What do you think?
Rate this book
Brian May: The definitive biography
As the lead guitarist of Queen, Brian May is one of rock's most recognisable stars. Brian May: the definitive biography charts his life from his childhood, through his years studying astro physics and teaching, his success with Queen, his more recent projects and his volatile relationship with actress Anita Dobson. Bestselling writer Laura Jackson examines closely the many aspects of the musician's life revealing his true story for the first time. The book reveal's Queen's struggles to gain success and life at the top, throwing some of the most notorious and wildly salacious parties in the business. It charts the camaraderie and conflicts within Queen as well as Brian's difficult years throughout the disintegration of his first marriage, the death of his father and the profound professional and emotional effects of Freddie Mercury's illness and death. The book is packed with nearly 70 first-hand exclusive interviews with some of his closest friends, colleagues and fellow musicians. These include school and college friends, early band members and colleagues in the scientific world. Interviewees include, Tony Iommi, Joe Elliott, Raul Rodgers, Cliff Richard and Spike Edney.
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
57 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 10, 2023
Disappointing
I am disappointed with being disappointed!
I started reading with the expectation of getting to know an interesting person.
I came away not knowing him at all!
Or any of the other people who appear either.
The facts all there - in great abundance.
It is just that I never got to know Brian.
And, it seems to me, that is the essence of a biography.
You just want to get to know them for better or worse!.
The book is not terrible - that’s why I gave it two stars.
Some single word summaries: bland; shallow; uninvolving; disappointing.
Would I recommend it?
No.
But there are worse reads out there.
Bruce
I am disappointed with being disappointed!
I started reading with the expectation of getting to know an interesting person.
I came away not knowing him at all!
Or any of the other people who appear either.
The facts all there - in great abundance.
It is just that I never got to know Brian.
And, it seems to me, that is the essence of a biography.
You just want to get to know them for better or worse!.
The book is not terrible - that’s why I gave it two stars.
Some single word summaries: bland; shallow; uninvolving; disappointing.
Would I recommend it?
No.
But there are worse reads out there.
Bruce
March 30, 2024
As a fan of Queen, I've long wanted to read a biography of Brian May. Imagine my delight when I came across this one by Laura Jackson. Now, imagine my disappointment having read it.
I learned nothing I didn't already know from other books I've read about Queen. A definitive biography it wasn't.
The best I can say about it is it whiled away a few hours.
I learned nothing I didn't already know from other books I've read about Queen. A definitive biography it wasn't.
The best I can say about it is it whiled away a few hours.
October 24, 2012
Laura Jackson's 'Brian May:The Definitive Biography' is naturally, in the main the story of Queen. That was fine by me as I have been ignorant of the finer details. Nowhere in my music collection is there a copy of a Queen album. Never the less, I have always appreciated their single releases and as May is a fellow astronomer, there was the reason to borrow this book from the library.
I felt that this biog was something betwixt and between. It lacked the personal depth to really expose either May or the band. It is well documented throughout. May's early life and education and Queen's formation and career, the albums, the tours. All the usual rock star chaos and mayhem, but without the drug excess. The focus is predominantly on May and Mercury, leaving the other band members as shadowy figures. Also, with Brian May being the kind of reticent personality that he is we don't get the full picture here as well.
I felt that this biog was something betwixt and between. It lacked the personal depth to really expose either May or the band. It is well documented throughout. May's early life and education and Queen's formation and career, the albums, the tours. All the usual rock star chaos and mayhem, but without the drug excess. The focus is predominantly on May and Mercury, leaving the other band members as shadowy figures. Also, with Brian May being the kind of reticent personality that he is we don't get the full picture here as well.
August 10, 2019
Could not put it down!
From the beginning to the end I couldn't put it down. I always liked Brian, but now I love and respect him. Just wish the book continued a little further...it ended in 2008. Hope someday I can see Queen in concert.
From the beginning to the end I couldn't put it down. I always liked Brian, but now I love and respect him. Just wish the book continued a little further...it ended in 2008. Hope someday I can see Queen in concert.
December 21, 2020
As a huge Queen and Brian May fan, I eagerly awaited this book. However, I found it to be so excruciatingly detailed about fairly technical matters that I did not actually finish it. Instead, I read chunks that seemed particularly interesting or new. Some readers may be interested in every recording transaction, every guitar and amp setup, and the names of anyone Brian May ever interacted with up through 2007 (publication date of this biography). If you are one of those, I definitely recommend this book! Even those who do not find every page fascinating may find enough new data here to make the book worthwhile. This is why I gave it only three stars, even though the topic is absolutely five star-worthy. A new post-2007 biography would be welcome, since Brian has been very active musically, scientifically, and on the humanitarian front right up to the present day. He is definitely an uber human being!
December 19, 2019
This was... okay. I would have said 3.5 stars if I could, but 4 seems high.
