Queen: Last News

Eurovision hopefuls Remember Monday have spoken to NME about competing in this year’s song contest in Basel – and revealed that Queen‘s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was a major influence on their “chaotic” power-pop song ‘What the Hell Just Happened?’The country-pop trio – Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele – are the first girl-group to represent the UK since Precious finished 12th in 1999. Since then, the UK has only cracked the Top 10 on three occasions, most recently when Sam Ryder came second three years ago.But in 2023, Mae Muller finished 25th out of 26 in the grand final – then Olly Alexander endured similar disappointment a year later when he finished 18th after scoring “nul points” in the public vote.

Brian May has explained why Queen refused to let a “gangster rapper” sample one of their tracks.According to Radio X, in an interview with MOJO May said a rap artist wanted to use one of the band’s tracks as a sample in their music, but it didn’t align with Queen’s beliefs. While May didn’t reveal who the musician was, he did give their reasoning for rejecting the sample request.“We have stopped them being used to promote violence or abuse, during the heyday of gangster rap when someone wanted to sample it in a song, we thought was abusive to women,” he said.

Brian May has recalled the time Queen shut down one of Freddie Mercury‘s suggestions, saying that “it wasn’t one of his world-shattering ideas”.The legendary guitarist looked back on working with the late frontman during a recent interview with MOJO.“Deep down Freddie was one of the shyest people I’ve ever met, but he was so full of bluster you’d forget,” May told the magazine. “Freddie would always be excited, and his excitement would take over… He’d be so full of excitement he could hardly speak.”The musician went on to say that “Freddie’s ideas were off the wall and cheeky and different – and we tended to encourage them”.

Brian May has commented on whether new music might be coming from Queen – almost 30 years on from their last album.The legendary band posthumously released their 15th and final studio record, ‘Made In Heaven’, in 1995 following the death of frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991.In 2004, Queen began performing with Paul Rodgers as their lead vocalist before Adam Lambert took on the role in 2011. The latter recently played with the group on their huge ‘Rhapsody Tour’, which concluded in Tokyo in 2024.Queen shared a rediscovered track featuring Mercury’s vocals, ‘Face It Alone’, in October 2022.Now, in a new interview with MOJO, May revealed that the door isn’t entirely closed on new Queen music, telling the magazine: “I think it could happen.”He went on to say: “Both Roger [Taylor] and I are constantly writing and coming up with ideas and doing things in our studios. I could have the beginnings of a Queen song right there in front of me now.

David Bowie, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys are set to be included in London’s brand new ‘Live Odyssey’ immersive experience.Set to kick off in May 2025 in Camden, ‘Live Odyssey’ has been previously described as “a celebration of the rich tapestry of British music, offering a unique experience for music lovers of all ages” through “a groundbreaking tribute to the sounds that shaped Britain”.The immersive and interactive experience will serve as a groundbreaking tribute to the sounds that shaped Britain.The attraction – which combines a show, an exhibition museum and live experience together – will take attendees through six decades of music via a two-and-a-half-hour adventure that captures the evolution of British music, from the early anthems of the ’60s and ’70s to the Britpop explosion of the ’90s and today’s cutting-edge hits.Fans will move through six different rooms, each immersing guests in a different musical era and recreating the sights, sounds, and cultural moments that define each decade. There is freedom of movement between the live rooms and adjoining bars in most so people can party all the way through the experience.Included in the list of acts set to appear as holograms are the previously revealed Libertines, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Sex Pistols, Kate Bush, The Smiths, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Blur, Radiohead, Spice Girls, Coldplay, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Stormzy.‘Live Odyssey’ also features previously unseen live footage and authentic photography from the UK’s vibrant music scene.

Queen‘s Brian May has put forth his opinion in the ongoing discourse around AI in music.On Tuesday (February 25), over 1,000 artists including Damon Albarn, Kate Bush and Annie Lennox released a silent album in protest of planned changes to copyright AI laws planned by the UK government.The effort comes as the UK government is planning to make changes to copyright laws – making it easier for artificial intelligence platforms to develop and train their models using copyrighted work, without needing a license.They would be allowed to use material online without respecting copyright if doing so for “text or data mining”. This would be allowed unless the rights holders chose to “opt-out”.May is the latest to join the protest – specifically, as part of a campaign by Daily Mail, as their latest report on it features the guitarist sharing his opinion on the matter.“My fear is that it’s already too late – this theft has already been performed and is unstoppable, like so many incursions that the monstrously arrogant billionaire owners of Al and social media are making into our lives.

