Each time I hear an interviwe I sense an incredibly deep, kind, empathic man. Brian May (never met him in my life) I bet is a good man, and a good man at heart. §Kind, gentle, a sweet and good soul... Hope to meet him some day... Brian May is not only a great musicia, awesome songwriter, extremely talented guitarist... He's a great man.
you were so lucky, man. I think he has still few years ahead (i wish him still a long life though), but I hopw to meet him when i will be in UK next time. Last time he came in Italy he was in Verona, but its quite a trip from my island, and couldnt go to listen his music with Ms. Ellis.
Forget the guitar solos, amazing timeless songs and status as a rock legend, the bloke is simply a damn fine human being. I could listen to him talking about the shipping forecast for hours and not get bored.
The Red Special is the only celebrity guitar I've ever given a damn about. The history behind it is fascinating. When I think about all that guitar has been through with Brian, it blows my mind.
i'm amazed that he's still using the same guitar... been a queen/brian may fan forever and won't ever get bored of that story. would love to meet him one day
ten years ago, more or less, he had to fix itbecause it was so road worn, and in a very bad shape. I read that a team of crafters fixed it for him and put it in its original shape... Seems like brand-new now... I have an original replica of the Old Lady, but with a Wilkinson's tremolo, not the actual tremolo he uses... It sounds amazing, and its true what Steve Vai told once about this guitar (he had the chance to play it): this guitar plays exactly as the player who uses it. It is alive.
Bee Thumb (Bee Summers) exactly, I've got the replica too, sounds like nothing else I've got... got the book about the red special too, with a read if you haven't got it already
I see your comment and can't resist bragging: JUST MET THE GUY A FEW DAYS AGO IN A RANDOM PET SHOP ON A RANDOM LONDON STREET *sobbing* [ Please excuse my excitement, but it was so random that it's completely surreal. And yes he shook my hand ]
@trf12567, I believe that, Brian's dad wanted him to be a model student, before he was a part of a band, at the time. He was only wanting the best for his son, like any other parent would.
Anyone who ever played a RedSpecial will agree... this is something else. To me it is the answer to so many questions sounwise, I did not look back, and no, O don't play Queen songs, and no I don't use an AC-30... I think it is just that good!
Bloody brilliant Jamie. I really hope young upcoming guitarist watch this and learn from Brian. You can be a rock legend and remain humble and polite. Thanks GI...!
The story of Brian May and his first and only home made 'Red Special' guitar is just amazing. Freddy Mercury aside, the whole sound of Queen is based on that unique set of tones it produces. It makes noises that no other guitar can make (apart maybe from an exact replica), and that sixpence piece he uses as a pick just adds to the uniqueness of it. As both a guitar making innovator and musician, IMO, he is more legendary than Les Paul and Leo Fender put together. This is all coming from someone who wouldn't really even class himself as that much of a Queen fan!
Brian is one of the nicest and most genuine people I've seen interviewed. He's a National Treasure And Living Legend in the truest sense of the term. Awesome musician
What an absolutely delightful half hour. Brian is such a gent as well as a guitar legend. And I loved the bit at the end when Jamie turns to the camera, slightly overwhelmed having just accompanied Brian on Boh Rhap. You just get something of how that must have felt for him
Add May to my list of most humble guitarist that includes Petrucci, Timmons, and Gilbert to name a few. After I watched this I said to myself..."could this guy be any more humble"? I mean to ask an interviewer what else he had on his list...that is almost unheard of. Well done sir.
A true legend!! Very humble guy!!! Try to play like him, not easy!!! His guitar is very rich in nuances and enriches the songs a lot!!! He is a magnificent rhythm guitarist too!!! NICE VIDEO
Brian was my inspiration to build guitars, as I'm sure he was for countless others. He was so far ahead of his time with the chambering and out of phase pickups. Most players buy a guitar and play it. As the story goes, he couldn't afford one, hence "necessity is the mother of invention". And it was "necessary" that he had a guitar. He proved that. What a guitar it was and still is!! It has a voice all its own. Such a talented man.
I was hired as a singer and became great friends with me band mates - still am. We toured, steadily, from 79- 82. I HAD one of those analogue, tape delays that Brian references at 1:40. I loved it- Mick Jagger hated it, but listen to EVERY John Lennon vocal and you can hear the effect on one's voice. It's not as pronounced as Brian's guitar delay but it CAN be . Normally just a 25 - 50 % of a second, delay would do it, If I recall . Great little machines - I wish I still had it...oh God do I.