It was unauthorized so it's a stretch to say this was a "Definitive" biography of Brian May. It was an fast easy read with a lot of information about Queen, but for the most part, the author focused far more on Queen as a whole and Freddie Mercury in particular. While Brian is clearly deeply intertwined with both of those, there were long sections where he was barely mentioned, if at all. Definitely read it, but don't expect a deep tell-all. If you've read other books about Queen, there's not a lot new here.
It was unauthorized so it's a stretch to say this was a "Definitive" biography of Brian May. It was an fast easy read with a lot of information about Queen, but for the most part, the author focused far more on Queen as a whole and Freddie Mercury in particular. While Brian is clearly deeply intertwined with both of those, there were long sections where he was barely mentioned, if at all. Definitely read it, but don't expect a deep tell-all. If you've read other books about Queen, there's not a lot new here.
May 20, 2024
I enjoyed this book enough that I don't feel I wasted time reading it but it was not particularly good. First of all the writing itself is average, but significantly, this book was at least 60-70% about Freddie Mercury, with the remainder split between Brian and the band altogether. I adore Freddie and an borderline obsessed with the band, but I wanted to learn more about Brian specifically and hoped are least 70% would focus on him. I don't regret reading this but probably wouldn't recommend it.
December 19, 2020
Very British
Definitely written for a British audience. Also, a bit too focused on Freddie Mercury at times. Nonetheless, worthy reading for those interested in the details of Dr. May’s impressive life.
Definitely written for a British audience. Also, a bit too focused on Freddie Mercury at times. Nonetheless, worthy reading for those interested in the details of Dr. May’s impressive life.
November 4, 2018
Extremely well written!
August 31, 2019
It was more like a 3 star book because I felt it didn't really get into nitty gritty details of his life. But as it's about Brian May I can't give it anything less than 4 stars.
Read
January 11, 2020It was interesting to learn a little more about Brian himself.
I enjoyed reading the book.
I enjoyed reading the book.
May 14, 2020
One of the very best rock biography's I have read
Great story of a great band, through all their many highs and lows, in a detailed but concise style.
What a journey....
Great story of a great band, through all their many highs and lows, in a detailed but concise style.
What a journey....
June 6, 2020
Just OK. Pretty much just a straight litany of the events of Brian May's life without too much analysis.
June 13, 2020
A Good Read for Queen Fans
A bit out of date by 2020, still very enjoyable. So much focus is usually given to Freddie it made a change to see things from Brian’s perspective.
A bit out of date by 2020, still very enjoyable. So much focus is usually given to Freddie it made a change to see things from Brian’s perspective.
March 26, 2022
Accurate
December 8, 2023
good book
Liked the way the book follows May through university hardship days to the peak of success with queen. Some of the episodes are a little repeatable.
Liked the way the book follows May through university hardship days to the peak of success with queen. Some of the episodes are a little repeatable.
March 11, 2015
Už jsem to četla jednou, ale po koncertě jsem musela zas. Nedokážu bejt objektivní, protože cokoliv o Brianovi musí bejt skvělý. Je tam dost popsaná jeho kytara, z čehož jsem teda nerozuměla ani slovu, ale bylo to zajímavý. Celkově to bylo spíš o Queenech než o Brianovi, ale to se dalo čekat. Je tam i spousta zajímavostí a ,,zákulisních informací", což je fajn. Těžko říct, co všechno je pravda, ale podle doslovu kniha vznikla na základě rozhovorů s lidma, který se fakt okolo Queenů pohybovali dost blízko.
Jenom je škoda, že všechno víceméně končí po smrti Freddieho a těch 23 let (1991-2004) je tam popsanejch na hrozně málo stránek, přitom se stalo fakt hodně zajímavejch věcí (Brian napsal Bang, hrál královně na střěše Buckinghamskýho paláce, měl vlastní turné, dali to dohromady s Paulem Rodgersem, dostat čestnej a pak i ,,pravej" doktorát, trpěl depresema atd), který by mě osobně zajímali víc než stokrát omílaný story z Wembley turné.
Jenom je škoda, že všechno víceméně končí po smrti Freddieho a těch 23 let (1991-2004) je tam popsanejch na hrozně málo stránek, přitom se stalo fakt hodně zajímavejch věcí (Brian napsal Bang, hrál královně na střěše Buckinghamskýho paláce, měl vlastní turné, dali to dohromady s Paulem Rodgersem, dostat čestnej a pak i ,,pravej" doktorát, trpěl depresema atd), který by mě osobně zajímali víc než stokrát omílaný story z Wembley turné.
January 24, 2011
As a huge Queen fan I keep an eye out for any new books about them. Laura Jackson's 2007 bio of guitarist Brian May is subtitled "the definitive biography," but falls a little short. She did do new interviews with May's friends and colleagues, not relying solely on existing material, but I feel like there is more, much more, to be written about Queen's brainy eccentric guitarist. The photos in the middle of the book were ok, but offered really nothing new for fans.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews