Watch Brian May discuss his favourite Queen 'Greatest Hits' song and Freddie Mercury's 'private side'
The Queen legend spoke to Absolute Radio's Leona Graham
Queen legend Brian May has joined Absolute Radio’s Leona Graham for a chat to celebrate Queen’s 50th anniversary and also the 40th anniversary of their blockbuster ‘Greatest Hits’ album.
Commenting on 1981’s ‘Greatest Hits’, which is the best-selling album of all time in the UK and on course to top the album chart for the first time in 40 years this week, Brian said he’s blown away by its enduring success.
“It’s amazing," Brian enthused. "I have to pinch myself - it is THE biggest album of all time in this country. I suppose I didn't take it seriously for a while, but it's stayed up there (in the charts) for so long and it's so far ahead of everything else.”
Asked by Leona what his favourite song is on ‘Greatest Hits’, Brian said: “If I was allowing myself to be partisan then probably ‘We Will Rock You’ because it sort of says everything in a short time and it’s something which has always worked for us.
“It had to battle its way through to even be on there because that's one of the questionable things - you could say ‘well it wasn't a Number 1 hit in the UK.’ No, it wasn't; it was on the B side of ‘We Are The Champions’.
“But mostly around the world, both tracks were radio singles and did very well. And ‘We Will Rock You’ was I think a bona fide Number 1 in France, which was nice. But ‘We Will Rock You’ has been with us for so long, it has done so much for us… and it says a lot about what I had to say at the time, it says a lot about what I think still about humanity - the way I see it anyway.”
Going back 50 years, Leona asked Brian whether he always believed in Queen from their early days.
“You know, Leona it's a curious thing," Brian said. "There's levels to it. I think on the top level we were precocious boys, we thought we were better than anyone else. And we thought, ‘yeah, we just need a chance and we'll break through and we will conquer the world.’
“Underneath that, there's a massive insecurity because we didn't know anyone, we had no contacts. We couldn't get gigs because we didn't have a record out, we couldn't make a record because we weren't getting the gigs. So, you're in this terrible sort of inverse Catch 22 situation where you think, ‘how on earth do we do this? Is there any chance on earth?’ And you're taking a massive jump.
“When you actually become what my dad used to call a ‘pop star’, when you decide you're going to do this thing, it's a huge jump because the chances of you failing are enormous. So, you're throwing up all the chances that you have in normal life for this very small chance of breaking through as a recording artist and a touring artist.
“We had great dreams, but looking back on it, we weren't prepared - except musically. We had our stuff together, we had it in our heads and we had huge dreams. I say it's on levels because on one level you (say) ‘yes, we can do this’ and on the other level you think ‘there's no chance. We must be mad!’”
Commenting on whether Freddie Mercury was a commanding person from the offset, Brian said: “Well, you see Freddie's different levels too because on one level, yes, he was always a rock star. If you'd seen him in Kensington Market going around sort of ‘pomming’ anyone he met, and just generally being a being a flower - very confident. I mean he behaved as if he was Robert Plant at the time, and nobody minded because he just had that kind of aura about him. But underneath it? No. Massive insecurities, massive shyness which was always with him right to the end.
“He had a very private side to him, Freddie. And he faced up to his insecurities by building himself in a way that he wanted to be – he’s a very self-made creatures is Freddie and if you peeled off all the layers of the onion, you'd find a lot of complexity. A lot of it which he denied, which is smart, I think, really. People would say ‘is your music important Freddie?’ and he’d say ‘No, no it’s just tomorrow's Fish and Chip paper. I don't think my songs are worth anything.’ But underneath that, yes of course he felt he had stuff to say.
“Also the obliqueness of some of his early lyrics, it's very fantasy. It’s very fairies and ghouls and goblins and things, but underneath it, even at that time, there's a lot of personal meaning in those lyrics, I think - that's not something we ever talked about, we didn't do that in Queen, but I feel it very strongly. Freddie was always expressing himself in rather daring ways, and inside was this rather insecure person, but on the outside was a warrior, that he was building himself into.”
Check out Brian May’s full interview with Leona below where he also discussed why Queen’s biopic Bohemian Rhapsody was close to not happening.
Watch Queen's Brian May speak to Leona Graham:
Brian May’s debut solo album ‘Back To The Light’ from back in 1992 is being re-released on Friday 6th August.
The album boasts the singles ‘Too Much Love Will Kill You’ and ‘Driven By You’, and fans will also be able to enjoy a number of bonus tracks on the reissue’s second disc called ‘Out of the Light’.
Rock stars immortalised as statues, including Freddie Mercury:
Marc Bolan statue in Barnes, London
In September 2002, a bust of legendary T. Rex singer Marc Bolan was unveiled at the location of the car crash that claimed his life aged 29. The T. Rex Action Group (TAG) launched Marc Bolan's Rock Shrine in 1997 (the 20th anniversary of his passing) with a memorial stone, and five years later the bronze sculpture of Bolan was revealed. It was paid for exclusively by T-Rex Action Group founder Fee Warner, sculpted by Canadian sculptor Jean Robillard, and unveiled by Bolan's son Rolan Bolan. The sculpture features lyrics from Tyrannosaurus Rex's 1968 song 'Child Star.'
