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Brian May’s Father Initially Disapproved of Music Career, Leading to Temporary Rift
Queen guitarist Brian May revealed his father was initially disapproving of his chosen path in the music career, causing a period of estrangement as the band’s fame escalated. Harold May, father to the rock legend, who passed away at 66 in 1991, famously aided his son in constructing the iconic “Red Special” guitar in 1963. Despite this, he reportedly became unhappy when Brian decided to abandon pursuing a conventional profession in favour of a vocation in the music industry.
Early Disappointment and Career Choice
“My dad believed he had sacrificed significantly to provide me with a quality education, to enable me to secure a ‘proper’ job. And he felt I discarded it all to become a pop star. He thought our chances of success were minimal, and in reality, he wasn’t wrong. The odds were stacked against us. However, we possessed an unwavering belief, some talent, and a considerable amount of luck,” Brian May, 77, explained.
Estrangement and Reconciliation
The father and son experienced a period of estrangement lasting approximately eighteen months, as Harold remained displeased with Brian’s career decision.
“I recall saying to my dad: ‘You assisted me in doing this. You built the guitar with me, for goodness sake, you can’t be this upset about it.’ But he was. He didn’t view it as a viable life endeavour. He did change his perspective eventually, much later on,” Brian recounted in a 2021 interview.
The Madison Square Garden Reunion
The pair reconciled in 1977 when Brian arranged for his parents to fly to New York on Concorde for Queen’s performance at Madison Square Garden. In typical British fashion, father and son shook hands backstage, effectively resolving their differences.
Academic Path Diverted to Music
Prior to his success with Queen, Brian had refused an opportunity in academia to dedicate himself to his musical aspirations. He admitted to turning down a prestigious position after graduating college in 1968 because he “didn’t want to leave his friends.”
He obtained his bachelor’s degree in physics from the Queen Mother at the Royal Albert Hall on October 24, 1968, and just two days later, his band Smile, which preceded Queen, served as the opening act for Pink Floyd.
“I was offered a role at Jodrell Bank, which was just beginning to emerge as a significant radio astronomy centre in England. And Sir Bernard Lovell was present. It was genuinely a dream opportunity, but—being the youthful person I was—I was deeply immersed in music in London and reluctant to leave my friends.
“Consequently, I declined the position. I am not necessarily proud of it, as I am uncertain if it was the correct decision,” he confessed to Astronomy Magazine in 2012.