What do you think?
Rate this book
Queen & I: The Brian May story
Following the tragic death of Freddie Mercury and Queen's decision to disband, their virtuoso lead guitarist, Brian May, was soon on his way to a spectacular solo career, sealed by a major world tour in 1993. He is now completing his new album and planning his next world tour for 1995, continuing his reign as one of the finest guitarists in the world. The author has had exclusive access to many of Brian May's close friends, colleagues and fellow musicians. In this book, she tells his the professional struggles and musical achievements; and his personal life, including his five years of hell from 1987, which saw the break-up of his marriage; and the profound emotional effects of Freddie Mercury's illness and death from AIDS. This book is an account of one of the world's greatest ever rock bands and its lead guitarist, Brian May. With details and exclusive interviews with many of the world's leading rock musicians, it tells the story of how they achieved and enjoyed rock stardom, its ups and downs. It is published as The Brian May Band is achieving new heights of international acclaim. Laura Jackson is the author of "Golden Stone", an investigation of the life and murder of Rolling Stone Brian Jones.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
64 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 17, 2016
Имах честта да редактирам тази книга. Научих адски много за Брайън, за Фреди, за момчетата от Queen. За това през какви етапи са минали, как са се запознали, как са се сработили...
Най-тъжните страници за мен бяха около последните дни на Фреди. Описани са прекалено истински и болезнено... От тази книга разбрах колко е страдал на последния си клип, по време на последните си записи. Как е прикривал болката си само и само за да запише още една песен и още една песен... Да остави след себе си повече материал, повече история...
Дори отроних няколко сълзи, защото историята е покъртителна. Хем поучителна, хем тъжна, хем истинска. Отделете време и прочетете тези страници.
Най-тъжните страници за мен бяха около последните дни на Фреди. Описани са прекалено истински и болезнено... От тази книга разбрах колко е страдал на последния си клип, по време на последните си записи. Как е прикривал болката си само и само за да запише още една песен и още една песен... Да остави след себе си повече материал, повече история...
Дори отроних няколко сълзи, защото историята е покъртителна. Хем поучителна, хем тъжна, хем истинска. Отделете време и прочетете тези страници.
April 9, 2016
This book is the story of Brian May , one of the world's most talented guitarists and Queen , one of the greatest bands ever.
It takes us through May's early life and his early bands , 1984 and Smile , his collaboration with Freddie Mercury leading in 1970 to the creation of Queen. Queen's early years and how the band got to the top and stayed there. The rise and charisma of Queen's magnetic front man , Freddie Mercury , the camaraderie between May and Mercury , the miriad of albums and incredible songs brought out by Queen , many written by May and the sterling philanthropic work done by Queen and May for such groups as the British Bone Marrow Donor Appeal (of which Brian May is the patron)and the Mercury Phoenix AIDS Trust. Before joining British Bone Marrow Donor Appeal , it had been brought to May's attention that a very brave young leukaemia sufferer Denise Morse , had asked to have May's tender ballad 'Who Want's To LIve Forever'. This had touched Brian deeply.
Finally it is about the ups and downs of May's life , including his emotional struggles around his marriage , his love affair with actress Anita Dobson , and his pain at the tragic death from AIDS of Freddie Mercury , before May pulled himself out of his depression and launched a fantastic solo career. Intereviews for this book were compiled with many of Brian May's closest friends colleagues and musicians including Joe Satriani , Tony Iommi , Joe Elliot , Paul Rodgers , David Essex , Paul Young , Fish , Gary Glitter , Hank Marvin , Richard Branson , John Peel, Bob Harris , Bert Weedon and Richard Sambora.
Fascinating reading for Queen devotees.
It takes us through May's early life and his early bands , 1984 and Smile , his collaboration with Freddie Mercury leading in 1970 to the creation of Queen. Queen's early years and how the band got to the top and stayed there. The rise and charisma of Queen's magnetic front man , Freddie Mercury , the camaraderie between May and Mercury , the miriad of albums and incredible songs brought out by Queen , many written by May and the sterling philanthropic work done by Queen and May for such groups as the British Bone Marrow Donor Appeal (of which Brian May is the patron)and the Mercury Phoenix AIDS Trust. Before joining British Bone Marrow Donor Appeal , it had been brought to May's attention that a very brave young leukaemia sufferer Denise Morse , had asked to have May's tender ballad 'Who Want's To LIve Forever'. This had touched Brian deeply.
Finally it is about the ups and downs of May's life , including his emotional struggles around his marriage , his love affair with actress Anita Dobson , and his pain at the tragic death from AIDS of Freddie Mercury , before May pulled himself out of his depression and launched a fantastic solo career. Intereviews for this book were compiled with many of Brian May's closest friends colleagues and musicians including Joe Satriani , Tony Iommi , Joe Elliot , Paul Rodgers , David Essex , Paul Young , Fish , Gary Glitter , Hank Marvin , Richard Branson , John Peel, Bob Harris , Bert Weedon and Richard Sambora.
Fascinating reading for Queen devotees.
June 3, 2019
Обожавам Фреди, Брайън, Роджър и Джон. Но мнението ми за тази книга се припокрива с това за тази за Фреди - липсва емоция. Явно не съм фен на начина, по който Лора Джаксън представя живота на рок звездите (в случая съм чела нейни биографии само за Фреди и Брайън). Прекалено много дати и изброяване на ненужни неща и подробности. Но биографията си имаше своите добри страни, няма да крия. Втората ми критика е свързана с описването на соло кариерата на Брайън. Това е книга за китариста на Queen, не за Фреди. Тогава защо и соло кариерата на вокалсита на Queen беше описана така подробно? Вече съм чела за това от книгата посветена точно на него. Няма нужда втори път. И щом така и така сме започнали да пишем за соло нещата на членовете на групата, къде е тази на Роджър? Поне да я бяха вкарали, че цикъла да стане пълен. Мисля, че представянето на биографията на Браяън като китарист на една от най-великите рок групи някога, можеше да се направи и по-добре. Не че тази е лоша, просто е една такава суха, липсват неща или пък са добавени съвсем ненужни такива.
П.С: Издайте биография и за Роджър Тейлър, моля!
П.С: Издайте биография и за Роджър Тейлър, моля!
October 27, 2022
Queen & I - The Brian May story was read directly after the Peter Freestone memoir of Freddie Mercury. Laura Jackson’s effort was superior in defining the genesis of Queen, the band members and the bond they shared.
Jackson did justice to Brian May, his talent, intellect (also an astrophysicist!) and his own creative history with the band that defined him, but also the many contributions he made with other musicians, for charity and his solo offerings.
This book gave a good look at May, making him the main character in this story of Queen and the mercurial Freddie.
It’s a great book for a Queen fan, and definitely grants a spotlight to Brian May’s immense talent, and the generous humble person he is. You can’t say the band members lived in Freddie’s shadow, and Freddie was selfless enough to agree, but they were happy to support Freddie’s star power and express their personal talents.
Brian May is a guitarist’s guitarist…esteemed by peers and musicians. Jackson’s telling reflects a person who is creative firepower, and loving and loyal friend.
Jackson did justice to Brian May, his talent, intellect (also an astrophysicist!) and his own creative history with the band that defined him, but also the many contributions he made with other musicians, for charity and his solo offerings.
This book gave a good look at May, making him the main character in this story of Queen and the mercurial Freddie.
It’s a great book for a Queen fan, and definitely grants a spotlight to Brian May’s immense talent, and the generous humble person he is. You can’t say the band members lived in Freddie’s shadow, and Freddie was selfless enough to agree, but they were happy to support Freddie’s star power and express their personal talents.
Brian May is a guitarist’s guitarist…esteemed by peers and musicians. Jackson’s telling reflects a person who is creative firepower, and loving and loyal friend.
February 7, 2023
I good, respectful biography with no tabloid-like material. Recommended.
November 1, 2016
Една наистина прекрасна книга, хвърляща светлина от различен ъгъл (за всеки запознат с историята на групата и/или чел Биографията на Фреди Меркюри от същата авторка). Успя да ме развълнува, разплаче и остави с усмивка :)
За жалост обаче множеството некоригирани грешки (пунктуация, повтарящи се думи, неправилно членуване и т.н.) накъсват мисълта, озадачават и правят четенето недотам приятно. Искрено се надявам, при преиздаване на книгата, тези пропуски в коректорската работа да бъдат отстранени.
За жалост обаче множеството некоригирани грешки (пунктуация, повтарящи се думи, неправилно членуване и т.н.) накъсват мисълта, озадачават и правят четенето недотам приятно. Искрено се надявам, при преиздаване на книгата, тези пропуски в коректорската работа да бъдат отстранени.
February 19, 2019
Обожавам "Queen", обожавам Фреди, Брайън, Роджър и Джон, но биографията не ми хареса особено. Имам същите забележки, които имах и към биографията на Фреди от същата авторка - всичко беше сухо написани факти, като биографията на Фреди беше посветена на неговата сексуалност, а тази на Брайън дори не беше изцяло за него, тъй като отново представи дивия живот на фронтмена на "Queen". Освен това на места имаше правописни и печатни грешки, които изключително много се набиват на очи.
February 12, 2015
This was rubbish. Nothing in here I hadn't read in other books. Obviously a good researcher, but don't write a book unless you have something new to add.
May 25, 2018
Брайън Мей не е Фреди Меркюри и това е хубаво.
January 5, 2019
Добро, вдъхновяващо и на моменти разтърсващо преживяване в историята на Браян Мей и Куин.
January 9, 2019
Любима банда, любима книга!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews