They say he carved it himself, from a bigger spoon.

Mythology is ripe with stories of special weapons that were custom forged and then given to someone.  Mjolnir was created by the dwarves and given to Thor.  ‘’Some watery tart’’ threw a sword at King Arthur.  However in real life sometimes the gods fail to deliver and a person has to make their own weapon.

Brian May performing with Lady Gaga 2011
Atop Buckingham Palace 2002

and Tie Your Mother Down at Live Aid 1985

It is the same guitar in each performance. 

Now, most guitar players are picky about their instrument.  The guitar Jimmi Hendrix wanted was not available left handed.  So he restrung it and played it upside down. Brian May at 17 years old was simply unable to find a guitar that worked for him, so the man that would go on to be ranked as one of the greatest guitar players of all time by Rolling Stone, built his own.  The guitar that he has used for over 30 years was homemade with parts from around the house.  He has even stated that the wood for the neck was taken from the fireplace at his father’s house.  The wiring and switches are all custom.

Now you would think that anybody who could build, maintain and play a guitar for multiple individual performances where millions watched live maybe could have done something a bit more scholastic with his talents.  Well, he did.  Brian May earned a PhD in Astrophysics in 2007 with his thesis entitled  A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud.  

Is it just me or do his accomplishments make you wonder if there is maybe more I could be doing with my life. 

;)