I love Queen.
Or more specifically, I love early Queen.
I can just about stretch to 1984 – after that, I accept their choices and output became rather questionable.
OK, so I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing them with Adam Lambert leading the stage, but from a musical point of view, it’s fair to say their best days are definitely numbered, but then at 70+ years of age, who can blame them.
That said, Brian May is still someone very special to me.
He basically made me pick up the guitar.
He gave me the desire to learn, the hunger to keep practicing and the confidence to play in bands and gigs all around the World.
Since those early days, I have done a lot of playing.
And bought a lot of guitars.
Classics. Custom made. Cheap as chips.
And while the closest I ever got to his handmade Red Special was a pretty dodgy Gordon Smith back in 1984, I’ve always thought about getting a custom made one of his.
I never did it for a few reasons.
I always thought it was a bit sad to have a guitar so synonymous with someone so famous and – frankly, with the amount of guitars I own – I couldn’t justify it.
But a couple of weeks ago, I accepted owning one is not going to make me any sadder than I already am so while my chops are a fraction of what they were when it was my life and my job, I took the plunge and last week, all my Brian May fantasies came true once and for all.
It might not make me play like him.
It might not even make me sound like him.
But it makes me feel insanely happy and has me playing guitar more than I have in years.
Now all I need is a poodle perm. Oh, and some hair.
Thank you Mr May. Again.