Brian Johnson statue in Namur, Belgium
AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson was immortalised in statue form in the Belgian city of Namur on 16th April 2023. The life-size statue made from Belgian Blue Stone commemorates Brian Johnson's first ever AC/DC concert, which took place at the city's Palais Des Expositions on 29th June 1980 four months after the death of Bon Scott. The fan-funded statue was the brainchild of AC/DC aficionados Michel Remy, Mike Davister and Georges Boussingault with support from the local radio station RTBF Classic 21. On the day of its unveiling, Brian Johnson said: "I'd like to say a very special thank you to all the donors and fans in Namur. It's a very special place for me. It was the first might I sang with AC/DC, and I was a very nervous boy. So that memory will stay with me forever, and now that you've built this statue, honestly, I'm not worthy of it. I thank you and I'll take it in good grace. I'll never forget what you've done for me."
Freddie Mercury statue at Lake Geneva
The iconic Freddie Mercury statue overlooking Lake Geneva in Montreux. Standing three metres high, the Irena Sedlecka sculpture was unveiled five years after Freddie's death by Montserrat Caballé and Freddie's mother Jer.
Freddie Mercury statue at Lake Geneva
A close up of the incredible Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards statues
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards were honoured with statues in their hometown of Dartford, Essex on 9th August 2023. The bronze sculptures, named The Glimmer Twins in homage to Jagger and Richards' song writing partnership, are the creation of sculptor Amy Goodman. The statues capture both Jagger and Richards in the midst of live performance, and they were commissioned by Dartford Borough Council to celebrate two of the town's most famous former residents.
Keith Richards statue in Dartford
Mick Jagger statue in Dartford
Rory Gallagher statue in Cork
Irish blues-rock legend Rory Gallagher has been honoured twice with a statue. The first was unveiled in the newly renamed Rory Gallagher Place in Cork in 1997, and was created by local artist Geraldine Creedon. The unqiue bronze sculpture takes the form of a guitar on one side, while the other features overlapping Rory Gallagher song lyrics.
Rory Gallagher statue in Ballyshannon
Created by artist David Annand in 2010, this life-sized bronze statue of Rory Gallagher was unveiled in Ballyshannon town centre. Standing proudly at 7ft tall, beneath the statue are the opening lyrics from Rory Gallagher's 1979 song 'Follow Me', which read: "I want to plant a star on the sky / One you can find at the end of the night."
Ronnie James Dio statue in Bulgaria
After Dio's untimely death in May 2010, the metalheads on the town council of Kavarna in Bulgaria immediately commissioned a statue in his honour. It was unveiled in October of that year.
Bon Scott statue in Fremantle
On 25th October 2008, a bronze statue of Bon Scott was dedicated at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour in Western Australia, where the late singer was brought up. The life-size statue depicts Bon standing on top of a Marshall speaker. Bon is buried in the town's cemetery, and is apparently the most visited grave in Australia.
Phil Lynott statue in Dublin
Philomena Lynott poses with her son's statue on Harry Street in Dublin in 2013. Erected in 2005, the 2.4-metre bronze statue was repaired twice in 2013 after a motorist crashed into it and vandals knocked it off its plinth.
Jimi Hendrix statue in Isle of Wight
In honour of Jimi's fabled 1970 Isle of Wight Festival performance, a bronze statue was unveiled at Dimbola House in 2006. Created by John Swindells, the plaque comes with the Jimi quote "It's funny how most people love the dead, once you're dead you're made for life."
Elvis Presley statue in Mississippi
Such is his profound legacy there are numerous Elvis statues across the globe. However, arguably the most poignant is this statue of a 13-year-old Elvis outside the church he attended as a child in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Chuck Berry statue in St Louis
Sculptor Harry Weber's in-motion sculpture of Chuck is located right across the street from Blueberry Hill in St Louis. The late-great Chuck himself launched the sculpture in July 2011.
Frank Zappa in Baltimore
Launched in 2010, the statue of the musical maverick's head is situated right by Frank Zappa Way in Baltimore where he was born.
Johnny Ramone statue at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Unveiled three months after Johnny's death in September 2004, the statue marks is burial site at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in California.
Buddy Holly statue in Clear Lake, Iowa
The creation of Michael Connor, a large steel set of Wayfarer-style glasses that were Buddy Holly's trademark are situated at the plane crash site near Clear Lake, Iowa where Buddy, Ritchie Valens, J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson & pilot Roger Peterson lost their lives in 1959.
