Queen in 3-D

by Brian May

There's no ghost writer for this book. Its just me. - Brian May With these words, the author announces the first book ever to be published about the legendary rock band Queen by a member of the band. And certainly the first book of its kind in the world. Its a unique collection of original, highly personal snapshots of Queen in Three Dimensions, from the bands inception in the early '70s right up to the present day, accompanied by the exclusive recollections of founding member and lead guitarist, Brian May. Brian's typically honest account of his experiences within and without the band, including many extreme highs and lows, bravely opens the door to his feelings, beliefs and motivations on this trip though an extraordinary life. This book will entrance millions of Queen fans; but it will also inspire anyone who wonders what they might learn from a man who used his intellect, musical talent, and ability to make the transition from college boy to rock star in just a few years, and then go on building creatively for the next forty! The book is illustrated with over 300 photographs, the majority actually taken by Brian, and mostly in 3-D. These shots of Freddie Mercury, John Deacon, Roger Taylor, and Brian himself, on and off stage all round the world, spring into life when viewed with Brian's patent OWL viewer (supplied free with the book). Through the eyes of Brians camera you are transported back in time to experience Queen's miraculous 46-year journey as if you were actually there whether in a dressing room, in a car, on a plane, or on stage at Madison Square Garden. The three dimensional stereoscopic images (the precursor of Virtual Reality) immerse and engage you in the atmosphere of the moment as no flat 2-D picture ever could.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Biography, Memoir, Photography

253 pages, Hardcover

Published August 24, 2017

About the author

Brian Harold May, CBE (born 19 July 1947) is a British musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen.

As a guitarist he uses his home built guitar, "Red Special", and has composed hits such as "Now I'm Here", "Tie Your Mother Down", "We Will Rock You", "Who Wants to Live Forever", "Hammer to Fall", "Save Me", "Fat Bottomed Girls", "I Want It All" and "Too Much Love Will Kill You".

May earned a PhD in astrophysics in 2007 and is currently the chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.

He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 for "services to the music industry".

In 2005, a Planet Rock poll saw May voted the 7th greatest guitarist of all time. He was ranked 39th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time", reflecting the magazine's editorial opinion.

Reviews

[Mirka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the geekiest, and the most adorable rock star memoir I have ever read. This book is at the same time Brian May's autobiography, a textbook about stereophotography, and a collection of rare photographs about Queen. Brian May writes in that same rambling style he writes his blog, jumping from an anecdote about Freddie Mercury to rant about animal cruelty within the space of a paragraph, and while there are some sections that could have used some editing, most of the time it only adds to the book's charm. There are no scandalous revelations in this book, but it does offer an intimate glimpse behind the scenes of one of the biggest rock bands of all time.

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to express just how amazing this book is for any Queen fan. If the wonderful pictures in 3D weren't enough, the book features Brian May discussing Queen and their history in detail. None of the biographies on Queen and/or Freddie Mercury have had stories that told you about the members in any detail. They never got into the heart of any member or any album. Brian May does that right away, whether it's a picture of Freddie applying make-up or saying that John Deacon was "happy and mischievous...which is how he was in 1975." Brian takes you into the emotions of being in the band and how that was reflected in their music and everything they did.
As the title states, this has hundreds of 3D pictures May took throughout their career. It comes with an easy to set up 3D viewer. I'm one of those people who never saw anything in those old Magic Eye posters (just call me Mr. Pitt) but after a minute I got the hang of it. You're really transported into another world. Seeing Roger Taylor strumming a guitar or the Radio GaGa video shoot, they come alive with the viewer. I can see why stereo photography became a part of May's life.
Between the 3D pictures and May's wonderful stories, reading (and viewing) this book is like taking a journey with old friends. No Queen fan should miss it.
If you just want to check out 3D photography and you're not a fan of the band, check out May's other 3D books, A Village Lost and Found or Diableries.

[Philip Haagensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I'm a long time Queen fan. So when I heard Brian May was going to pen a book from his own personal photo collection and it was going to be in his voice and autobiographical, I was eagerly anticipating the end product.

