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11 10 with JonPaul Hedge www.whatsonsouthwest.co.uk [email protected] www.whatsonsouthwest.co.uk [email protected] with JonPaul Hedge INTERVIEW INTERVIEW L EGENDARY Queen guitarist Brian May was treated like royalty when he popped in for a book-signing session in Paignton. Expectant fans and hosts automatically rose to their feet when the ace musician strolled nonchalantly into the Palace Theatre to launch the paperback version of Bang — The Complete History of the Universe. A room on its feet seemed the only fitting greeting for a man who is considered rock royalty by many, especially after his famous appearance playing God Save the Queen on top of Buckingham Palace to open HRH’s golden jubilee celebrations in 2002. But one of the greatest living guitarists wasn’t in Paignton because of his music, it was his love of star-gazing that led to the visit. In true rock star fashion the 62-year-old doctor of astronomy was more than an hour late for the signing, but his reasons — bad traffic on the A303 — were somewhat less rock ‘n’ roll. By the time I sat down to talk to the living legend I’d already had a lengthy chat with co-authors, veteran astronomer and Sky at Night presenter Sir Patrick Moore, and his co-presenter Chris Lintott, a former Torquay Boys’ Grammar School student. Dressed in a black suit that looked more Oxfam than Savile Row and wearing a pair of scruffy white trainers Brian looked every inch a rock star. But as hosts clamoured to cater for his every need, his calm, laid back manner put those nervous about his arrival instantly at ease and was a reminder that although elevated to god-like status he was, after all, only human. “I used to come to Paignton on holiday all the time,” he revealed as he talked about an upbringing which was humble compared to the vast sums he earned with Queen. “We didn’t have much money when I was growing up. We used to scrimp and save the whole year. “In those days you used to have to put shillings in the gas and electricity meter. My mum used to save the shillings up in little jars and there would be a jar for holiday. “A few times we came to Paignton and really liked it. “I remember it very well, all the red sand. I was hoping to have time to go down there today. It would be nice to get to the sea just for a minute.” Brian May is a man known for his music. He was recently highly praised by instrumental rock guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Steve Via who said in Classic Rock magazine: “He’s a class act from head to toe.” But it was Brian’s extraordinary talent and, I was to learn, drive for perfection, that gave him the opportunity to come full circle and return to astronomy. His love of star-gazing began as a child, at about the same time as he developed a passion for music. His father helped him build a telescope and a guitar. Brian, who penned, among others, Queen’s hit We Will Rock You, was in his fourth year of postgraduate study and writing his thesis when his career with one of the greatest rock bands of all time took off. Music dominated his life and, 36 years after beginning the project and probably one of the longest extensions on record, he handed in his thesis entitled Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud. For a man who has achieved so much he is remarkably modest, admitting that despite two honorary doctorates he hadn’t been happy using the suffix until he achieved one he’d worked for. “You can now call me Dr May,” he is reported as saying when he handed in the 48,000-word thesis at London's Imperial College. It was Brian’s phenomenal success with Queen that facilitated his return to astronomy and enabled him to ‘tie up the loose ends’ he left when he pursued his musical career. “I have come full circle and I consider myself very fortunate,” he told me. “You come to various forks in the road of your life — and you have to make a very bold decision to walk down one road and forsake the other. I have had a few moments like that. “It’s great if you find out at another point that you can reconnect to the past things you loved. “I have been incredibly fortunate that the success that I have had as a musician has given me a bridge to do anything I want, which is amazing.” But had it not been for the determination of long-time friend Sir Patrick Moore, Brian might never have returned to astronomy. “I didn’t really think I could do it,” he admitted. “But Patrick kept telling me I could take a year off and finish my thesis, which I did. I surprised myself.” It was clear from meeting the three co-authors of Bang that Sir Patrick, despite his insistence to the contrary, is the boss. “Patrick told me: ‘I have decided, you are co-writing this’,” revealed Brian. Bang — The Complete History of the Universe was produced by all three men but it was Sir Patrick who took it upon himself to write the first draft... in just