There should be a School of Music based on his works, insights and inventions. Love the vegematic switches... Incredible guitar. Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician, singer, songwriter, astrophysicist and photographer
Brian May just comes across as a humble thoroughly decent human being. His talent is understated, he's a titan amongst guitar players in the modern era and I'm not even sure he knows how much he has changed the lives of millions before him with his music. What a talent, what a human.
Brian’s guitar tone and playing style is so unique he’s one of the very few players u can just listen to him playing and know it’s him it could be a song you never heard before and you know it’s him. People like to say this about so many players but it’s usually because it’s their favorite guitarist but in reality there are only a handful of players like this and it’s not all lead guitar players there are some rhythm players too.
We had a Dansette record player too In fact I think it’s still at home in the attic My Dad would set it up on two chairs in our drawing room every Sunday evening to listen to his Slim Whitman records Happy days long gone RIP Dad
This man's guitar was the first as I heard as a young boy in the 70's..with Queen. Obviously hearing the radio and other bands and guitars, this guitar is made by it's owner and nobody on earth can play it with Brian's feel.
I an apprentice to know all things Queen. I loved the interview. Brian is a legend within himself. So charming, charasmatic, honest not to mention talented (which is an understatement).
Very cool interview. Its amazing to get this insight from Brian May, the man is one of a kind. I hope to see more in the future with other guitarists, for example Jimmy Page or Pete Townshend, but i highly doubt they'd do it. Which makes me appreciate Brian May that much more.
I especially enjoyed the BoRhap bit at the end. What I would have given to trade places with you, and play with Dr. May! It really highlights the importance and originality of the backing guitar. I know everyone seems to focus on the iconic lead, but that backing sound is SO important. Not sure what Dr. May calls it, but I always called it his "angry cello" sound.
A great player and innovator ( along with his Dad). If you play guitar do yourself a favor and go buy one of Bri's Red Specials . . excellent quality for the price and a blast to play. It is one of the most stable guitars I've ever played, a bit of a pain to tune but it roars when cranked. The world is a better place because of folks like Brian May.
I am insanely jealous of this interviewer right now. If I played bohemian rhapsody with Brian may, my life would be complete. I hope one day I might get to meet him. Seems like such a nice down to earth and normal guy despite all of his fame, success and wealth. That's a fine example imo
Brian and the team, thank you for the memories, Uncle Mac on the wireless, a Dansette record player childhood influences…wonderful. I tried to play my homemade guitar though my red and white polka-dot Dansette! London (my home town) Tottenham Court Road for elecronics and musical instrument shops - fond memories of my youth, with no money. Quote, ‘Square wave fuzz tone’..A gentle-man.
This is so fantastic. I am not a guitar geek but it is so interesting to hear about how the pickups work in and out of phase. . I wished he had gone on to talk about the sound differences when he had them serial and parallel. I am going to play this to someone who understands the electronics and have them explain to me why the top pickup sounds mellow and the bottom has that sharp edge.
It's interesting that Brian thought up Acoustic Pockets years ago. I might be wrong but I am under the impression that using cut outs internally to the body is something Gibson are doing to new guitars in recent years. Les Paul purists hate this and hence why Gibson went back to the 50s and 60s Les Paul Standard with no cut outs (acoustic pockets) with the new Les Paul Standards.
Sieren Tokiio It was very simple what he was talking about, the difference between the placing of the pickups, one or more switched on together and if they where in or out of phase, and how this affected the sound, not that hard...
All those years with one guitar.... 40 years, I would certainly have dropped it or had a strap fail in that time.... what a responsibility and risk not to damage such an antique piece of rock history.
"I could not afford a guitar...so I made it." Brian May (we never get tired of that story)
We made it. Brian and his dad.
Could this guy be any cooler? Polite, talented, brilliant... one of the few rockstars who truly deserves to be filthy rich!
Like Steve Morse. Same thing.
+Jürgen Vandenhouwe Amen!
Each time I hear an interviwe I sense an incredibly deep, kind, empathic man. Brian May (never met him in my life) I bet is a good man, and a good man at heart. §Kind, gentle, a sweet and good soul... Hope to meet him some day... Brian May is not only a great musicia, awesome songwriter, extremely talented guitarist... He's a great man.
+Bee Thumb (Bee Summers) I actually met him and he was everything you'd expect and more. Exquisite person.
you were so lucky, man. I think he has still few years ahead (i wish him still a long life though), but I hopw to meet him when i will be in UK next time. Last time he came in Italy he was in Verona, but its quite a trip from my island, and couldnt go to listen his music with Ms. Ellis.
Forget the guitar solos, amazing timeless songs and status as a rock legend, the bloke is simply a damn fine human being. I could listen to him talking about the shipping forecast for hours and not get bored.