I loved this book. But those looking for a comprehensive autobiography by Brian--that's really not this book. Sure it has Brian talking in his own, unedited voice, relaying anecdotes from past Queen tours. And they are great stories. But many times you get the "but that's a story for another day" line and he moves on to the next subject.

What you will get are snippets of memory centered around his personal photographs. Written basically in chronological order, May takes us through Queen's touring life, focusing more on introspective and personal moments which illustrate their life on the road. These are photos from his personal files. You haven't seen many of them before. His commentary is somewhat cloudy (all those tour stops can blend into one another) but he does a solid job of providing meaningful commentary.

As the founder of the London Stereoscopic Company (LSC), this book is not only published by them but includes many of his Stereoscopic photo pairs from his files. The book includes his own original OWL® Stereoscopic viewer which gives a 3D perspective to each photo pair. May has been a lifelong fan of these types of photos and spent a good deal of his life collecting them as well as publishing books about them through LSC.

As a hardcore fan of Queen, the book provided me with great insight into their life on the road and mindsets while touring. The timeline can be a little spotty as you'd think he'd spend more time talking about some of the significant events in their history but again, this is not a comprehensive autobiography. It is a book centered around May's love for stereoscopic images with a focus on those images associated with Queen. As he didn't have his trusty stereoscopic camera with him all the time, there are some holes. But the insight and commentary given on what he does have is phenomenal. The book begins in Queen's formative years and carries through with commentary up to and including the Adam Lambert years.

The insight given here leaves you wanting more. It whets your appetite and often times leaves you with additional questions you'd wished he'd answered. When he does decide to pen his autobiography, I'm hopeful he saved some of these memories for the book. But this certainly serves as the appetizer.

[Bárbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update :April 4th 2019
I finished it. I just finished it and I'm kind of tearing up here. I feel incredibly grateful to Brian May for putting this together. I know, I know I complained (mainly to my friend Melina) about the lack of Roger here, in general; but I came to terms with it, slowly, somewhere along the way. All in all, this was an incredibly well put together account of the history of one of the greatest rock bands ever. And the band's spirit was alive in every page, almost tangible. It was, if I can be allowed the reference, a kind of magic (because me being me, of course there was an unavoidable reference to one of Roger's songs to be made there).



I want it all, I want it all, I want it all... And I want it NOW.

Some day one day...

It's the same situation just cuts like a knife, when you're young and you're poor and you're crazy- (YES, I AM AWARE THIS IS A ROG SONG- I WOULD KNOW ABOUT ROG- BUT IT STILL FITS, LEAVE ME ALONE)

[Ramon van Dam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several books about the history of Queen, but this one is extra special in two regards:

1. It's written by Brian May himself
2. It features 3D photographs from the band's entire history, taken mainly by May

Since Queen is by far my favourite band of all time and I also love stereoscopic images, this book hits my sweet spot. The 3D effect is astounding in a lot of the included pictures, really adding a whole new layer and enhancing the feeling of being there yourself. It also goes more into the history of the band than I expected, which is a nice bonus.

[Kersi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exceptional book!
The story of Queen told by Mr Brian May alone would be exceptional but with 3-D pictures? Taken by Mr Brian May? What a freaking masterpiece!


- 9th book in the 2022 popsugar reading challenge: a book about a band or musical group -

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely perfect!

[Beck Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. My favorite pictures were from all the different tours in Japan including the ones that were Fisheye format and not just 3-D. I also liked that this book isn't static...some of the best pictures are from the last few years including the tour with Adam Lambert and from the set of the Live Aid Concert during the making of the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. Advances with the technology of the 3-D camera equipment produced some amazing recent pictures in terms of capturing onstage lighting. And the experimental pictures with "ghosting" and "light writing" from the 1970s are not too shabby either. :)

[Michelle Miao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian May is quite possibly the most beautiful human being on the planet... I first went through this book in 2019, but this time read it more closely and fell in love all over again. Brian really wrote it the exact way he talks; it's as if he were speaking directly to us in his very erudite, gentle, sensitive, and thorough way of describing his adventures and the world. I already knew a significant amount of the information in this book, but nothing beats reading about it from Brian's perspective and in his voice.

I LOVED the early Queen stories. Freddie drawing Hendrix portraits is so unsurprising! But they really came from such humble beginnings, having to go record their album in the middle of the night, designing their own album cover and band logo, Freddie and Brian taking the bus daily to try and get their management worked out... They really believed in themselves when no one else did and were such a family (and on tour too, sharing hotel rooms and dressing rooms). 70's Queen really has a special place in my heart.

The way Brian reflected on the 1970s and 80s also drove home a vastly different era, where attitudes and ways of doing things were dramatically different. There's a certain amount of nostalgia involved, of course - he talks aptly about the rose-tinted glasses we wear when looking backwards (something I just read in Dostoevsky as well), and I'm sure he did that with some of these memories, as we all do as individuals. Many of the stories were so fun - like what do you mean, Freddie had a whip he liked to carry around and randomly crack?? The narration is all sparkling with wit and self-deprecating humor.

Brian's own personal reflections were also so endearing and a bit heartbreaking. He's always been such a sensitive, empathetic, reflective person (take a look at just about any of his song lyrics...) and it really shows in how he viewed the world on tour. His description of the loneliness, the "searching for an angel with a broken wing," the euphoric rush of connection and then sudden severance was all so poetic and honest. Also, the opening up about his spells of depression and his consistent mental health struggles was really touching. He puts a positive spin on it regarding the music they produced, but I get the sense that the Munich era was definitely more traumatic for him than he openly expressed (and traumatic for the others in the band as well). And though he glosses over Hot Space, I'm sure that era was equally turbulent because he didn't even have the music, then.

Some other reflections I particularly loved were his thoughts on politics! It was quite welcoming to see tangents about Brexit and the rise of nationalism, as well as Trump's bigotry. Also so happy he mentioned the African-American origins of blues and rock music.

Overall, though, one of my favorite qualities of this book is that Brian's love for Freddie shines through so clearly, from all of the candid photos and loving descriptions and kind words. Brian was definitely one of the few people who really knew Freddie and was aware of all his vulnerabilities and shyness behind the stage persona - he shows it well here. It really moved me to read about Brian's love for "A Winter's Tale" and "It's A Hard Life," the former of which shows Freddie's true love for his life and the world, and the latter of which is a deeply honest track that reveals all Freddie wanted was love - clearly, all Brian wanted was for his friend to BE loved. The fact that they worked together on such personal lyrics also speaks volumes about their mutual understanding.

And lastly, I'd be remiss not to mention the incredible world of stereoscopy introduced! I was literally staring for a full minute at some of the 3-D apparitions, as if I could be pulled into their world. The photo of Brian holding his Pentax camera and taking a photo... so vivid, I was breathless. The ghost-effect and the different lighting tricks were also insanely cool.

When I first read this and started exploring every facet of Queen, I was quite young and felt everything in a very raw way. It was all very new to me, discovering the stories and the laughter and sadness and the MUSIC. This time, I’m more mature and have a better perspective of the world and human nature. (I've also had time to ruminate on everything about the band for nearly 6 years). Having finished reading this book a second time, I think I feel the messages far more deeply or, at the very least, with a lot more maturity and understanding. But of course, the same love and admiration for Brian, who is so uncontrived and genuine and lovable, remains - really glad this book is out in the universe, with all its humor and depth and history.

[Lorayne Patricio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr May's childhood hobbies of music and stereoscopic photography are well-combined here in 'Queen In 3D'. He gives you a glimpse of his childhood in another context (if you have read 'Brian May's Red Special', you'd also see some pics of him as a child) - traditional 3d photography as popularized in the Victorian Era.
Like Dr May, I'm fond of collecting things from the years past, as well as photos. 'Queen In 3D' is a visual treat of '60s, '70s, and '80s nostalgia. But his stereoscopic history of Queen doesn't end in 1991; glimpses of Queen in the Paul Rodgers and the Kerry Ellis/Adam Lambert era (as I prefer to call it as they're both from the musical theater world) are also featured in this book. There are lots of eye candy, especially with the rare mono photos of the four; attention Roger Taylor lovers!

