In a recent interview with Total Guitar, Queen guitarist Brian May discussed the challenges and rewards of working with Freddie Mercury, emphasizing the difficulties posed by Mercury’s avant-garde songwriting style.
The musician discussed the challenges of collaborating with Freddie Mercury, including adapting his intricate compositions for guitar. “Freddie had a habit of writing in E♭ and A♭, so it was always a challenge for me to find places on the guitar to make that work, but it contributed a lot to the way I developed as a player.” “It was good, even if it was strange!”
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ As A Guitarist’s Nemesis
The discussion also included Queen’s hit rock opera, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ which May describes as his Achilles heel, noting, “It isn’t a riff that a guitarist would normally play. And that is a two-edged sword. It’s challenging for the guitar to get a hold of it, but once it does, it’s quite unusual… To be honest, I still do not find it easy!”
May still struggles to execute the song’s complex riff, which requires extensive finger stretching, especially during live performances.
The Genius Behind The Lyrics
Brian also discussed Mercury’s songwriting abilities in an interview with Uncut for the July 2022 issue. He praised the ‘fantastical‘ lyrics of ‘In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited. ” He said, “In the beginning, a lot of his writing was fantastical, but I believe he was pouring his heart out. Freddie was dealing with a variety of issues at different times, and we all know his sexuality was quite fluid. It was difficult for him to express. And I think you can hear him in this song, struggling with his relationships and expressing them through words and music.”
The late singer’s role as the band’s primary lyricist was critical to Queen’s success, with songs such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ demonstrating his innovative approach and deep understanding of song structure and harmony. While Mercury is frequently praised for his contributions to Queen’s legacy, May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon all played important roles in the band’s songwriting.
