Rock Royalty at the Oval (14)
- 5 Sep 07, 04:56 PM
Enjoying the sixth one-day international at The Oval was Queen guitarist who is a huge cricket fan.
He joined Jonathan Agnew during the interval and chatted cricket, music and astrophysics!
May told Aggers how he has just completed the PhD he abandoned thirty years ago recently - his topic was "Radial velocities in the Zodiacal dust cloud".
"Dust has become quite trendy … everything comes from dust and everything goes back to dust."
Listen to our Brian May interview (requires RealPlayer).
May was studying at Imperial College, London and was part way through his PhD when Queen became successful. "I was obsessed with music and stars from the age of seven. It was a hard decision to chose music … I was offered a job at Jodrell Bank which was difficult to turn down."
May’s interest in the subject was rekindled last year when he wrote a a children’s science book with the astronomer
He discovered that remarkably little research had been done in the intervening years.
If astrophysics and music have been part of Brian May's life - cricket has also been a real passion. "I love the game," he told Aggers.
"I've been to Test matches before, but this is my first one-day international. I didn't realise they played music when boundaries are scored. And I was surprised to hear a song played, but it's always great to hear Freddie Mercury singing."
May then told Aggers about his latest tour working with Paul Rodgers as the lead singer but he admitted that they haven't yet got a name for the group. So Aggers threw it out and TMS listeners didn't disappoint.
'Knaves of Queen', 'Queen Revisited', 'Queen Bee' and 'The Monarchy' were all good suggestions but Richard Haines sent in the most ideas. 'Queen Victorious' was one of his suggestions but we were most taken by his ideas joining together astrophysics and music - 'Rock Dust' or 'Star Dust'.
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im a huge Queen & Brian May fan . I knew about his passion for the astrophysics and music . but i didnt know he is interested in cricket too .
and about the band , i wish John would join them too , i know we wont see Freddie again , and thats SO SAD , but maybe they can convince john to come back and we may see QUEEN again.
i wish some day i meet Brian , Roger & John .........
Saeed Elini from Tehran
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how about "dustballs"?
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May , may have name embedded in in Phd research title .. I find Radial velocities & Zodiacal dust cloud both apt for the yet un-named band
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I love Queen and for sure, Freddie Mercury was brilliant. I would like a copy of Brian May playing God save the Queen, can it be got as a single cd. If Brian plans a return and wants to combine his love of the stars and music in a new name, then perhaps "Mercury" could be used. It has the distinction of being the closest planet to the sun so it will be HOT, and with some good music being played, it will also be HOT and the name remembers Freddie who some of us thought was HOT.
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Sir!...we would love to know about your thoughts about the game.Any prediction who will win the finals.Thank you!.
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Just a thought, how about "May Queen" ?
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I've just had a look back through your articles and prior to Brian May you have drivelled on about such luminaries as Elton John, Eric Clapton, McFly, Mick Jagger, Johnny Borrel and a host of other oxygen thieves who have no connection with cricket other than a passing fancy for the game.
Some of the above (one actually, Jagger) may once have made passable music but they have all long since extracted the final nugget from the creativity mine and, more importantly, have little of any interest to say on the subject of cricket.
When it's not dreadful, soulless musicians (take a bow Razorlight teed) it's Didi Hamman or Harry bleeding Potter.
If you want to dribble over pointless celebrities that's just dandy but please go away and do it at Hello magazine then maybe the ´óÏó´«Ã½ could shock us all by employing a sports reporter to report on sport.
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How about DUSTODUST
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Brian May = Legend
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Its Nice to See May Agreeing to the Truth of Creation that God Created man From the Dust.
A truth that so many failed to see.
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I am a classical musician and cricket lover. I can certainly appreciate the creative wonders of Queen and, to a lesser extent (poster number 7), Eric Clapton. In my opinion, Brian and Queen created some superb music and, in my experience, this magical creativity is beyond many classical musicians who may, at best, render excellent interpretations of others' music but that is all. Don't deride Queen - a very talented band. On a technical note, during his career, Brian has played with some rock luminaries such as Eddie van Halen but, despite being a lesser technical player Brian has such a wonderful sense of taste and harmony that I will listen to him 9 times out of ten in preference to the flashy, self-indulgent players.
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I am a classical musician and cricket lover. I can certainly appreciate the creative wonders of Queen and, to a lesser extent (poster number 7), Eric Clapton. In my opinion, Brian and Queen created some superb music and, in my experience, this magical creativity is beyond many classical musicians who may, at best, render excellent interpretations of others' music but that is all. Don't deride Queen - a very talented band. On a technical note, during his career, Brian has played with some rock luminaries such as Eddie van Halen but, despite being a lesser technical player Brian has such a wonderful sense of taste and harmony that I will listen to him 9 times out of ten in preference to the flashy, self-indulgent players.
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Regarding post 7, you are wrong to suggest some of these people only have a passing interest.
I think you will find the likes of Jagger (a self-confessed cricket nut), Elton John are huge fans of the game. We all know Jagger travels the world to watch England in action. He once even carried live coverage over the internet of the Sarjah tounament involving Engalnd.
Elton John was the England mascot in their Ashes tour of '86. Also, have you heard him on cricket? I thought he was more knowledgable about the game than most cricket fans (even some commentators). He spoke so eloquently with remarkable knowledge of the gaem, which i was really surprised about. I think it was a radio interview with him followiung England's Ashes series victory in 2005.
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I have just come across your site (while browsing through the Queen Fan Club site), and I would just like to agree with the first post from Saeed Elini. I miss John. It feels to me like Queen have lost two members. Please Please John, play with Roger and Brian once more.
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