May's writing is his Soapbox-style rambling, as expected, complete with his very endearing separated exclamation marks ! (See what I did there) If you are expecting some 'tell-all' or 'revelations' kind of thing, sorry but you're already reading the truth about Queen as Dr Brian May is allowed to share to us, because some things not meant to be known by the fans. Queen are just four humans who have rights to privacy as much as any normal folk does.

Currently I have the first edition, and may be planning to get a copy of the upcoming new edition sometime in the near future. No need to take effort in viewing the stereos though as the yellow OWL Viewer is included in a separate slipcase, while the white edition of this book (as I've seen from the London Stereoscopic Company website) has the portable sibling of the OWL, called the Lite OWL.

But not everyone can have 20/20 vision, so I guess you can just enjoy the photos and Dr May's friendly rambling.
Downside of this book is that it's quite heavy, and you can buy a copy from londonstereo.com if not available at your local bookstores.
So, if you're into Queen and photography as much as I do, then 'Queen in 3D' is a highly recommended book.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic exploration of Queen through the eyes of one of the four people who could tell it best, Brian May. The book made clear at the beginning that Brian himself wrote all the content and that’s very clear throughout as his voice, personality and opinions shine strong. It’s refreshing to hear his unique commentary instead of a fact by fact retelling. I thought Brian’s tangents on all things from politics to technology were all profound and really interesting even if it wasn’t on par with the images or Queen themselves.

The stereoscope was surprisingly fascinating. We’re well into the 21st century and I didn’t think 2-D images in a book viewed through some kind of special eyewear could be all that exciting but it definitely was intriguing to digest the images in a different proximity. Using the stereoscopic glasses and having to focus in on the images really makes you stop and really interact with the pictures instead of quickly glancing and turning the page. Most surprisingly, I was amazed at how much I loved learning about stereoscopy itself despite the fact I delved into the book purely for Queen.

Overall, my Queen appetite was definitely fulfilled but I came away with so much more and found myself so enamoured by Brian May, his life and all he had to say about absolutely everything. I think I’d read anything written by him even the most mundane of subjects.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't really a Queen biography (in case you might be thinking that it is one but is just in 3D). It's more of fun "pop-up" book with some great back stories about Queen and the people that were around them.

First of all, Dr. May did an INCREDIBLE job with the stereoscopic images as well as The Owl design for viewing. All of the images range from the early days of Queen up until Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert. You also get to see a lot of cool photos from the present of toys that were collected from Japan as well as the guitars he uses and his family. The photos are of incredible quality and taken by Dr. May himself.

Second of all, you get great back stories on different photos in the book. There's a lot of good ones about his parents (like them going to the premiere of The Flash) and about Freddie, John, and Roger. One of my favourite photos has to be of them up on the CN Tower in Toronto (my hometown).

Overall, you should get this book if you're a fan of Queen and are interested in Stereoscopy. I know there's a newer 'Bohemian Rhapsody' edition with photos from the set but either version is a great version that I would recommend to everyone.

[Rubén Lorenzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si nunca has experimentado la estereoscopía, es decir, las fotos en tres dimensiones vistas con unas gafas especiales, este libro puede enseñarte un nuevo horizonte. Las fotos del grupo de rock Queen adquieren aquí una magia especial, son bellas y hechizantes vistas a través del aparato incluido en el libro y patentado por Brian May, guitarrista del grupo.

Además de las estupendas fotos en 3D tomadas durante los más de cuarenta años de trayectoria del grupo, este libro incluye textos firmados íntegramente por Brian May que nos hacen partícipes de sus recuerdos y de un buen montón de anécdotas.

