Queen Guitarist Brian May Installed As University Chancellor

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Back in November it was announced that Queen guitarist Brian May was chosen to serve as the new chancellor of John Moores University and recently he was officially installed in his new role.

Still touring and planning a new album with the original surviving members of Queen and current lead vocalist Paul Rodgers, Brian May adds the distinguished title and associated duties of university chancellor to what must already be a very busy schedule.

During the installment ceremony, May reminisced about the early days of performing with Queen and sleeping on people’s floors in Liverpool. In contrast, he called his installment as university chancellor an "immense privilege."

Concerning advice for university students, May offered the following: "Don’t forget to enjoy yourselves."

For more details, check out the Liverpool Echo.

New Album Coming From Queen And Paul Rodgers

It’s been 13 long years since Queen released a new studio album, but the silence is about to be broken. A new album is set for release on September 1 and will be the first once since the death of legendary frontman Freddie Mercury died in 1991.

Former Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers has been working with original members Brian May and Roger Taylor for a while now and it appears the relationship must be working out quite well in order for them to take on a brand-new album together.

The title for the new album has not been confirmed, but there is word that the group will embark on a European tour starting in September, just a couple of weeks after the scheduled release of the new album.

Although the original magic of Queen with Freddie Mercury can never be recaptured, I have seen a few Queen & Paul Rodgers shows on TV and enjoyed them enough to watch them from start to finish. They even included a nice video tribute to Freddie Mercury during the show.

It will be interesting to see what kind of original material comes out of this collaboration, and I suppose time will tell whether Queen fans will embrace this new version of the group.

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Tags: Album, Paul Rodgers, Queen, September, tour

Sacha Baron Cohen As Freddie Mercury In New Movie

That crazy guy most of us know as "Borat" has been tapped to portray the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in a new film that does not yet have a name.

Cohen reportedly edged out Johnny Depp for the role which makes perfect sense to me. I have a hard time picturing Depp as Mercury and for me, Cohen is a much better choice. I know Depp seems to go for  the unusual roles, but I just don’t see him as a good fit for Mercury.

Mercury was well known as a flamboyant performer who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1991, which brought the group’s activities to a stop for a time until they decided to team up with Paul Rodgers and work together under the banner "Queen & Paul Rodgers."

Just within the last week I caught a 1981 Queen performance from Montreal on the RAVE Channel and although Mercury’s choice of wardrobe for the latter portion of the performance was a bit over-the-top for my choice,  there’s no denying he was a talented performer and fine musician.

The movie should be interesting and one that I will definitely have to check out. As flamboyant and unique as Freddie Mercury was, I think Cohen can pull it off.

Thanks to Spin for the head’s up on this story.

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Tags: freddie mercury, movie, Queen, sacha baron cohen

New Queen Song To Be Available As Free Download

Joining for only the second recoding session since the death of singer Freddie Mercury, Queen was recently in the studio with former Bad Company veteran Paul Rodgers to put the finishing touches on a brand new song to be released tomorrow.

The new track, "Say It’s Not True," will feature Rodgers on vocals with Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor joining him at the studio microphone.

In what seems to be a new trend in this day of digital downloads, the single will be offered free of charge for anyone who cares to download it.

The group hopes that the release of the Taylor-written single will help further the efforts of Nelson Mandela’s campaign for AIDS awareness. A subject that may be very close to Taylor and May after lead singer Freddie Mercury’s death from AIDS back in 1991.

This is Queen’s first known studio session since 1997 when the group rejoined to record a tribute to Freddie Mercury called "No One But You."

For more details, visit Reuters.

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Brian May Named University Chancellor

Well, if it is one thing Queen guitarist Brian May has proven recently, it is that he’s no rock ‘n’ roll air head. Having recently earned his doctorate in astrophysics after putting his academic pursuits on hold for years while playing with Queen, May has been named chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.

This is a post that was last held by the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Cherie Booth. May is set to begin his duties sometime early in 2008.

The current vice chancellor chancellor recently said: "Brian May is an intensely talented individual who achieved global success with Queen.
"In this age of celebrity culture, it is rare to find someone who has fame, fortune and universal acclaim and yet who remains true to his core values of learning and enlightenment."

Congratulations to Brian May for proving himself both a great guitar player and a pretty brainy chap as well.

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Queen’s Brian May: Just Another Astronomy Geek?

Obviously not, but that I could not resist. Mr. May, long-known for his very capable guitar playing with Queen, may soon be the proud holder of a PhD in astrophysics. That’s an accomplishment that not a lot of rock stars can boast about.

Having abandoned his studies back in the 1970’s in favor of going full time with his mates in the band, May recently dug his old astrophysics notes out of his attic, dusted them off, and spent nine months re-familiarizing himself with the brainy subject.

He now awaits the approval of his thesis before he can be awarded his PhD next year.

In case your interested, May’s thesis is based on the discovery that dust clouds in the solar system are moving in the same direction as the planets.

I think it’s pretty impressive for a 59-year-old guy to return to studies he abandoned some thirty years ago and complete them successfully. As long as the thesis checks out, that is!

Brian May Loves Aerosmith

Wow. If I were one of the guys in Aerosmith, I’d be feeling pretty proud these days. Brian May caught their act at Hyde Park (in the U.K.) and from all appearances, May was blown away.

He writes about it on his web site under a section he calls “Bri’s Soapbox,” and he does not hold back when it comes to sharing his feelings about Aerosmith.

Among other things, May writes: “I loved every second.  The most joyous thing about them is that they did NOT become SHOW-BIZ - they did NOT lose their roots.” He also says: “There will never be a rock group more all-round great than Aerosmith IMHO.“

Coming from a fine musician like May says a lot about Aerosmith. To be out there after all these years and still getting the job done right is admirable. How easy it must be to take the low road and use some of the shortcuts that are being used these days. And still collect the same paycheck! Kudos to Aerosmith for doing it the old fashioned way and doing it right.

Queen And Paul Rodgers Working On New Album

The new Queen, fronted by Paul Rodgers must be feeling the love from fans as a result of their successful live performances and is planning to work on an album of new material.

Rodgers says that the group has already completed 9 songs and is not rushing the development of the new material and is said to be allowing it to develop naturally in the studio.

He goes on to say that fans can expect plenty of Queen’s trademark harmonies that will be combined with his own blues influences.

To read more, check out this article at 411mania.com.

Tie Your Mother Down!! Queen Returns to Rock USA - Yahoo.com

BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ — Some of rock’s greatest anthems are to be heard performed live again across America after more than 20 years, as rock legends Queen, now joined forces with Paul Rodgers, singer and songwriter of Bad Company/Free fame, announce they are to play a 23-date tour of the USA and Canada this coming Spring. [more]