In a recent interview with Guitarist Magazine, Queen guitarist Brian May shared insights into his guitar philosophy while discussing his work on Steve Cropper’s solo album, which features ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons as well. Despite the fact that guitar playing has evolved significantly since May’s early years in the 1970s, his work continues to influence countless guitarists across genres. Known for his unique, melodic style, May’s contributions are often cited as essential to rock guitar, though he resists being labeled a “shredder” in the traditional sense. Brian May even stated that a new band is the next Queen.
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“What we have in common is that we don’t shred for the sake of it. In my case, it’s because I can’t! Guitar playing, for all of us, is the voice — it’s how you feel. If your guitar can express that feeling, you’ve done your job. We have that in common.”
May clarified that his approach is about emotion and feel rather than pure speed or technical flashiness, a characteristic often associated with shredding. He feels that, alongside Cropper and Gibbons, he is part of a group of guitarists who value expression over technical showmanship. For May, the guitar is a tool to convey personal feeling, not just to show off skill. He mentioned that he simply doesn’t play that way, and that he prefers to let the guitar “speak” rather than dominate the sound with rapid solos or intricate scales.
May also reflected on what he called the “integrity” in Steve Cropper’s album, where each guitarist’s contribution felt sincere and fitting to the mood. He admires that Cropper’s production style emphasizes playing what feels right, rather than using the guitar to impress with technical tricks.
“Nobody is showing off or zooming up and down the fretboard. Everyone is playing what feels right, and there’s passion in it,” he said.
During the same interview, May revealed a fun story about recording the track “Too Much Stress.” Producer Jon Tiven asked May to complete a guitar solo that Gibbons had already started. May initially wanted to play a full solo himself and suggested that Gibbons should have his own solo, too. However, Tiven insisted that the two share the solo, with Gibbons playing the first half and May following up. After giving it a try, May realized it actually worked well, adding a unique blend to the track.