I could actually listen to the shipping forecast for hours
Me too! Dar, Brian is such an interesting man.
A 70 years old young guy.
U serious and now he is 72 ish omg
Still touring, it is amazing, you can't tell his age, forget about it, he is 35!
The Red Special is the only celebrity guitar I've ever given a damn about. The history behind it is fascinating. When I think about all that guitar has been through with Brian, it blows my mind.
I kinda like Willie Nelson's Trigger too. But nothing will top the Red Special!!!
The hugeness of Brian May lies in his humbleness. He is such a legend, an yet so simple, that any dream suddenly feels closer to you.
Cheese
I absolutely love my Brian may red special copy Burns You're absolutely correct spot on. Its extremely versatile in the studio. Wonderful! God bless!
I could quite happily listen to Brian all day, either playing guitar or just talking. Absolutely fascinating man.
Brian is so humble, and such a sweetheart, Love him.
i'm amazed that he's still using the same guitar... been a queen/brian may fan forever and won't ever get bored of that story. would love to meet him one day
ten years ago, more or less, he had to fix itbecause it was so road worn, and in a very bad shape. I read that a team of crafters fixed it for him and put it in its original shape... Seems like brand-new now... I have an original replica of the Old Lady, but with a Wilkinson's tremolo, not the actual tremolo he uses... It sounds amazing, and its true what Steve Vai told once about this guitar (he had the chance to play it): this guitar plays exactly as the player who uses it. It is alive.
Bee Thumb (Bee Summers) exactly, I've got the replica too, sounds like nothing else I've got... got the book about the red special too, with a read if you haven't got it already
I see your comment and can't resist bragging:
JUST MET THE GUY A FEW DAYS AGO IN A RANDOM PET SHOP ON A RANDOM LONDON STREET *sobbing*
[ Please excuse my excitement, but it was so random that it's completely surreal. And yes he shook my hand ]
Es un de los seres humanos mas fantástico de todos los tiempos...joder, Sir...que GRANDE eres.
Un fuerte abrazo desde Valencia-España 🙏❤️🎸🇪🇸
A BIG THANK YOU TO BRIAN'S FATHER
His mum helped in her fashion ;->
Oh behave yourself lol
@@davep8221, if wasn't for Brian's mum's knitting, and sewing kit, we wouldn't Brian's guitar solos, in my humble opinion.
@trf12567, I believe that, Brian's dad wanted him to be a model student, before he was a part of a band, at the time. He was only wanting the best for his son, like any other parent would.
@trf12567, his dad had the best of intentions, like Freddie's, Roger's, and John's dads.
This man is one of the UK's national treasures.
BORING?? This is the best interview ever lol. We finally, finally get to know what all those buttons do and how that guitar works.
Dr. May is the most brilliant man/guitarist that ever existed!!!! And oh so humble 💚
Very interesting. Thank you Brian.
The Bo Rhap thing they do at the end gave me goose bumps. Wonderful interview.
Anyone who ever played a RedSpecial will agree... this is something else.
To me it is the answer to so many questions sounwise, I did not look back, and no, O don't play Queen songs, and no I don't use an AC-30...
I think it is just that good!
I have so much respect for this man, great guy all around!
Bloody brilliant Jamie. I really hope young upcoming guitarist watch this and learn from Brian. You can be a rock legend and remain humble and polite. Thanks GI...!
The story of Brian May and his first and only home made 'Red Special' guitar is just amazing. Freddy Mercury aside, the whole sound of Queen is based on that unique set of tones it produces. It makes noises that no other guitar can make (apart maybe from an exact replica), and that sixpence piece he uses as a pick just adds to the uniqueness of it. As both a guitar making innovator and musician, IMO, he is more legendary than Les Paul and Leo Fender put together. This is all coming from someone who wouldn't really even class himself as that much of a Queen fan!
Your statement holds true as Brian is the guitar and the guitar is of brian peace dude
When Brian plays,you know it's him and no one else !!!
Eddie Van Halen and Les Paul once said only them and Leo Fender know how to make a guitar.
Brian May: AM I A BLOODY JOKE TO YOU!
Brian is one of the nicest and most genuine people I've seen interviewed. He's a National Treasure And Living Legend in the truest sense of the term. Awesome musician
An elegant spoken , guitar legend....awesome .
A total gentleman and what's more totally unaffected.
Oh man! What a session this was! Brian May is unlike any other guitarist and yet he is so humble and sweet... makes everything look effortless.
29:13 "What else do you have on your list?" that is the most humble sentence i've ever heard
What a great interview conducted by Mr. Humphries! Brian is so humble, polite and generous! A wonderful guitar player he is!
