Fans of supergroup Queen have been showering praise on Brian May after he was given a knighthood in the New Year Honours. The virtuoso guitarist in rock band Queen said he felt a renewed responsibility to “behave in a way which benefits the country and the rest of the population” after being given the honour.
The 75-year-old is responsible for some of the biggest riffs in popular music, from the solo on Don’t Stop Me Now to the melodic strums of Somebody To Love. Alongside late frontman Freddie Mercury, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor, he scored numerous number ones during the group’s 1980s heyday.
The musician, astrophysicist and animal welfare advocate is being recognised for his services to music and charity. He told the PA news agency he is “excited” and “pleasantly surprised” and the news has been “sinking in over the last few days”.
