50 years since Queen’s first album – Brian May tells the secret of Freddie Mercury’s endurance

Queen performed in Stockholm in 1986. Pictured are Freddie Mercury and Brian May. PDO

Queen guitarist Brian May, 75, recalls Mirror in a special interview with his colleague, soloist Freddie Mercury (1946–1991).

The rock band’s debut album Queen was released on July 13, 1973. The band has continued to perform to this day, but with different frontmen after Mercury’s death.

– Freddie was a fantastic guy and like a brother to me. I liked how he broke the rules, what he could say to the audience and what kind of risks he took, says May.

He says that if Mercury were still alive today, he would still be performing as Queen’s front man because he lived for music. According to the guitarist, the band was like a family to Freddie.

– He was very shy, but also very social. He lived to the fullest every second of the day. He lasts year after year because he was an eccentric genius, says May.

– He didn’t want to please anyone. Some might consider him rude, but he got what he wanted and knew what he was doing.

Mercury died of AIDS at the age of 45 in November 1991. The band had time to release at the beginning of the year Innuendo-album, which included, among other things, a hit The Show Must Go On.

– I think that at a certain time he thought that we or the rest of the world would not accept his sexuality. I know she struggled with it, but she found the courage to be whatever she wanted. He opened his heart and gave it everything. Above all, he was proud of himself as a musician.

Brian May says he finds it funny to be alive and see how many greats, even those who only came into the picture after Queen, are already dead.

– I think about the young people who have come after us. George Michael was a child to me, almost like a little brother. Now he’s gone. Also people like David Bowie. It is scary.