 |
e-man wrote: as long as he spends his time with badgers rather than adam lambert, it's all goodnot necessarily, he may start auditioning badgers as lead singers |
| Flash Jazz 31.03.2012 16:57 |
@brENsKi I fail to see how that's worse than Adam Lambert |
| e-man 31.03.2012 18:03 |
brENsKi wrote:at least there would be an element of humour in it :)e-man wrote: as long as he spends his time with badgers rather than adam lambert, it's all goodnot necessarily, he may start auditioning badgers as lead singers the whole thing with lambert is just sad |
| john bodega 31.03.2012 21:02 |
"Fair play" I could possibly add emphasis to the 'being thankful for when he elects to do so' part, because I really am! In spite of anyone who says he's lost it, he maintains that excellent touch so far as guitar playing goes, and he's a damn underrated singer too. |
| Gaabiizz 01.04.2012 19:26 |
Great Note , Thanks! |
| crisalexa 05.04.2012 05:07 |
What about the album "The Cosmos Rocks"?? Nobody mentioned it. Well, perhaps it's not so worth mentioning,but however,it was written by Queen and Paul Rodgers.Not great songs,with few exceptions...and by all means, Paul Rodgers is by far better suited for Queen than AL or anybody else! .. just saying.. |
| Queen4ever13 05.04.2012 09:55 |
Brian's a decent man. Anyone with his fortune and fame who feels it important to stick up for defenseless animals has a heart as big as his intellect. |
| OwenSmith 06.04.2012 15:35 |
"Queen, of course, hasn’t issued an album since May and fellow band co-founder Roger Taylor fashioned Made in Heaven in 1995 out of some left over sessions work by Mercury." Don't you love accuracy. So they're saying "The Cosmos Rocks" isn't a Queen album are they? I wish to disagree. If The Cosmos Rocks isn't a Queen Album (because it doesn't feature Freddie and John) then there can never be another Queen album, so their statement is pointless. |