"Queen" and I: Brian May Story [Hardcover]

Laura Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 1994

Following the tragic death of Freddie Mercury and Queen's decision to disband, their virtuoso lead guitarist, Brian May, was soon on his way to a spectacular solo career, sealed by a major world tour in 1993. He is now completing his new album and planning his next world tour for 1995, continuing his reign as one of the finest guitarists in the world. The author has had exclusive access to many of Brian May's close friends, colleagues and fellow musicians. In this book, she tells his story: the professional struggles and musical achievements; and his personal life, including his five years of hell from 1987, which saw the break-up of his marriage; and the profound emotional effects of Freddie Mercury's illness and death from AIDS. This book is an account of one of the world's greatest ever rock bands and its lead guitarist, Brian May. With details and exclusive interviews with many of the world's leading rock musicians, it tells the story of how they achieved and enjoyed rock stardom, its ups and downs. It is published as The Brian May Band is achieving new heights of international acclaim. Laura Jackson is the author of "Golden Stone", an investigation of the life and murder of Rolling Stone Brian Jones.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Smith Gryphon (September 5, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856850625
• ISBN-13: 978-1856850629
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,584,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Queen and I:The Brian May Story, November 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Queen and I: The Brian May Story (Paperback)

I have read and re read this book and it enabled me to gain an insight into the person that is Brian May. It was easy to read and very informative but all second hand. There was no actual input by Brian himself just rehashing from other people who were there. It was not until I read the book that I realised he was himself a very well educated person. It offers insights into the music he writes and the angst he has experienced at several stages of his fairly public life. He comes across as a very nice and rather intense person. A wonderful book for die hard Queen and Brian May fans who want to get a little closer to their idol.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating reading for Queen devotees, December 12, 2006

By 

Gary Selikow (Great Kush) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Queen and I: The Brian May Story (Paperback)

This book is the story of Brian May , one of the world's most talented guitarists and Queen , one of the greatest bands ever.

It takes us through May's early life and his early bands , 1984 and Smile , his collaboration with Freddie Mercury leading in 1970 to the creation of Queen. Queen's early years and how the band got to the top and stayed there. The rise and charisma of Queen's magnetic front man , Freddie Mercury , the camaraderie between May and Mercury , the miriad of albums and incredible songs brought out by Queen , many written by May and the sterling philanthropic work done by Queen and May for such groups as the British Bone Marrow Donor Appeal (of which Brian May is the patron)and the Mercury Phoenix AIDS Trust. Before joining British Bone Marrow Donor Appeal , it had been brought to May's attention that a very brave young leukaemia sufferer Denise Morse , had asked to have May's tender ballad 'Who Want's To LIve Forever'. This had touched Brian deeply.

Finally it is about the ups and downs of May's life , including his emotional struggles around his marriage , his love affair with actress Anita Dobson , and his pain at the tragic death from AIDS of Freddie Mercury , before May pulled himself out of his depression and launched a fantastic solo career. Intereviews for this book were compiled with many of Brian May's closest friends colleagues and musicians including Joe Satriani , Tony Iommi , Joe Elliot , Paul Rodgers , David Essex , Paul Young , Fish , Gary Glitter , Hank Marvin , Richard Branson , John Peel, Bob Harris , Bert Weedon and Richard Sambora.

Fascinating reading for Queen devotees.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Hopelessly derivative of Queen: As It Began, June 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: "Queen" and I: Brian May Story (Hardcover)

This unauthorized biography of Queen guitarist
Brian May is derived from Queen: As It Began. They even misspell certain names the same way! Where the book makes itself worthwhile is in interviews with several of May's friends (Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, Def Leppard singer Joe Elliot, and guitarist Joe Satriani). Overall, the book is merely mediocre, and insists on hinting at a future version of Queen without Freddie Mercury (which the band has repeatedly stated will not happen). For diehard Queen/Brian May fans only.