Customer Reviews

"Queen" and I: Brian May Story

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.