What an absolutely delightful half hour. Brian is such a gent as well as a guitar legend. And I loved the bit at the end when Jamie turns to the camera, slightly overwhelmed having just accompanied Brian on Boh Rhap. You just get something of how that must have felt for him
I could listen to Brian May all day long
Fantastic. Interviewer just lets Brian speak…. Wonderful.
It seems like most of the truly great artists are the most humble and gracious people. That's awesome.
Fair play to Jamie for asking Brian to do that at the end, fantastic.
Add May to my list of most humble guitarist that includes Petrucci, Timmons, and Gilbert to name a few. After I watched this I said to myself..."could this guy be any more humble"? I mean to ask an interviewer what else he had on his list...that is almost unheard of. Well done sir.
A true legend!! Very humble guy!!! Try to play like him, not easy!!! His guitar is very rich in nuances and enriches the songs a lot!!! He is a magnificent rhythm guitarist too!!! NICE VIDEO
It's amazing to see how Dr. Bri's mind works towards his music. Thanks for that!!!
This is an extremely satisfying interview! Brian May is such an inspirational character. Well done Jamie and great job G.I. Thank you so much!
Beyond awesome, just brilliant in every way! and the last few minutes....... MINDBLOWING
This is such a great interview I have to come back every now and then and listen again.
Brian was my inspiration to build guitars, as I'm sure he was for countless others. He was so far ahead of his time with the chambering and out of phase pickups. Most players buy a guitar and play it. As the story goes, he couldn't afford one, hence "necessity is the mother of invention". And it was "necessary" that he had a guitar. He proved that. What a guitar it was and still is!! It has a voice all its own. Such a talented man.
Much respect. What a genuine guy with a great talent. Genius!
He is also hot lol
I was hired as a singer and became great friends with me band mates - still am. We toured, steadily, from 79- 82. I HAD one of those analogue, tape delays that Brian references at 1:40. I loved it- Mick Jagger hated it, but listen to EVERY John Lennon vocal and you can hear the effect on one's voice. It's not as pronounced as Brian's guitar delay but it CAN be . Normally just a 25 - 50 % of a second, delay would do it, If I recall . Great little machines - I wish I still had it...oh God do I.
So good. I know this was posted a long time ago but Brian May is my absolute favorite guitarist and song writer. Loved the interview and the end jam
There should be a School of Music based on his works, insights and inventions. Love the vegematic switches... Incredible guitar. Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician, singer, songwriter, astrophysicist and photographer
Brian May just comes across as a humble thoroughly decent human being. His talent is understated, he's a titan amongst guitar players in the modern era and I'm not even sure he knows how much he has changed the lives of millions before him with his music.
What a talent, what a human.
A true Gent and one of the best guitar player's to ever walk the planet...
ok... just found my favorite thing on youtube.
Same!
27:20 also the wonderful sound heard on the solo to "it's a hard life"
what a class act... very generous and insightful interview from a great musician..
"with our crystal sets..." My dad built one with me. Used it to listen to 93 KHJ in 1966! Coolest interview I've seen in a long, long time.
im 13 and i love gueen they were an amazing band and i love there music
@Andy Salter 1988 is not so long ago
What an awesome interview! TY for the upload Brain May is amazing always loved his guitar style. We miss you freddie!
Love listening to Brian May talk about music. And he is such a gentleman, so unpretentious, so very nice a person.
Brian’s guitar tone and playing style is so unique he’s one of the very few players u can just listen to him playing and know it’s him it could be a song you never heard before and you know it’s him. People like to say this about so many players but it’s usually because it’s their favorite guitarist but in reality there are only a handful of players like this and it’s not all lead guitar players there are some rhythm players too.
Not only am I listening to the greatest guitar player ever he's also a genius. Love Brian May.
We had a Dansette record player too In fact I think it’s still at home in the attic My Dad would set it up on two chairs in our drawing room every Sunday evening to listen to his Slim Whitman records Happy days long gone RIP Dad
This man's guitar was the first as I heard as a young boy in the 70's..with Queen. Obviously hearing the radio and other bands and guitars, this guitar is made by it's owner and nobody on earth can play it with Brian's feel.
I an apprentice to know all things Queen. I loved the interview. Brian is a legend within himself. So charming, charasmatic, honest not to mention talented (which is an understatement).
Brian is such an icon! Would love to meet him someday.
Brian doesn't use the sweet tone settings much, but his personality is set on sweet! He's awesome. :)
How can you not love Brian May !
Wow, that was great!!!
Yeap nicest guy ever, I had the chance to meet in a couple of occasions and he was the best.