Se trata de un libro mágico, caro pero que vale hasta el último céntimo. Leerlo ha despertado en mí la necesidad de más fotos de este tipo, por lo que compraré otros volumenes no relacionados con la música que se venden en la London Stereoscopic Society.

Volumen absolutamente recomendable para amantes de Queen y de la fotografía, así como para todo aquel que quiera experimentar algo nuevo y estimulante.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like Queen? Then what the hell are you waiting for? Get behind the scenes of the greatest band ever from Brian May's point of view...both of them at once...in stereoscope photography. In his usual scientific style, May's love of stereoscopic photography is the center of this experiment. A lifelong passion, stereoscopic photography snagged May's interest to the point that he carried several types of cameras with him throughout his touring days with the band and recorded the experience in glorious 3-D.

One can either free view the pictures (relaxing your focus and seeing into the picture) or use the Optical viewer, the OWL (included with the book), that May also created (damn polymaths) to see the world of Queen jump out in 3-D.

I dare you to see your first 3-D picture and not say "wow"! The text is just May talking to you in a conversational style, taking one through the weird life and times he lived. He can get technical on the camera and photo configurations, but seriously, would one expect any less from Dr. Brian May? Thanks, Bri for sharing your world.

[Smita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of Queen written by one of its members is really a no brainer for me.

This book is by no means a biography of the band nor of Brian May, it is more of a photo album. But it is sort of a personal photo album, with rare pictures and personal accounts on most of the stories behind the shots. Hence, by itself is rather special.

Although sadly, I haven't been able to enjoy the 3D experience (I sucked at it, never got a hold of how to focus my eyes, really.) but reading the commentaries is truly enjoyable (and you can really hear in Dr. May's voice in your head😂).

If you have read many of Queen's stories written by people outside the band, this one would give you some exclusive insights from within. It took me two seatings to finish reading the book but I think I can gawk at the pictures for way, way longer than that😝

[Michele Pfrogner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have great respect for Brian May, not only for being a member of Queen, but for his musicianship, artistry, and intellect. While I attempted to see the 3-D images May shared, I was more interested in the text. There are so many stories he could tell, of course; most anecdotes, however, were short, respectful, and connected with the photos (obviously). My only complaint was the politics. Of course he is entitled to his opinion, but I would never tell a Brit my thoughts on Brexit or the (real) Queen--I do not live there, and am not a citizen. While May is concerned about America's so-called "nationalism," isn't it interesting how many Queen concerts included a Union Jack flying, and the tongue-in-cheek closer, "God Save the Queen?" Still, May is a talented musician and photographer, and I appreciate his chronicling (text/photos) of some of Queen's concerts and more private times.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and looking at the collection of photos. Brian May is wonderfully endearing. I can't say I recommend this book for folks who are just getting into Queen; Brian goes chronological through their history, but it has a very narrow focus in that you get small anecdotes here or there, mostly about touring life, with a set of stereoscopic pictures. He doesn't map out the history of Queen for you, and some events that seem "big" to their history will just get a line or two, and it'll get left at that. However, I definitely think it's worth checking out if you're decently familiar with the group. Of course, you can be the judge of that for yourself! If anything I fully appreciated reading a book about Queen from a member of Queen.

[Asger Torning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when I first heard a full Queen album. It was in 1975 and the album was A Night At The Opera. I had heard Killer Queen before and liked it without realising it was.
But one day a friend of mine came home from school and said 'you've got to hear this' and played me ANATO on his cassette player. That day I became a Queen fan and I have been ever since.
I love this book. It contains a lot of beautiful photos taken by all 4 members of the band and it takes me on a nostalgic journey back through the years, reminding me of the concerts I managed to attend in Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Berlin and Knebworth ... and of course, watching the legendary Live Aid performance.
This book is a must for every Queen fan. Go and get it!!!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read some fab non-fiction books so far this year, but this one is by far my fave. It took me a while to get through it owing to the fact that its size meant it wasn't exactly practical to read on my lunch breaks or on train journeys, and then there was my initial struggle with the 3-D photos.. But, Blimey, it is a thing of beauty 😍 The window into Queen's journey in Brian May's own words have just as much depth as his 3-D photos 💙
I often picked up this book up during times I was feeling particularly low or anxious and I can report that it helped with that a lot. Above all, it's left me with a whole new level of love and appreciation for Freddie, Brian, Roger and Deacy 💜👑🤩✨

