It’s widely known that Brian May is the legendary lead guitarist of the iconic rock band Queen, penning anthems like “We Will Rock You” and “Fat Bottomed Girls.” But beyond the roaring crowds and stadium lights, May harbors another passion that’s truly out of this world: astrophysics. This revelation often resurfaces, reminding fans of the incredible depth and breadth of talent possessed by the Queen Lead Guitar Player.
Recently, May’s academic side was spotlighted once again when he visited the NASA New Horizons team. His purpose? To delve into the fascinating data emerging from the Pluto fly-by mission. This wasn’t just a casual visit; Dr. Brian May holds a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College London and was officially welcomed as a science collaborator on the New Horizons project by principal investigator Alan Stern, as reported by Snopes.com.
In his personal blog post dated July 25, May recounted his experience with palpable excitement, particularly highlighting his pursuit of stereoscopic imagery during his visit. He described being present when the first high-resolution mosaic image of Pluto was assembled, perfectly complementing the earlier iconic “last-look” photo. This enthusiasm underscores his genuine engagement and expertise in the field, proving that for the queen lead guitar player, astrophysics is far more than a mere footnote in his biography.
His journey is as compelling as his dual passions. While immersed in his PhD studies in astrophysics, Queen’s meteoric rise to fame led him to put his academic pursuits on hold. However, demonstrating remarkable dedication, May returned to Imperial College decades later, in 2007, to submit his impressive 48,000-word thesis and rightfully earn his doctorate.
Brian May’s story is a testament to multifaceted brilliance. And he’s not alone in the realm of musically gifted brainpower. Snopes.com also points out Tom Scholz, the mastermind behind the band Boston, who holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from MIT and contributed his expertise to Polaroid Corp. before rocketing to music stardom. These examples serve as inspiring reminders that talent knows no boundaries and that the queen lead guitar player is in good company when it comes to rocking both stages and scientific frontiers.