Queen‘s Brian May has teamed up with Gibson to launch a brand-new limited edition 12-string acoustic guitar.The Brian May SJ-200 12-String acoustic guitar from Gibson Custom was made in close collaboration with the iconic guitar player and rock icon. Created with significant design input from May, only 100 of the guitar models will be available worldwide in a limited run via Gibson.com, the Gibson Garage Nashville and London, and authorized Gibson dealers.Speaking about the guitar and the collaboration in a press release, May shared: “The idea for this guitar came when I needed a 12-String on tour, and the one I was accustomed to wasn’t performing right on stage.

Brian May has opened about fears he would never play guitar again following a stroke last year.In September, the Queen guitarist told fans about the minor stroke he experienced, saying it came on “all of a sudden, out of the blue”, and left him without any control over one of his arms. He said the incident was “a little scary” but praised the “fantastic” medical care he had received.Speaking in the latest issue of Guitarist, May touched on his anxieties about not being able to play following his health setbacks. “It went through my mind.

Grammy Awards.Here are the musicians who openly hate their own song.Cyrus, 32, didn’t write, or like, “Party in the U.S.A.”“[‘Party in the U.S.A.’] is not even my style of music,” she said in an interview on her fan website in 2009. “I didn’t write it [and] I didn’t expect it to be popular, originally.

Queen guitarist Brian May is a collector of Star Wars memorabilia.The actor, who has been married to the guitarist for over 24 years now, made the revelation in a new interview and shared that May has a collection of figures and ships inspired by the iconic George Lucas franchise.Dobson – who famously played Angie Watts in Eastenders – said that her partner frequently buys two of the same items related to the sci-fi series, one for himself and one for his grandchildren.“Brian is a collector of Star Wars toys. And astronomical stuff, Queen stuff.

Brian May, who suffered a minor stroke last year.In September, the Queen guitarist told fans about the minor stroke he experienced, saying it came on “all of a sudden, out of the blue”, and left him without any control over one of his arms. He said the incident was “a little scary” but praised the “fantastic” medical care he had received.Throughout his recovery, Eastenders actor Dobson has shared updates with fans. Late last year, she revealed that while it was “a challenge”, he had regained use of the affected arm.“He’s good to go now,” she said at the time.

Jools Holland‘s traditional New Year’s Eve show has been announced.Jools’ Annual Hootenanny will see the likes of The Boomtown Rats, CMAT, Jungle, Marc Almond, Queen‘s Roger Taylor, Ruby Turner, Toby Lee, and The Dead South bringing in the year 2025.Other guests include Jade, Kathy Sledge and Paul Carrack. Details of which songs the artists will perform on the night are yet to be announcedThe show will go out at 11.30pm GMT on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer tomorrow (December 31).

Brian May‘s wife Anita Dobson has shared another update on the musician after he suffered a stroke earlier this year.The Queen guitarist, 77, told fans about the health scare in a post on social media in September, but assured his followers that he was on the road to recovery.May explained that the “minor stroke” came on “all of a sudden, out of the blue”, and left him without any control over one of his arms. He said the incident was “a little scary” before recalling the “fantastic” medical care he had received.“The good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days,” May said at the time.Later, actor Anita Dobson (EastEnders) explained that her husband was “doing great” and said the couple were “very pleased” with the progress he was making. She went on to say she was “completely confident” that May would “make a full recovery”.Now, Dobson has spoken about his health again during a new interview with The Mirror.

Brian May has explained why he revamped his guitar parts on Queen‘s debut album for the new reissue.The legendary band released a newly mixed, mastered and expanded edition of their 1973 self-titled first record last Friday (October 25). It contains a selection of alternative takes, demos and rare live tracks.‘Queen I’ was remixed and restored by recording engineers Justin Shirley-Smith, Joshua J Macrae, and Kris Fredriksson “to sound the way the band always wanted it to”.During a recent interview with MOJO, May said he reworked all of the guitar parts on the LP in an effort to give fans “the debut album we always dreamed of bringing to you”.“I’m not saying the original version was bad – it just wasn’t what we dreamed of,” he told the outlet.