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for my birthday. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. It took a bit of time and practice to learn to the use the Lite owl reader, but I did get the hang of it. It was wonderful to see some of the history of Queen from the start to current time. Brian has covered a lot of the history of Queen, I really love this book and have shared it with my sister and parents. My edition has pictures from the filming of Bohemian Rhapsody, I'm looking forward to the next book which I believe will have a bit more to it. For sure one of my favorite reads of 2019, and probably the best birthday gift too.

[Yen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es la primera vez que puedo leer un libro REAL de Queen, y no un libro de Freddy Mercury en el que aparece Queen. Amo a Brian, siempre me ha parecido un músico increíble y una persona todavía mas increíble, y claramente lo refleja en este libro.

Si esperáis encontrar 'salseo', este no es vuestro libro. Brian habla sobre Queen, sobre los conciertos, explica lo que estaban haciendo en los momentos de las fotografías, como se sentían, los aspectos técnicos del sonido y de las luces de una forma muy sencilla. Transmite su pasión por las guitarras.

En definitiva, un libro de coleccionista que todo fan de Queen que pueda debe tener.

[Nonethousand Oberrhein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through a rose-tinted stereoscope
Half life journal and half photography enthusiast memoir, the book tries to dodge a simple classification. On the pages the reader finds a Brian May, without any ghost-writing filters, freewheeling down memory lane, handing out fond memories of is life with his dad and mum, of his touring life with Queen (you may shed a tear or two if you are susceptible), and of his enormous passion for the art of photography, be it “normal” or stereoscopic. A nice, long chat with an amiable world renown Rockstar, scattered with lots of three-dimensional pictures… A final suggestion: be patient with the OWL, its use is not as easy as it seems!

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. I loved how the book was so honest with its storytelling. Brian May honestly shared his thoughts and reflections on the chronicled events. I also loved how he highlighted and credited so many people's work in this book. Not just his fellow band members but also kinds of people from assistants to security guards to numerous tech and production people, interpreters, family members, and the list goes on and on. I've never read a biography book where the author truly credited so many others who helped with their success. Lastly, the Sterocopic images are amazing. I highly recommend this book.

[Mihaela Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este o lectură plăcută. Brian May povestește despre întâmplări și evenimente pe care a reușit să le imortalizeze, fiind pasionat de fotografiile stereografice. Povestește cum au început, când aveau foarte multe datorii și erau faliți, dar Freddie se purta ca și cum era foarte bogat, de parcă știa că în curând vor fi, că vor avea bani să își cumpere tot ce își doresc. Fotografiile din carte sunt interesante!

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Mays book with personal photos mostly during tours, with the history behind each photo, stories , and some funny anecdotes. The back of the book has 3D glasses with instructions to use but it didn’t work for me.
To be honest you don’t need them, you see the photos perfectly fine without them.
Book is ok.

[Steve Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved seeing all of those pictures I had never seen before, especially the off-stage ones. Also great to hear Brian May's perspective. What we really need though is a nitty gritty, tell-all book by one of the surviving members.

[Weronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and lovely book I didn't want to put away. Brian May's storytelling is personal, chatty and endearing, and the photographs give a spectacular effect in 3D (it takes a while to get used to this unusual way of stereoscopic OWL viewing, but once you get a grasp on it - it's splendid).

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Or thumbed through at least; a fun way to spend a half hour or so

[Khairul Hezry · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a QUEEN fan, this is a no-brainer. Less of a memoir, more of a photo book.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for any Queen fan! Gorgeous pictures and lots of words of love from one of the men who was there.