Very cool interview. Its amazing to get this insight from Brian May, the man is one of a kind. I hope to see more in the future with other guitarists, for example Jimmy Page or Pete Townshend, but i highly doubt they'd do it. Which makes me appreciate Brian May that much more.
Fantastic stuff. A delight to watch. Thanks for posting Part 2 so quickly!
how cool can a rock star be? brain may : yes
I can listen to him hours and hours and hours
A simply great interview. An excellent musician talking about his music to a fellow musician.
What a magnificent interview and duet in the end!
And WELL DONE Mr. Humphries!
Jamie your face is priceless when Brian started to played Bohemian Rhapsody solo. lol Awesome
Brian May, just so impressive, and such a lovely soul.
I especially enjoyed the BoRhap bit at the end. What I would have given to trade places with you, and play with Dr. May! It really highlights the importance and originality of the backing guitar. I know everyone seems to focus on the iconic lead, but that backing sound is SO important. Not sure what Dr. May calls it, but I always called it his "angry cello" sound.
So Brian isn't just playing his guitar on stage phenomenally well, he is also sound engineering it.
Brilliant brilliant brilliant interview
Brian may is like the British version of Morgan Freedman, honestly he could narrate my life
sweet tones from a unique guitar and player.
A great player and innovator ( along with his Dad). If you play guitar do yourself a favor and go buy one of Bri's Red Specials . . excellent quality for the price and a blast to play. It is one of the most stable guitars I've ever played, a bit of a pain to tune but it roars when cranked. The world is a better place because of folks like Brian May.
DrRussPhd absolute!
I am insanely jealous of this interviewer right now. If I played bohemian rhapsody with Brian may, my life would be complete.
I hope one day I might get to meet him. Seems like such a nice down to earth and normal guy despite all of his fame, success and wealth. That's a fine example imo
Brian and the team, thank you for the memories, Uncle Mac on the wireless, a Dansette
record player childhood influences…wonderful. I tried to play my homemade
guitar though my red and white polka-dot Dansette!
London (my home town) Tottenham Court Road for elecronics and musical instrument shops - fond memories of my youth, with no money.
Quote, ‘Square wave fuzz tone’..A gentle-man.
Again I find myself listening to Brian explain his craft not understanding a thing, really.
This is so fantastic. I am not a guitar geek but it is so interesting to hear about how the pickups work in and out of phase. . I wished he had gone on to talk about the sound differences when he had them serial and parallel. I am going to play this to someone who understands the electronics and have them explain to me why the top pickup sounds mellow and the bottom has that sharp edge.
Very very grateful§ Many questions answered! Such a kind and generous man!! thanks you and thanks the kind gentleman who interviewed him as well!!
But then came rock and roll. How lucky were we? Very lucky indeed.
I like listening to their live concerts, I just feel like I am a part of a concert that happened many decades before I was born
13 thumbs down??? why? Great musician but above all a very humble human being. Love his music.
Love the Spinal Tap references. Great interview. Even iconic rock gods can be be nice guys without a lot of ego.
Awsome interview......awsome interviewer........ and awsome interviewee! :--)
It's interesting that Brian thought up Acoustic Pockets years ago. I might be wrong but I am under the impression that using cut outs internally to the body is something Gibson are doing to new guitars in recent years. Les Paul purists hate this and hence why Gibson went back to the 50s and 60s Les Paul Standard with no cut outs (acoustic pockets) with the new Les Paul Standards.
What a F&$%cking Great interview!!!. Maybe the best Brian interview ever. (for a guitarist)
the way Jamie look at the old lady is priceless...
He's played it several times. ;)
Brian is priceless ❤❤❤, one of the real guitar heroes
This is the stuff that true legends are made of. God bless you Sir Brian 🙏🏻
What a thoroughly lovely chap!
21 :53 " am i boring you" , ha ha ..the man could talk for a month bout how he developed that guitar and id still like be a moth to a light bulb.
nick williams He can read a phone book, and my attention’d be glued to him.
I have no idea what he is talking about but...i love hearing him talk
@@ttuanmu exactly
He could be talking about going to the toilet and id STILL be like a moth to a lightbulb (roflmao)
Sieren Tokiio It was very simple what he was talking about, the difference between the placing of the pickups, one or more switched on together and if they where in or out of phase, and how this affected the sound, not that hard...
2 really good man chatting about music.. Great interview
A truly brilliant man
"It's very easy, Bohemian" -Brian, 2016.
Great interview! Thanks!
really cool interview !
All those years with one guitar.... 40 years, I would certainly have dropped it or had a strap fail in that time.... what a responsibility and risk not to damage such an antique piece of rock history.