“You would get suspended for even having a guitar”: Brian May says it was “illegal” to have a guitar at his school – but he and his friends played during lunch hour anyway

Brian May holds his new signature SJ-200 12-string as he addressed the audience at the Gibson Garage London.

Brian May was in attendance at the Gibson Garage London yesterday to support the launch of his new signature guitar, a stunning limited edition SJ-200 12-string fresh out of the Custom Shop at Bozeman, Montana.

The Queen guitarist shared the story behind the guitar’s design, explaining why he prefers his 12-string guitars to be strung in reverse, with the octave and the standard strings swapped around, and he accompanied Brian May Guitars signature artist Arielle onstage for a performance of the Everly Brothers’ So Sad, Love Token from May's 1992 solo album, Back To The Light, before finishing their set with a poignant rendition of Queen’s Love Of My Life.