Queen’s Brian May: Our Complete 1982 “Guitar Player” Interview (audio)
On Tones, Techniques, and the Six-String Highlights of Queen Albums
At the time of this 85-minute interview, Queen seemed to rule the airwaves. A dozen of their singles had already climbed into the U.K.’s Top-20, with “Bohemian Rhapsody” reaching #1. Queen’s recently released Greatest Hits compilation was well on its way to becoming the biggest-selling album in U.K. history, a record it holds to this day.
Queen had conquered America as well. Ten of their songs had landed in the U.S. Top-20, with 1980’s rockabilly rave-up “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and 1981’s “Another One Bites the Dust” topping the charts. Stateside, Queen had enjoyed strong album sales as well. Sheer Heart Attack, A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Live Killers, and Hot Space had been certified gold. News of the World, Jazz, The Game, and Greatest Hits were awarded platinum status for sales in excess of a million copies.
With Freddie Mercury’s singing, Brian May’s extraordinary guitar playing, John Deacon’s bass work, and Roger Taylor’s drumming, their concerts were an experience to behold! Brian’s quiet, gentlemanly nature offstage gave little hint of the flash he delivered onstage. Playing a unique guitar he and his dad built during his youth, Brian cut the figure of the quintessential British rocker – tall, lean, and in control. No one else sounded like him.
Brian displayed a dazzling array of effects, tones, and techniques during Queen’s sets, at the time among the most theatrical in rock. Midway through each concert, he launched into an extravagant solo showcase that featured him battling spaceship-shaped lighting pods and using echo machines to create three-part harmonies and counterpoints.
To prepare for my Guitar Player cover story interview, I attended Queen’s July 9, 1982, concert in Oakland, California. I then asked an Elektra Records publicist to send me the band’s catalog. As I listened to every Queen album in chronological order, I paid close attention to Brian’s sonic innovations. So in addition to covering his musical background, influences, and tools of his trade, I was able to question him about his playing techniques on specific songs throughout the band’s career-to-date. Brian appreciate my research.
As we spoke, he also expressed his appreciation for the talents of Eddie Van Halen. (Several months later, he and Eddie would collaborate on an bluesy instrumental album called Star Fleet Project. This, in turn, led to Brian requesting that we do a second interview.)
Here, without further ado, is the world debut of the audio of my September 22, 1982, cover story interview with the author of “We Will Rock You”:
Queen’s Brian May: The Complete 1982 “Guitar Player” Interview
I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks to engineer/producer Nik Hunt for filming the intro and outro and enhancing the sound of the original 42-year-old master interview tapes.
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