The one collaboration Queen guitarist Brian May regrets missing out on

Jul 29, 2023
In a recent interview, Brian May has expressed regret that he never got the chance to work with a fellow music legend. Source: Getty Images.

Despite a wildly successful career as the iconic guitarist for Queen, Brian May carries a heartfelt longing for a musical dream that remained unfulfilled.

While he has teamed up with fellow music legends such as David Bowie and Status Quo, May revealed in a recent interview with The Guardian that he regrets that he never got the chance to work with music legend John Lennon.

May, known for his extraordinary guitar skills and contributions to Queen’s timeless hits, has always been regarded as one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. Lennon was also a creative force, renowned not only for his work with The Beatles but also for his incredible solo career.

During his recent interview, May expressed his sincere longing for the missed opportunity to collaborate with the icon, highlighting the potential for an extraordinary musical partnership.

“I very seldom turn down a collaboration. A regret is that I didn’t get the chance to work with John Lennon,” he revealed.

“The Beatles didn’t always agree, they were always pulling and pushing – a bit like us and Queen – and I think John would be such a stronger pusher and puller.

“You’d have to work really hard to keep up, to believe in your instincts. I could imagine us hitting it off.”

While May never had the honour of creating music with Lennon he did recently have the honour of being knighted by King Charles.

May received the honour for his service to music and charity on earlier this year, during the Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

 

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Upon receiving his knighthood from King Charles, May told The Daily Mail that the honour was “very special” and that it was a “very good feeling” to be awarded his Knight Bachelor from the new monarch.

“We’ve had a certain amount of contact over the years and we’re of an age, so I have a strong feeling for him and it was a lovely moment,” he told the publication at the time.

“We discussed the fact that we are of an age and he was wondering if my knees were holding out for the kneeling part of the ceremony. I said: ‘Yes, just about’.

“To receive this award I suppose feels like getting approval, like when you get a gold star at school – perhaps you’ve done something and you know what you’ve achieved and if you get that seal of approbation from above, then it’s a very good feeling, it’s very special.”