Queen guitarist Brian May is now a “Sir”.
May, who additionally has a doctorate in astrophysics and is an animal welfare advocate, acquired a knighthood on Friday as a part of the UK’s annual New Year’s Honours listing.
The Queen guitarist, who was honoured for companies to music and charity, mentioned he hopes the knighthood will give him “a little bit more clout.”
“Maybe a few more people will listen to me than would otherwise, you know, if it’s Sir Brian on the phone,” mentioned May, who spoke to The Associated Press by way of Zoom from his home in Windlesham, Surrey.
As the virtuoso guitarist in rock band Queen, the 75-year-old is accountable for a few of the greatest riffs in fashionable music, from the solo on Don’t Stop Me Now to the melodic strums of Somebody To Love.
Alongside late frontman Freddie Mercury, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor, he scored quite a few quantity ones through the group’s ‘80s heyday, touring the world.
May was among hundreds of artists, community leaders and athletes who were recognised on the first such list to be signed off by King Charles III.
May has campaigned against badger culling and fox hunting through an animal welfare group he founded in 2010 – named Save Me after the 1980 Queen song. Some animals he’s rescued over time had been launched onto his land.
“I’ve felt for a long time that we had this false idea that humans are the only important species on the planet, and I don’t think an alien visitor would view it that way,” he mentioned.
“I think every species and every individual has the right to a decent life and a decent death. That’s kind of where I come from,” he mentioned.
He acknowledged that he already had “a certain amount of power in the world, mainly because of music, obviously,” which allowed him to enter different areas, akin to astrophysics and do work in stereoscopy, or 3D imaging.
He acquired his doctorate from Imperial College, London in 2007.
“I do a lot in that area now, which I think is in its way a great service to mankind,” May mentioned.
“I give them stereoscopy and they give me the chance to play in nice observatories all around the world, you know – but also the animals.”
Knights are addressed as “sir” or “dame,” adopted by their title. It additionally means May’s spouse of twenty-two years, Anita Dobson, might use the title of Lady May.
“She’s thrilled to bits. Yes, yes, she’s very happy about that. Yes, Lady Anita will be enjoying it,” mentioned May
“And it’s a thrill to me to be able to kind of confer that on her. It makes me feel proud that she gets an honour beside me because God knows I wouldn’t be here without her.”
– with PA
