2021.08.06 - Ultimate Classic Rock - Brian May Shares Memories About GNR

Brian May Shares Memories About GNR and Eddie Van Halen: Interview

By Matt Wardlaw

Guitarist Brian May is in the process of revamping his entire solo catalog, starting with 1993's Back to the Light, his first LP outside of Queen following the death of the band's singer, Freddie Mercury.

May toured extensively in support of the record, mounting a lengthy solo headlining tour, as well as playing dates supporting Guns N' Roses.

Nearly 30 years after its release, Back to the Light has been expanded with a bonus disc of extras, including alternate versions and some live material. May shares plans for future releases as well as some memories from the era, like the time Slash turned up to play Queen's "Tie Your Mother Down" with May and his band on The Tonight Show, a moment preserved on the new reissue.

How did the collaboration with Slash come about?

I don’t know when I first met Slash, but I’m happy to say that we have a continuing friendship. I guess I was around him mostly when I did that support tour for Guns N’ Roses all over the world. It was great for me, because I was playing with people who I respect and they also respect me. Axl was known for being difficult and whatever, you know, he was always great to me. He always had time to speak to me. I used to go into Axl’s dressing room before they went on. Because Axl would normally have something he wanted to say to me or ask me, which was part of his preparation for going onstage. Slash was just always very relaxed, very cool. That’s always been the way I’ve seen Slash. He’s a real gentleman and a fantastic musician, obviously.

It was great when he played with us when we were on The Tonight Show. There’s a funny story there, because Slash normally had the cigarette in his mouth. In the rehearsal, these people came over, very seriously, and said, “I’m afraid you can’t do that, Mr. Slash. It’s not allowed by the regulations.” He went, “Huh, okay.” He put it out. When the time comes and the cameras roll and we’re live, really truly live on Jay Leno’s show, it’s not recorded, he comes on with a cigarette in his mouth. I just looked at him and went, “Yeah, that’s Slash.” You can’t really take that away from him. Not that I want him to smoke. I hate smoking, because it killed my dad. But Slash is an independent spirit. And boy, did he play good.

The tribute concert was an unbelievable day of music, and I can’t imagine what that must have been like for you. That would be a lot.

It was incredible. One of those days you look back on and think, “God, I must have been dreaming.” To have all of those wonderful people around, all with a great spirit in them, it was incredible. Everybody came through for us - including Slash and Axl and the boys, Duff and Matt and all of those guys. Extreme, Roger Daltrey and Robert Plant, Tony Iommi, David Bowie. It was the most unbelievable day. Everybody’s there with a kind of gentle smile, because they know they’re there for the right reasons, which were twofold: to celebrate Freddie’s life and to attack AIDS, and get rid of the stigma around AIDS once and for all. I think it did a fair job in kicking things in that direction, certainly in the U.K. and I think to a certain extent, around the world as well.

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