Brian May

Biography

Brian Harold May (born 19 July 1947) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and astrophysicist. He is the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. He was the co-founder of Queen with lead singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor, having previously performed with Taylor in the band Smile, and bass player John Deacon. As a member of Queen, he became regarded as a virtuoso musician and he was identified with a distinctive sound created through his layered guitar work, often using a home-built electric guitar called the Red Special. He has a short cameo in Queen's biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).

Known For

Great Performances

MTV Video Music Awards

American Idol

Question Time

Numéro un

Parkinson

BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge

NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen

All Movies (155)

• Andrea Bocelli - The Celebration：30th Anniversary2025
• Katy Perry: Night of a Lifetime2024 · as Self
• The Yardbirds: In Their Own Words2024
• Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration2024 · as Self
• Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me2024 · as Self
• Queen: We Are the Champions – The Story of the Greatest Sports Anthem of All Time2024 · as Self
• Adam Lambert: Out, Loud and Proud2024
• The Rory Gallagher Story2024 · as Self
• Rory Gallagher: Calling Card2024 · as Self
• Jean-Michel Jarre - Starmus: Bridge from the Future2024
• Jean-Michel Jarre - Bridge from the Future2024
• 60 Songs: BBC Two at 602024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Queen Rock Montreal2024 · as Brian May (self)
• Zucchero | Sugar Fornaciari2023 · as Self
• Rock: the origin2023 · as Self (archive footage)
• Meat Loaf - A Celebration Of Life2022 · as Self
• Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert2022 · as Self
• Rhapsody Over London2022 · as Self
• ABBA V Queen2022 · as Self (archive footage)
• Platinum Party at the Palace2022 · as Self
• Freddie Mercury: The Final Act2022 · as Self
• Queen at the BBC2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Der Echte Freddie Mercury - Die Münchner Jahre2021 · as Self
• Die Helene Fischer Show - Meine schönsten Momente2020 · as Self (archive footage)
• Queen: The Band that Rocked the World2020 · as Self
• Queen + Adam Lambert: Live Around The World2020 · as Self - Guitar
• Queen + Adam Lambert: Tour Watch Party2020 · as Self
• The Shadows At Sixty2020 · as Self
• We are the Champions - 50 Jahre Queen2020 · as Self
• Queen + Adam Lambert: Fire Fight Australia2020 · as Self
• Queen + Adam Lambert - Great Lawn in Central Park2019 · as Self
• 13 Moments That Made Freddie Mercury and Queen2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Day We Walked on the Moon2019 · as Self
• Liam Gallagher: As It Was2019 · as Self
• The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story2019 · as Self - Guitar Player Queen
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2019 Induction Ceremony2019 · as Self
• Bohemian Rhapsody: Recreating Live Aid2019 · as Self
• The Look and Sound of Queen2019 · as Self
• Freddie Mercury: The King of Queen2018 · as Self (archive footage)
• Queen : The American Dream2017 · as Self (archive footage)
• QUEEN - News Of The World [40th Anniversary]2017 · as Self
• Life After Flash2017 · as Self
• Queen: Rock the World2017 · as Self - Member Queen
• Buddy Holly: Rave On2017 · as Self
• Freedom : La Story de George Michael2016 · as Self (archive footage)
• Tangerine Dream: Sound from Another World2016 · as Self
• Queen & Adam Lambert: Rock in Rio (Lisboa)2016 · as Self
• Queen: A Night in Bohemia2016 · as Self (archive footage)
• Queen: From Rags to Rhapsody2015 · as Self - Queen
• The Ritchie Blackmore Story2015 · as Self
• Queen and Adam Lambert: Rock in Rio 20152015 · as Self - Guitars
• Queen + Adam Lambert: Rock Big Ben Live2014 · as Self - Guitars
• Die Helene Fischer Show 20142014 · as Self
• The Nation's Favourite Queen Song2014 · as Self
• The Joy of the Guitar Riff2014 · as Self
• Brian May & Kerry Ellis - The Candlelight Concerts Live at Montreux2014 · as Self
• Bad Company | The Official Authorized 40th Anniversary Documentary2014 · as Self
• Queen: Will Rock You2014 · as Self
• Queen + Adam Lambert: iHeart Radio Music Festival2013 · as Self
• The Sunflower Superjam 20122013 · as Self
• Queen: Live at the Prince's Trust Rock Gala 20102013 · as Self
• Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender2012 · as Self
• Queen: Hungarian Rhapsody - Live in Budapest '862012 · as Self
• Queen: A Magic Year2012 · as Self (archive footage)
• London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony: A Symphony of British Music2012 · as Self
• Queen + Adam Lambert: Live in Kyiv, Ukraine2012 · as Self
• Story Of Queen: Mercury Rising2011 · as Self - Queen (uncredited)
• Foo Fighters The Roundhouse Concert2011 · as Self - Guest Guitar
• My Chemical Romance: Readings2011
• Brian May's Brief History of 3D2011 · as Self - Host
• Queen: Days of Our Lives2011 · as Self
• Top of the Pops, 1964 to 1975 - Big Hits2011 · as Self
• I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern2011 · as Self
• Vox Pop: How Dartford Powered the British Beat Boom2011 · as Self