two weeks. “By the time we met the first time to discuss things he had written it,” said Brian. “We proceeded to rip it to bits, reorganise, mould and get all sorts of inspiration together over the next few months.” He added: “It was a very, very interesting journey for me, and I learned a lot as well. “I hadn’t been close to the subject for 30 years, so if we could phrase the book in a way that made sense to me then I thought it would work for the public.” Chris Lintott mentioned earlier that Brian would often keep in him check when the language he used became too complicated. “We argued over every word,” admitted both Brian and Chris. Bang made it on to the bestseller list and prompted DR MAY’S LIFE HAS COME FULL CIRCLE THANKS TO DRIVE FOR PERFECTION calls for a second book – something that, I am told, is now in the pipeline. Brian’s easy-going, relaxed manner made him a pleasure to talk to. He smiled graciously when told that people in the queue were singing Queen hits as they awaited his arrival. He seemed almost unaware that the buzz in the room centred around him. He greeted Chris warmly when he arrived. Then, after being introduced to the star-struck gathering, his ventured concern that he hadn’t seen Patrick to say hello. Brian is softly spoken and gave no hint of a sizeable ego that could develop after so many years in the limelight. He put much of his success down to his dad’s mantra: ‘If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.’ This instilled in him the philosophy that if he was going to do something he would do it ‘better than anyone else’. Looking at the magnitude of his success in music and astronomy, this drive and determination has paid dividends. “I don’t find it possible to half-do anything. I have to immerse myself in it and that’s where the satisfaction comes from.” Brian said that what he enjoys is ‘going into an area and finding little corners that have never been unearthed before’. “I always find that very exciting, in any pursuit. The same in music, astronomy and producing.” And he announced: “I am producing an artist at the moment called Kerry Ellis.” Brian met the singer when she auditioned for the first run of the hit West End musical We Will Rock You, based on the songs of Queen. “I was just blown away by her. I remember thinking what if I am always going to be this entranced by people who come in for auditions. But actually I wasn’t. She was a one off,” he said. “We’ve been working together for a long time now and we nearly have an album ready. “This is the same thing. I can’t half-do it. It has to be the greatest thing ever.” Brian’s other passion, something he has wholly immersed himself in since his early days, is stereoscopic images. The last year has been spent working on a piece of photographic history resulting in a book called A Village Lost and Found. The work is about rescuing an ancient English work of art completely lost to the world called Scenes in Our Village by a stereo photographer called TR Williams. “It is one of those things that in my life I had to say goodbye to for a while. But I was able to come back and rejoin that particular thread. It is a very big deal in my life,” said Brian. With time moving on and the book-signing running late, I could feel the atmosphere in the room becoming somewhat tense as I monopolised Brian’s time. Clutching a first edition of Bang belonging to a book- collecting colleague, I asked if he would mind signing it and three other copies I’d bought that day. Brian smiled, borrowed my pen and happily inscribed the volumes before being ushered to the signing table. Within minutes he was grinning and chatting to those who had waited patiently in the queue. The book launch was underway. I could see people far back in the line wielding cameras eager to get a picture of their idol. Brian’s last words echoed in my mind: “Some day I will probably stop rushing around, but that doesn’t seem to be yet.” I had a very short time with a man whose determination to do it ‘better than anyone else’ saw him become a rock god, and then use that Queen legacy to help pursue the dreams and aspirations he put on hold when his musical career took off. One thing will stay with me. Although this likeable chap has been the focus of much adoration, he wasn’t self- important. He was warm, approachable, polite and down- to-earth — a true legend. ● Signed copies of Bang — The Complete History of the Universe can be bought from Torbay Bookshop in Paignton. JENNA RICHARDS ROCK STARS: Queen (from left) Brian May, Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury and John Deacon HONORARY DEGREE: Brian May receives his honorary degree from Exeter University HONOUR: Brian May with his actress wife Anita Dobson and children Louisa, 24 and Jimmy, 27, after the guitarist collected his CBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2005
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