Queen‘s Brian May has revealed ex-bassist John Deacon “still has a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ say” in the band.The guitarist made the revelation to Mojo in a new interview, where he told them Deacon still had input in Queen’s decisions – despite Deacon officially retiring in 1997 (and having only performed periodically with the band since Freddie Mercury‘s death in 1991).“John still has a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ say,” he told Mojo. “We get messages that he’s happy with what we’re doing, but he doesn’t want the stress of being involved creatively, and we respect that.“Freddie [Mercury] we can’t talk to, sadly.

Queen‘s Brian May has shared praise for The Last Dinner Party – see what the rock legend had to say below.On Wednesday night (October 16), May shared a post of himself with former NME cover stars The Last Dinner Party backstage at the latter’s concert at the Eventim Apollo in London.He wrote: “I got to meet the new British Rock Royalty tonight – The Last Dinner Party – and they completely smashed it tonight at the Eventim Apollo. What a great show! What a joy!!! Thanks Emily for inviting me.

Roger Taylor has teased new music from Queen – almost 30 years on from their latest album.The legendary band posthumously released their 15th and final studio record, ‘Made In Heaven’, in 1995 following the death of frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991.In 2004, Queen began performing with Paul Rodgers as their lead vocalist before Adam Lambert took on the role in 2011. The latter recently played with the group on their huge ‘Rhapsody Tour’, which concluded in Tokyo this February.Queen shared a rediscovered track featuring Mercury’s vocals, ‘Face It Alone’, in October 2022.During a new interview with Uncut (via Music News), drummer Taylor was asked if Queen could potentially record and release any new material.

Queen guitarist Brian May is back onstage after suffering a stroke in late August.On Sunday, the 77-year-old posted a video to Instagram of himself playing the guitar and talking to the crowd about the type of equipment he likes. At one point, he asked the audience, “Do you endorse what I’m saying, though?” as they erupted in laughter.

Queen‘s Brian May has announced that he has made the “painful decision” to resign from his role as RSPCA vice president.The legendary guitarist and Queen bandmember had been serving as the vice president of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) since 2012 and yesterday (September 27), May took to his official Instagram account to share a statement explaining his resignation.“It is with profound sadness and not without massive soul-searching that today I have to offer my resignation as a vice-president of the RSPCA,” began the statement. “You have kept me informed through the Save-Me Trust of complaints that have been levelled in recent months at the RSPCA over appallingly bad standards of animal welfare in member farms of the RSPCA Assured scheme.”A post shared by Sir Brian May (@brianmayforreal)He continued: “I have understood that the RSPCA needed time to evaluate the evidence and make decisions on action to be taken.

Tom Grennan has shared a new single called ‘Higher’ – you can listen to it below.The slick and uplifting track is set to appear on the singer-songwriter’s yet-to-be-announced fourth album, which will follow on from 2023’s ‘What Ifs & Maybes’.Recorded at London’s legendary RAK Studios, the “art pop”-inspired song started with a catchy piano riff.“The weird thing about me is that I make music in the studio but most of my good ideas come to me when I’m not actually in the studio,” Grennan explained in a statement.“On the day we wrote ‘Higher’ I’d left the room but I just couldn’t get that riff out of my head. It turned into a melody, which turned into a phrase… I ran back into the studio, with the piano riff still playing, threw my hands up and sang: ‘It’s taking me higher‘.”He concluded: “Everyone in the room just went: ‘Boom.

Brian May‘s wife Anita Dobson has shared an update on the musician after he recently suffered a stroke.The Queen guitarist, 77, told fans about the health scare in a post on social media earlier this month, but said he was on the road to recovery.May explained that the “minor stroke” came on “all of a sudden, out of the blue”, and left him without any control over one of his arms. He said the incident was “a little scary” before recalling the “fantastic” medical care he’d received.“The good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days,” May told his followers, assuring them that he was doing “OK”.Now, the guitarist’s wife – actor Anita Dobson (EastEnders) – has given an update on May’s current condition.