May rejects Queen cash-grab rap

Brian May has rejected the accusation that he and Roger Taylor keep resurrecting Queen in order to make money.

He insist they only come back because fans want them to – and he wouldn’t like to do so any more often than he does.

The late Freddie Mercury’s bandmates are gearing up to tour as Queen with Adam Lambert, with a run of arena shows booked across the US during June and July.

Asked if he’s only doing it as a cash-grab, May tells The Times Of Malta: “We don’t need the money. We don’t need the fame. So why would we do it? It’s because people want it.

“If the Queen legacy is going on and on it’s not because of us. Just now and again it’s nice to give people what they want – that’s all I can say.”

After two decades of full-time work behind Mercury, May says he wouldn’t go back to that level of commitment. “I like doing it,” he reflects, “but I don’t have to do it, and I certainly don’t want to do it all the time any more. I like to have the freedom to do astronomy and to try to change the world.”

In the same interview the guitarist recalls working on Mother Love, the last song Mercury worked on before his death in 1991.

May says: “For each line he did four takes, then we’d write another. Vodka gave him his strength – he’d take a shot and he’d go, ‘Write me more; give me more lyrics. I want to do this, then you can finish it when I’m gone.’

“He was completely focused. He knew he wouldn’t be there long.”

Mercury was unable to complete the recording, leaving May to sing the final verse. The guitarist remembers of the writing process: “Underneath we’re talking about, where’s Freddie going? And where are we all going eventually?”

Brian May speaks to The Times Of Malta

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.