Kurt Cobain statue in Washington
On what would have been Kurt's 47th birthday in February 2014, a statue was unveiled in the Aberdeen Museum of History, Washington as part of Kurt Cobain Day. The memorial featured a single tear rolling down Kurt's face prompting criticism from some quarters.
Freddie Mercury statue in London
This 20-foot high fibre-glass statue of Freddie Mercury that stood outside London's Dominion Theatre for We Will Rock You's 12 year run from 2002 to 2014. It now resides in Roger Taylor's back garden.
Bon Scott statue in Kirriemuir
Such is their adulation for the late singer, AC/DC fans themselves raised £45,000 to fund the life-size bronze statue of Bon Scott in his home town of Kirriemuir, Scotland. Created by John McKenna, it was unveiled by former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans in May 2016.
Jimi Hendrix nail statue
Created by Boris Deheljan from Belgrade, this uncoventional Jimi statue weighs 200 kilograms was made of 4000 screws and 40 kilograms of wire. It took six months to complete.
Lemmy statue at Rainbow Bar & Grill
The 6ft bronze Lemmy statue was unveiled at his favourite drinking establishment, West Hollywood's Rainbow Bar and Grill, on Wednesday 24th August 2016. Fans raised $23,000 to fund the sculpture.
David Bowie statue in Aylesbury
The fan-funded David Bowie 'Earthly Messenger' sculpture in Aylesbury was unfortunately was vandalised just hours after being unveiled in March 2018. Here the clean up operation is taking place.
Chris Cornell statue in Seattle
Chris Cornell's life-sized bronze sculpture at a ceremony at Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture. Commissioned by Chris' wife Vicky, the six-foot statue was created by sculptor Nick Marra and depicts the singer throwing a 'rock god pose' while clutching a perfectly detailed Gibson guitar. It was unveiled in October 2018 and sadly vandalised in 2020.
John Bonham statue in Redditch
The statue of the late Led Zeppelin drummer is located in Mercian Square in Bonham's birthplace of Redditch. Created by sculptor Mark Richards and unveiled on what would have been Bonham's 70th birthday on 31st May 2018, the vast bronze sculpture weighs around 2.5 tonnes and depicts Bonzo in live action behind the drum kit.
The Beatles statues in Liverpool
The bronze statues of all four members of The Beatles – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison – were unveiled on Liverpool's Waterfront in December 2015. Donated by The Cavern Club, the statues were created to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fab Four's last gig in Liverpool at The Liverpool Empire. Slightly larger than life, the statues way a combined 1.2 tonnes! John Lennon is also honoured with a statue on Mathew Street and at John Lennon Airport.
Buddy Holly statue in Texas
Created by sculptor Grant Speed in 1980, a huge 8.5-foot-tall bronze statue of Buddy Holly playing a Fender guitar resides in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas. The sculpture was created to mark the 50th anniversary of Buddy Holly's untimely death in 1959 - The Day the Music Died.
Stevie Ray Vaughan statue in Austin, Texas
Late-great Double Trouble blues rocker Stevie Ray Vaughan is immortalised with a bronze statue on the shore of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas near to the location of his last concert in the city. It was opened in 1994, four years after Vaughan's death, and was created by sculptor Ralph Helmick.
Jimi Hendrix statue in Seattle
Depicting Jimi Hendrix throwing an iconic pose and playing a Fender Stratocaster, the life-size Jimi statue is named The Electric Lady Studio Guitar and it's located in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Seattle. It's the work of sculptor Daryl Smith.
Phil Lynott statue in West Bromwich
A Phil Lynott statue was unveiled in his birthplace of West Bromwich on what would have been the Thin Lizzy legend's 72nd birthday on Friday 20th August 2021. The monument stands at six feet tall and features a large metal plinth featuring the words: 'Phil Lynott. Son of West Bromwich. Born in this town. 20th August 1949.' On top of the sizable plinth is a bust of Phil Lynott made from bronze and galvanized steel. The whole monument was created by local sculptor Luke Perry.
Freddie Mercury statue in Jeju, South Korea
A 5ft 9in statue of Freddie Mercury standing on the shoreline in Jeju, South Korea. The figure cost over £28,000 to make and was the labour of love for businessman and Queen fan Baek Soon-yeob, who emailed the band every month for 8 years to seek their permission.
Lemmy statue at Hellfest
A colossal statue of Motörhead legend Lemmy was unveiled at French metal festival Hellfest in Clisson, France in June 2022. Created by French artist and sculptor Caroline Brisset (pictured), the impressive statue was created from steel and concrete, and it replaces the previous Lemmy statue at Hellfest that was erected six years ago.
Till Lindemann statue in Germany
Created by animator and designer Roxxy Roxx, this 40-kilogram statue of Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann was unveiled outside the singer's childhood home in Rostock, Germany on 3rd January 2023. Unveiled to coincide with Lindemann's 60th birthday the following day, the statue was stolen just hours after it was erected.