Queen’s Brian May likes to keep his personal life to himself. Here, he talks to Barry Cain about these problems
Regal rocker Brian May hates being asked about his private life. The dazzling guitarist from Queen, guards his behind the scenes secrets like the crown jewels.
“I need periods when I can get away on my own and think my own thoughts without anyone looking at me. That way I become a product of what I think I am and not how other people see me.
“In the ‘showbiz’ approach to life you are always aware of what you are doing. Even combing your hair becomes a big planned event. All that is destructive to the music.
“But when I’m performing I’m giving myself to the public. In that capacity I belong to them and only to them. But if that carried on after I would cease to exist as a human being. I would be worthless. Dwindle to nothing. I could say this in so many different ways. There is a strain, a physical strain of being on show 24 hours a day.
“Everything would disappear on the end. It’s happened so many times before. Marilyn Monroe and Jimi Hendrix are just two examples - extreme cases maybe, but very frightening nevertheless. Keeping my private life to myself keeps me going as an artist.”
And his attitude seems to be paying off. Brian turned up for Mayday looking immaculate in a black velvet suit, white shirt and tie. He was sporting a closely cropped beard and looked ridiculously healthy.
He fondled his black curly locks as he spoke. He carefully rummaged over each question before answering. Articulate he is.
Kid gloves with the new album. “We’re still putting the finishing touches to it … but it should be out next month. A track from the album, which will be called ‘A Day At The Races’, is shortly being put out as a single.
“Although the music is in the same style as ‘Night At The Opera’ we are breaking new ground, going in new directions. You couldn’t describe ‘Races’ as a follow up with the connotations that phrase involves.”
‘A Night At The Opera’ and a ‘Day At The Races’ are the titles of two Marx Brothers films. What next, Animal Crackers? Why the link?
“It was deliberate. We all admire the Marx Brothers and while we were out in the States we met Groucho. He said he liked ‘The Opera’ album and when we told him the title of the new one he flipped. ‘The Opera’ movie was the big, lavish one in the Marx Brothers’ career. So it was with us and ‘The Opera’ album.”
The Stateside tour really crowned Queen’s career to date and placed them firmly on the throne of success.
“Well, it’s finally really happening for us over there. We really reached towards our peak with ‘The Opera’ and it was great to see it break into the US charts. It’s always hard to get accepted over there - especially on the West Coast. But we were having sell outs everywhere. There’s a different kind of response between British and American audiences.
“Here the fans are more reserved until they have reached a point where they can explode. In the States they are ready to explode at the beginning. They will give you anything you want … once you gain their favour.”
What did Brian think of that new phenomenon, the well worn punk rock which seems to be a total antithesis to everything Queen represent?
“The same applies in punk rock as with anything else,” he said. “It’s a generic name that doesn’t really mean anything. The best will survive, the worst disappear. Anything new is a good thing and some of the punk bands have really got something.
“It’s very natural for the kids to go for punk. Those bands, despite feelings in some quarters, want to give as much as possible to their audience. And so should any artist. It doesn’t matter what you play or whether you spend lots of money on lights and sound.
“You are playing to reach people, to generate magic. There are going to be more guitarists, more musicians who may start off as being something outside the whole music scene. They may seem like they have some new, eternal truth. But it still all comes down to playing to the people.
“You might use a million megaton bomb in your stage act. Okay. But the secret is how you use it. That’s what counts, how you actually present what you’ve got.
“Rock means many things to many people. It can be shocking, or it can be something out of a Busby Berkeley setting. And nobody wants to see you give a half hearted performance. You have to use everything within your range to give the people what they want.”
Image seems to play a very important part in Queen’s make-up.
“Sure we have this very flamboyant image. But if I thought I was just made up of a lot of glitter and glamour then I would give the whole thing up. I think our music is good. I think our songs are good. I think Queen are a good band.
“If I didn’t - what would be the point of going on?”