Quick Facts
| Canonical Name | Brian May |
| Born | July 19, 1947 |
| Birthplace | Hampton, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London, London, England, United Kingdom |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Occupations | guitarist, astrophysicist, singer, composer, singer-songwriter, pianist, television presenter, record producer, actor, physicist, research fellow, YouTuber, lyricist, historian |
| Instruments | guitar, piano, voice, bass guitar, keyboard instrument |
| Gender | male |
| Genres | rock music, glam rock, pop rock, hard rock, progressive rock, british, english, rock, uk |
| Associated Acts | Queen, Rock Aid Armenia, Smile, The Brian May Band, Rock Therapy |
| Active Years | Active since 1964 |
| Website | brianmay.com |
Identity and Aliases
Biography
Brian May is a British musician born in Hampton, London, in 1947. Best known for his role in Queen, he has built a career around guitar performance, singing and songwriting while also working across a wide range of musical and non-musical fields.
His work spans rock music, glam rock, pop rock, hard rock and progressive rock, with guitar, piano, voice, bass guitar and keyboard instruments all part of his musical profile. Alongside Queen, he has been associated with Smile, The Brian May Band, Rock Aid Armenia and Rock Therapy, reflecting a career that moves between band work, solo releases and collaborative projects.
May’s activity extends well beyond performance. His listed occupations and fields of work include astrophysics, physics, astronomy, stereo photography, record production, television presenting, acting, lyric writing and historical research, giving his public profile an unusually broad scope.
Career Timeline
Musical Roles
Brian May is a guitarist, singer, composer and songwriter whose instrument list also includes piano, bass guitar and other keyboard instruments. His work is rooted in rock music, with strong links to glam rock, pop rock, hard rock and progressive rock.
Bands and Projects
Releases and Appearances
MusicBrainz lists several release entries connected to Brian May. These entries may include solo releases, guest appearances, live recordings, and catalogued metadata records.
MusicBrainz-listed Releases and Appearances
Recorded Performances & Appearances
MusicBrainz-listed recording entries connected to Brian May include:
Musical Style and Instruments
Brian May’s style sits within rock music, with especially clear ties to glam rock, hard rock, pop rock and progressive rock. His profile suggests a musician comfortable moving between guitar-led rock writing, vocals and keyboard textures.
Genres
Instruments
Collaborations and Guest Relationships
External Identifiers & Authority Control
Brian May’s official website is brianmay.com. He also has catalogued profiles and identifiers on major music and authority platforms, including MusicBrainz and Discogs.
Semantic Graph Data (Knowledge Graph)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Brian May best known for?
A: He is best known as the guitarist for Queen. His name is closely tied to the band’s rock legacy.
Q: Where was Brian May born?
A: He was born in Hampton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London, England.
Q: What instruments does Brian May play?
A: His listed instruments include guitar, piano, voice, bass guitar and keyboard instruments.
Q: What genres is Brian May associated with?
A: He is associated with rock music, glam rock, pop rock, hard rock and progressive rock.
Q: Which bands is Brian May associated with?
A: He is associated with Queen, Smile, The Brian May Band, Rock Aid Armenia and Rock Therapy.
Q: When did Brian May begin his career?
A: His active period is listed as beginning in 1964.
Q: What is Brian May’s official website?
A: His official website is brianmay.com.
Q: What are some releases associated with Brian May?
A: Associated releases include Back to the Light, Another World, Star Fleet Project, Golden Days and Red Special.