The underappreciated guitarist Brian May called a “real inspiration”
The Queen guitarist Brian May is a revered force in rock guitar thanks to his eye for rip-roaring solos and compositional feats, including his iconic contributions to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. In the late 1960s, just as he finished his undergraduate degree in physics, May found himself in a thriving music scene.
Since 1967, London has been an epicentre for the psychedelic rock wave, housing guitar titans like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Syd Barrett. If he sought inspiration at this time, May was spoilt for choice in the realms of rock music and astrophysics, with the Apollo 11 moon landing just around the corner.
Ultimately, May’s passions led him into an unforgettable spell supporting Freddie Mercury in Queen through the 1970s. As he developed his guitar skills, he still continued to admire his formative guitar heroes. Some might be surprised to hear that one of May’s most cherished guitar idols was George Harrison. Although the Beatle was never regarded as a virtuoso on the level of May, Page or Clapton, his unique approach to chord structure and craftmanship continues to inspire today.
As far as May was concerned, Harrison was one of the most underrated lead guitarists of the psychedelic era. Perhaps he would have been more widely revered for his instrumental talent had he not been eclipsed by the songwriting prowess of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, his close friend Clapton and the American import Jimi Hendrix.
With perhaps the exception of multi-instrumentalist Paul McCartney, none of The Beatles were ever regarded musical virtuosos, but their creative innovation set the pace for generations to come. “They are the pinnacle of writing, performance and ethos of rock music,” May explained in a 2022 interview with the Express. “They broke down so many barriers, they changed the world many times. I will always love The Beatles without any reservation.”
Later in the conversation, May singled out Harrison for praise. “I love George, I love his playing,” he said. Adding, “I hold George in such reverence and I think he’s so underrated by the guitar community. Everyone raves about people who play fast, but if you look at the catalogue of stuff he’s produced, it’s colossal.”
Of course, Harrison wasn’t the be-all and end-all of May’s guitar education. In a 2002 interview with The Guardian, he remembered Hank Marvin of The Shadows as a childhood favourite. He also singled out another oft-underrated lead player: James Burton. “One of the originators of rock guitar playing, who played for Elvis and Ricky Nelson,” May said. “I was lucky enough to play with him recently. He’s a real inspiration. It’s not just the sound – it’s the fact that he can bend strings and make the guitar speak.”
Burton might not be as famous as some of the stars he backed, but his early work with Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley during his Las Vegas residency and John Denver thereafter speaks volumes for his versatility and virtuosity.