In the 1970s, Brian May (born July 19, 1947) was the sonic architect of Queen. While Freddie Mercury provided the theatrical focal point, May defined the band’s musical identity with a highly distinctive guitar style, an iconic look, and a fascinating background in academia. During this decade, he transitioned from a struggling postgraduate student into one of the most celebrated rock guitarists in the world.
What separated Brian May from every other guitar hero of the era was his tone, which was entirely self-made. He didn’t play a standard Fender or Gibson. May played the “Red Special” (also called “The Old Lady”), a guitar he and his father built by hand in the mid-1960s. They used wood from an 18th-century fireplace mantle, motorcycle valve springs, and mother-of-pearl buttons. Instead of a plastic plectrum (pick), May used an old British sixpence coin to strum. The serrated edge of the coin gave his guitar a unique, crisp “bite.”
In the studio, May used his unique setup to multi-track his guitar parts, layering them to sound like a brass section or a symphonic orchestra. Albums like A Night at the Opera (1975) proudly featured the liner note “No Synthesizers!” because May created all those wild, futuristic sounds using just his guitar and a customized amplifier.
On stage, May cut a striking figure that epitomized 1970s glam and progressive rock fashion. He was famous for his massive, natural cascade of dark curls and tall, lean frame. His most iconic wardrobe piece from this era was a white, flowing, pleated satin top designed by British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes. The wide sleeves caught the air beautifully when he played, giving him a majestic, almost bird-like silhouette under the stage lights.
Before Queen hit the big time, May was a serious academic. He studied Physics and Mathematics at Imperial College London, graduating with honors. By the early 1970s, he was deep into a PhD program studying interplanetary dust in the solar system. When Queen’s career exploded around 1974 after the success of “Killer Queen,” he made the difficult choice to shelf his thesis to tour the world.
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