Brian May's Red Special: The Story of the Home-Made Guitar that Rocked Queen and the World

Although Simon Bradley is appropriately credited as co-author, make no mistake – the story is all in Brian May’s words as he was interviewed extensively for the book. At one point in the book May states what is well known to most Queen fans in particular but also to rock fans in general who know anything about guitar players – the Red Special is a part of May. So, this book is both a biography of the Red Special and as close as we have to an autobiography by the legendary rock musician whose father helped him build the guitar during the early 1960s when Brian was in his mid-teens. The title of chapter one is telling in that respect – “Father to Son”. There are wonderfully detailed stories about father and son designing the instrument, scrounging materials, and building it together. May’s feelings about his dad are summed in the comment, “My Dad really was a great Dad”. The book is beautifully illustrated with stunning photos and carefully preserved artifacts and documents from the Brian May Archive. It is a biography of the Red Special because it follows the life of the guitar from its ‘birth’ (chapter two title, “A Guitar is Born”) through the Queen days (chapter four) and its famous playing of “God Save the Queen” on the roof of Buckingham Palace to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, and right up to today. Also known as ‘The Old Lady’, the Red Special has aged gracefully, so much of it still original after more than 50 years of life. One of my favorite chapters is “The Queen Days” which includes brief interviews with the three main technicians that have worked with Brian to maintain the Red Special since 1975. I laughed out loud reading (one of the technicians) Brian Zellis’s comment, “It’s not like a Stradivarius where you can just go and buy another one; it’s the Red Special, there isn’t anything else like it”. The penultimate chapter describes the brilliantly period-correct reproductions of the Red Special used in “the film”. And Gwilym Lee, who portrays Brian May in the movie, acknowledges that the Red Special “was like this mythical object to me” – as it is to all of us who have followed Brian May’s career.You don’t have to be as passionate a fan of Brian and Queen as I am to enjoy this book. But if you are a fan, or just love rare and historically significant musical instruments, you must read this biography of the most loved electric guitar in the world – and its maker.

It's the Red Special. What more can you say?Anyone who is a fan of Rock & Roll knows the band Queen and instantly recognizes Brian May with his trademark curly hair and iconic Red Special guitar.The book does both justice. Brian weaves his life story, his years with Queen, and his desire to build the perfect guitar, around the technical description of how the Red Special was assembled from bits of pieces that he and his father found around their home.From cover to cover, the book is full of photos of the Red Special -- whole, in pieces, and in various stages of assembly -- along with hand written notes, pencil diagrams and handmade tools that helped to assemble the guitar.And, of course, once the guitar had been completed and placed into service, there are the many photos and stories of the Red Special in use with Smile, Queen, Brian's solo work, and Queen in its present day rendition with Adam Lambert.(It's even made an appearance in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. Or, rather, several copies have.)If you like guitars, guitar history, or just want to see how the most-famous guitar in the world came to be, read this book. (I have...quite a few times. And each time, I find something new.)

It’s very good book

If you've ever want to learn about how Brian May of Queen built the handmade guitar he plays on stage then this is for you. Dr. May, (yes he is an astrophysicist Ph.D.) and his father took over two years to create a guitar that equals none other! Great reading if you are into guitars and electronics!

I mean, it's a book about the Red Special. It has reminiscences about its construction and use; it has high quality photos of its workings. It has a section on replicas. It has only a very few things you've likely not seen or heard before, but it's a beautiful celebration of a unique instrument, and more than that has insights into the mind that made and played (plays) it.

Beautifully illustrated book with incredibly detailed background about one of the most iconic guitars and guitar players in the history of rock. Revised edition includes additional info about the BoRhap movie as well as some tidbits from QAL's 2019-2020 World Tour. Fab addition to any Queen fan's library or those who love guitars and the art and technology behind their making. Extra treat: The back side of the book's dust jacket contains a gorgeous photo of "The Old Lady"that does double-duty as a fold-out wall poster. So cool! But, what else would you expect from Queen?! ;)

Being a big Queen and Brian May fan I wanted to get this to know more about the Red Special. WOW, it really goes in length and details of the legendary guitar.This book is not just for Queen fans but guitar lovers as well

A story about a passion and how that passion has survived 50+ years of playing by one of the greatest guitar players in the world.

Fué un regalo para mi sobrina y le encantó. que bueno que a las generacionaes nuevas les agrade la buna musica y la historia de las leyendas del rock

The book is incredible, with a lot of details, historical pictures and facts that will blow your mind. You will know everything about the design, the production and even some fun facts that unless you have this book you would never know.300% recommended for guitar lovers!

Took me two years to finally get this second edition in my hands, after the release date was pushed back a few times, and then Amazon taking forever to deliver it to me - but definitely worth the wait. I'm a huge fan of Brian May going back to my teen years, and was always fascinated and obsessed with his Red Special and how it came to be designed and constructed. I guess the delay came about because of another restoration job done on the guitar, as well as new additions to the lineup offered by Brian's guitar company, and he wanted this new edition to be as up-to-date as possible. It is quite informative and very detailed in how much thought and love was put into this iconic instrument, built with the simplest of tools.

To read - which I haven't done yet

News Of The World(世界に捧ぐ)が出たばかりの頃から、手作りギターであることに感動して、いつか自分も手作りで…と思いつつ実現出来ず。でも今は英語がよくわからなくても、この本を見てるだけで嬉しくなってしまいます。50年以上も楽しませてくれるQueenのおかげで、ギターとともに日々を楽しんでます。