Queen guitarist Brian May has expressed interest in making a new solo album.
The musician spoke with Goldmine magazine concerning his musical goals. When discussing the potential of an instrumental release May stated “I do think about it. And strangely enough, I think it probably would be instrumental this time. Because I have enough ideas. And I have lots of unfinished business.”
May has described his musical process when commenting on the prospect of new material, stating that when writing songs, he typically writes music that features a vocalist. However, he also stated that his musical abilities could reach such projects as wide soundscapes written on just his six-string.
May’s famous writing partner was the late Freddie Mercury, the vocalist from the famous musical duo and May’s iconic bandmate. Mercury has become of the world’s most famous and celebrated singers of this time; the singer’s famed vocal talent included his four-octave vocal range and charismatic stage presence. May has provided a self-survey of the level of his musical talent whilst comparing himself to some of the world’s most famous guitarists, in the quote May also recounts his love for vocalists. “I don’t have the dazzling technical expertise of a Joe Satriani or a Steve Vai or Al Di Meola or Eddie Van Halen. But I just might. My guitar is very much my voice. I can’t play faster than I think. I’ve always been obsessed with songs and songs to me are about singers, and about the vocals.”
Although the guitarist has plans to release an instrumental album, he is currently focused on touring with his band Queen. Since 2004 vocalist Adam Lambert has been touring with the “Don’t Stop Me Now” performers, this musical partnership tours under the name “Queen + Adam Lambert”. The 74-year-old artist describes the group’s touring schedule and when fans can next see them perform live.
Within the interview May also further contemplates his plans for his next release. “We have a big world of touring to do. And we’ve been postponing and postponing the Queen tour, which we started just before COVID happened. Next May we will be doing a bunch of touring. Once that’s done, I think I will have the opportunity to sit down, and if I’m spared – as my mum used to say – and still functional, I think I might make the album.”
May’s last solo release was his work on the soundtrack for the 2000 motion picture Furia, the soundtrack was May’s third solo album and also featured May as the producer. The guitarist’s last solo studio album was released in 1998, Another World was May’s second solo studio album and was dedicated to his mother. Included within the album is the track “Business”, the song was released as the album’s first single and was a tribute to Cozy Powell. Powell played the drums on the album but tragically died in a car accident before the album was released.
Queen and Adam Lambert will be hitting the road next year when they embark on their “Rhapsody Tour”. The tour begins in the UK with several dates in Belfast and on 24th June 2022 continues into Europe.
Queen + Adam Lambert UK tour dates
27/05/2022 – SSE Arena – Belfast
28/05 – SSE Arena – Belfast
30/05 – AO Arena Manchester – Manchester
31/05 – AO Arena Manchester – Manchester
02/06 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow
03/06 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow
05/06 – O2 – London
06/06 – O2 – London
08/06 – O2 – London
09/06 – O2 – London
11/06 – Arena Birmingham – Birmingham
12/06 – Arena Birmingham – Birmingham
14/06 – O2 – London
15/06 – O2 – London
17/06 – O2 – London
18/06 – O2 – London
20/06 – O2 – London
21/06 – O2 – London
