While speaking in a recent interview with Guitar World, Brian May reminisced about his late bandmate Freddie Mercury. He described Freddie as someone who always provided reassurance with his remarkable enthusiasm and confidence. Freddie’s energy and optimism were instrumental in helping Brian overcome his insecurities, and he played a crucial role in Brian’s early career as a guitarist. Even then, photos of his romantic boyfriend were leaked as well.
“In many cases, I’d say, ‘Oh, yes, yes, yes, I can do this, darling. Just give me a chance; just put me in there, and I’ll do this.’ [Freddie] was always very upfront; he had an amazing amount of drive, optimism and energy. He was very helpful with my insecurities – and he kind of chose me as his guitarist in the early days.”
May also talked about Freddie’s self-perception, noting that even in their early days when Freddie was relatively unknown, he saw himself as a great performer like Jimi Hendrix. Freddie had a strong belief in their potential and always encouraged Brian, expressing that together, they could achieve greatness. This incredible belief and enthusiasm were central to their partnership and success.
“Even when Freddie was nothing and nobody, he was Jimi Hendrix in his mind. And I enabled him to have that at his fingertips. He always said, ‘You can do anything anyone can do, Brian. You can do this for me.’ That sounds like I’m making him out as big-headed, but he wasn’t; it was just this enthusiasm of, ‘We can do this together. We can be the best thing in the world.’”
When Freddie Mercury passed away, Queen had been together for 21 years. Brian May confronted the possibility that his career might be finished. He acknowledged that many musicians from prominent bands struggle with solo careers, and he worried that this could be his fate as well. Despite these concerns, Queen has continued their legacy with Adam Lambert as their new lead singer.
Reflecting on the band’s situation after Freddie’s death, May admitted he was convinced their career had ended. He remembered driving past the arenas where they had performed and feeling that those days were behind him. He described feeling like a very small person again, believing that Queen was over and lost forever.
“I was completely convinced it was over. I remember driving past all these arenas that we used to play and thinking: ‘That’s gone. I’ll never do that again.’”
“[I felt like] just a very small person again. I was making my music, but I thought Queen was over and dead and gone for ever.”
