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Happy birthday, Brian May

Posted on by Candy Rock

Brian May - 2012 - From the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympic Games

Brian May - 2012 - From the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympic Games

Happy birthday, Brian May...
Born on July 19 1947 in Hampton, London, England, UK, Brian Harold May CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) is a musician, songwriter and astrophysicist mostly known as the lead guitarist of Queen.
May said he was influenced by guitarists Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck.
He attended Hampton Grammar School where he attained ten GCE Ordinary Levels and three A-Levels (Physics, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics). He studied Mathematics and Physics at Imperial College London and graduated with a BSc. degree.
In 1968, he formed the band Smile (Tim Staffell (vocals and bass), Brian May (guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums)). Staffell was friend with Freddie Mercury who was a fan of Smile. After Staffell left the band in 1970, Mercury encouraged the band to change their name to Queen et started working with them.
They had several bass players but no one really fit in the band. They had to wait until February 1971, when they were joined by John Deacon, to start rehearsing for their first album.
May was backing vocalist for Queen, he was usually the lower-range voice in the band's three-part vocal harmonies.
He also sings lead vocals on some Queen's songs like Good Company, Long Away, All Dead, All Dead, Sleeping on the Sidewalk and some others.
He often wrote and composed songs for the band. He composed songs like We Will Rock You, Save Me, I Want It All...
The songs Headlong and I Can't Live With You, both composed by May, were initially suppposed to figure on his solo album finally ended up on Queen's albums.
In 1983, on April 21 and 22, in collaboration with Eddie Van Halen, May recorded his first solo work : Star Fleet Project (a mini album).
After Freddie Mercury's death (November 24 1991), May went into a depression and went to a clinic in Arizona. He deciced to work as much as possible, firstly by finishing his solo album, Back to the Light, and by touring worldwide, in order to deal with his grief.
The Brian May Band was officially formed in late 1992.
In 1993, after a tour with his solo band, May went back to the studio with Roger Taylor and John Deacon to work on Queen's final studio album, Made in Heaven. They used Freddie's last recordings and his solo album demos and completed, musically and vocally, with their additions.
In 2005, May was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for "services to the music industry and for charity work".
Being friend with Phil Collins, May was special guest at the Genesis reunion concert at Twickenham Stadium in 2007.
On 16 September 2012, May performed at the Sunflower Jam charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall, alonside with John Paul Jones, Ian Paice, Bruce Dickinson and Alice Cooper.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Brian May!

Brian May - September 2010 - Guitarist and Astrophysicist

Brian May - September 2010 - Guitarist and Astrophysicist

Brian May - On stage

Brian May - On stage

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Brian May ...
Né le 19 juillet 1947 à Hampton, Londres, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni, Brian Harold May CBE (Commandeur de l'ordre de l'Empire britannique) est un musicien, auteur-compositeur et astrophysicien mieux connu en tant que guitariste de Queen.
May dit qu'il fut influencé par les guitaristes Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix et Jeff Beck.
Il étudia à la Hampton Grammar School où il atteignit dix "Ordinary Levels" ("Niveaux Ordinaires") et trois "A-Levels" ("Niveaux Avancés")(en physique, en mathématiques et en mathématiques appliquées) au GCE (General Certificate of Education). Il étudia les mathématiques et la physique au Imperial College London et fut diplomé d'un "BSc. degree" ("baccalauréat universitaire ès sciences").
En 1968, il forma le groupe Smile (Tim Staffell (chant et basse), Brian May (guitare) et Roger Taylor (batterie)). Staffell était ami avec Freddie Mercury qui était fan de Smile. Après que Staffell ait quitté le groupe en 1970, Mercury les encouragea à changer leur nom pour Queen et commença à travailler avec eux.
Ils eurent de nombreux bassistes mais aucun ne correspondaient vraiment à l'alchimie du groupe. Ils durent attaendre jusqu'en février 1971, quand ils furent rejoints par John Deacon, pour commencer à répéter pour leur premier album.
May faisait les choeurs pour Queen, il était la voix la plus grave dans les harmonies à trois voix du groupe.
Il fait aussi le chant principal dans certaines chansons de Queen comme Good Company, Long Away, All Dead, All Dead, Sleeping on the Sidewalk et quelques autres.
Il a souvent écrit et composé des chansons pour le groupe. Il a composé des chansons comme We Will Rock You, Save Me, I Want It All...
Les chansons Headlong et I Can't Live With You, toutes deux composées par May, devaient à l'orgine figurer sur son album solo mais elles furent finalement utilisées par Queen.
En 1983, le 21 et 22 avril, en collaboration avec Eddie Van Halen, May enregistra son premier travail solo : Star Fleet Project (un mini album).
Après la mort de Freddie Mercury (le 24 novembre 1991), May tomba en dépression et partit dans une clinique en Arizona. Il décida de travailler autant que possible, d'abord en finissant son album solo, Back to the Light, et en faisant une tournée mondiale, afin de faire face à sa douleur.
Le Brain May band fut officiellement formé en 1992.
En 1993, après une tournée avec son groupe solo, May retourna en studio avec Roger Taylor et John Deacon pour travailler sur le dernier album de Queen, Made in Heaven. Ils utilisèrent les derniers enregistrement de Freddie ainsi que ses démos d'album solo et complétèrent, musicalement et vocalement, avec leur additions.
En 2005, May fut fait Commandeur de l'ordre de l'Empire britannique (CBE) pour "services pour l'industrie de la musique et travaux de charité".
Etant ami avec Phil Collins, May fut invité spécial au concert de réunion de Genesis au Twickenham Stadium en 2007.
Le 16 Semptembre 2012, May joua au concert de charité de Sunflower Jam au Royal Albert Hall, aux côtés de John Paul Jones, Ian Paice, Bruce Dickinson et Alice Cooper.
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à Brian May !]

Brian May - Queen - On stage with Freddie Mercury

Brian May - Queen - On stage with Freddie Mercury

Brian May - 1984 - Live In Brussels

Brian May - 1984 - Live In Brussels

Brian May

Brian May

Brian May - The Invisible Man

Brian May - The Invisible Man

Brian May - on stage

Brian May - on stage

Brian May - With Red Special

Brian May - With Red Special

Brian May

Brian May

Brian May

Brian May

Brian May - Guitar Hero

Brian May - Guitar Hero

Brian May - 1976

Brian May - 1976

Brian May - 1976 - Queen, on stage with Freddie Mercury

Brian May - 1976 - Queen, on stage with Freddie Mercury

Brian May - 1975

Brian May - 1975

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