The band Brian May called the polar “opposite” of Queen
Let’s give credit where it’s due. Brian May isn’t just one of the most unjustly overlooked guitarists; he’s a pivotal figure in the lineage established by Jimi Hendrix. With a unique ability to balance icy coolness and fiery expressiveness on the fretboard, May has earned his place among rock’s elite. But perhaps his greatest asset is that he has managed to do so quietly.
Very rarely is a guitarist able to perform well, deliver seriously great moments for their audience, yet still remain humble and grounded. Moreover, his wisdom is legendary, reliably offering perspicacious insights that enrich our understanding of the music industry and beyond.
If anyone doubts the consequence of his work, it says it all that he has legions of culturally important disciples in Nirvana, Billy Corgan, Jane’s Addiction, Guns N’ Roses, The Cribs, and many more. It is clear that without his highly astute work on Queen’s most famous anthem, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, or frenetic bursts fuelling ‘Brighton Rock’, the realm of guitar playing and, indeed, rock music would be missing some of its key cast members.
One characteristic that has always endeared fans to May outside of the unabashed force brought forth on his Red Special is that, unlike most rockstars, he has always been a proponent of self-awareness. This is true for Queen, too. They always knew who they were, what they wanted to do, and what they couldn’t do.
Their blend of theatrics and blurring of genre lines was highly unique, and in their pomp, Freddie Mercury, May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor continued on their course, undeterred by the zeitgeist. Yes, they were a rock band, but they encompassed many different realms and sensations, from vaudeville to electro-pop, and carved out a domain best described by their band name only. That is something that only the true greats achieve.
Charting a unique course with success is something that most artists fail to do, and it is this that either confirms longevity and relevance or that they never get past a particular stage, from the grassroots to mid-level. Mostly, the lofty heights at the summit of the pyramid can only be unlocked by establishing a brand with global resonance. Just look at the genuinely renowned and celebrated acts; they have all done this, with Queen being one of the stand-outs for their distinctive approach.
Of course, May knows this reality well and appreciates it when other acts achieve such uniqueness and success amid the mass of sonics produced worldwide. As a lifelong fan of hard rock and the man who brought the edge to Queen, he is a longtime lover of the pulsating rock ‘n’ roll of AC/DC, genre purists who are stylistically opposed in many areas to his band.
When speaking to The Independent in 2012, May revealed that if Queen hadn’t come to fruition, he probably would have wanted to have been in the ‘Back in Black’ band. However, he openly admitted that he probably wouldn’t fit the mould because the group is the polar “opposite” of his group.
He said: “I’d have probably liked to be in AC/DC. But I’m the wrong sort of size and shape, unfortunately. Because it’s different from Queen. Queen were very eclectic – that’s the word isn’t it? – and we just trampled over every boundary that there was but AC/DC are in a sense the opposite – they know their style and it’s incredibly pure and I have a great respect for that. And every single note they play is AC/DC completely. Maybe that would be it.”
Looking at the two bands as AC/DC emerged it is easy to see how they might be called opposites of each other. The Australian outfit felt closer to punk rock than any of the theatrical brilliance Queen were producing. They both shared a penchant for a serious singer, but otherwise, things remain pretty antithetical.
Whether May would have found a place in AC/DC is, of course, the stuff of fantasy. The guitarist doesn’t exactly align with the powerhouse chugging of the Young brothers, and it is difficult to see how he might cope with such brute force. But one thing May has shown over the years is that he is more than willing to adapt his sound, so maybe there is a walk-on part waiting for him sometime in the future.
While it will likely never happen, the prospect of May linking up with AC/DC is compelling. To see him and Angus Young go toe to toe would be the stuff of legend.