• Queen + Paul Rodgers: Live in Ukraine2009 · as Self
• The Story of the Yardbirds2008 · as Self
• Queen: Rock Montreal & Live Aid2007
• Queen Under Review: 1973-19802007 · as Self (archive footage)
• Queen: Rock Case Studies2007 · as Self (archive footage)
• Queen: We Are The Champions - Live In Europe2007
• Foo Fighters: Hyde Park2006 · as Self - Guest
• The Very Best of Freddie Mercury and Queen2006 · as Self
• Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic2006 · as Self
• Queen: Bohemian Champions - Interviews2006 · as Self
• VH1 Rock Honors2006 · as Self
• Queen: On the Rock Trail2006 · as Self
• Queen + Paul Rodgers: Super Live In Japan2006 · as Self
• Classic Albums: Queen - The Making of A Night at the Opera2006 · as Self
• Queen: Music Video Box Documentary2006 · as Self (archive footage)
• Queen + Paul Rodgers: Return of the Champions2005 · as Self - Guitar, Vocals
• Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today2005 · as Self
• Live Aid Against All Odds2005 · as Self
• The Strat Pack: Live in Concert2005 · as Self
• The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody2004 · as Self
• Live Aid2004 · as Self
• Zucchero | Zu and co.: Live at Royal Albert Hall2004 · as Self
• Queen on Fire: Live at the Bowl2004 · as Self (Vocals / Guitar)
• Queen: Greatest Video Hits 22003 · as Self - Queen
• Pavarotti & Friends for SOS Iraq2003 · as Self - Performer
• Queen: Greatest Video Hits2002 · as Self (archive footage)
• Inside the Rhapsody2002 · as Self
• Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace2002 · as Self - Performer
• Jerry Lee Lewis and Friends2002 · as Self
• Killer Queen!2002 · as Self (archive footage)
• Queen - The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 10th Anniversary Documentary2002 · as Self
• Queen: Live at the Museum Square Amsterdam2002 · as Self
• Queen - Heaven2001 · as Self
• Motörhead: 25 & Alive Boneshaker2001 · as Self
• Freddie Mercury: The Untold Story2000 · as Self
• Queen: Is This The Real Life?1999 · as Self
• The Queen Phenomenon1995 · as Self
• Queen: Champions of the World1995 · as Self
• Paul Rodgers And Friends - Live At Montreux1994
• The Brian May Band - Live at the Brixton Academy1994 · as Self
• Brian May - Live in Barcelona 19931993 · as Self
• A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa1993 · as Self
• Pavarotti & Friends1992 · as Self
• Metallica: A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica1992 · as Self
• The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert1992 · as Self
• Queen - We Are The Champions - Final Live In Japan 19851992 · as Self
• Guitar Legends EXPO '92 at Sevilla - The Hard Rock Night1991 · as Self - Guitar
• Queen: Days of Our Lives1991 · as Self
• Queen: Greatest Flix II1991 · as Self (archive footage)
• Queen: Greatest Flix I and II1991 · as Self (archive footage)
• Guitar1991 · as Self
• Bon Jovi | Access All Areas: A Rock & Roll Odyssey1990 · as Self
• Queen : Rare Live – A Concert Through Time and Space1989 · as Self (archive footage)
• Hard 'N Heavy Volume 31989 · as Self
• Queen: Magic Years - A Visual Anthology1987 · as Self
• Queen: The Magic Years vol. 11987 · as Self
• Queen: The Magic Years vol. 21987 · as Self
• Queen: The Magic Years vol. 31987 · as Self
• Queen: Live in Japan 19821986 · as Self
• Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium1986 · as Guitars
• Prince's Trust Rock Gala - Volume 11986 · as Self - Performer
• Queen: Live Aid1985 · as Guitar, Vocals
• Live Aid1985 · as Self
• Queen: Live In Rio1985 · as Self - Vocal, Guitar
• Red Hot Rock1984 · as Self - Queen Guitarist
• We Will Rock You1982 · as Self
• QUEEN - The Hot Space Box1982 · as Self
• Concerts for the People of Kampuchea1981 · as Self
• Queen: Live in Argentina1981 · as Self
• Queen: Greatest Flix1981 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Queen Special1980 · as Self
• Queen: Live in Tokyo1979 · as Self
• Queen: Live At Budokan1979 · as Self
• Live Killers1979 · as Self
• Queen: Definitive Houston1977 · as Self
• Queen: Live at Earl's Court Arena1977 · as Self
• Queen: An Evening At The Concert Hall1977 · as Self
• Queen: Live in Hyde Park1976 · as Self
• Queen: A Night at the Odeon1975 · as Self - Guitar
• Queen: Live at the Rainbow '741974 · as Self
• Queen: Queen I1973

All TV Shows (26)

• Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World2025 · as Self
• Reunited Apart2020 · as Self
• Newscast2020 · as Self
• London 2012 Olympic Games2012 · as Self
• Foxes Live: Wild in the City2012 · as Self
• Evening Urgant2012 · as Self
• The Story of Musicals2012 · as Self
• The Michael Ball Show2010 · as Self
• BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge2010 · as Self
• The Alan Titchmarsh Show2007 · as Self
• Seven Ages of Rock2007 · as Self
• American Idol2002 · as Self
• Parkinson1998 · as Self
• Classic Albums1997 · as Self
• ECHO-Verleihung1992 · as Self
• This Morning1988 · as Self
• Téléthon1987 · as Self
• Daytime Live1987 · as Self
• MTV Video Music Awards1984 · as Self
• Question Time1979 · as Self - Panellist
• Young Music Show1978
• The BRIT Awards1977 · as Self
• Domenica In1976 · as Self
• Numéro un1975 · as Self - Queen
• Great Performances1971 · as Self
• NHK Kōhaku Uta-Gassen1951 · as Queem + Adam Lambert