Just released is Brian May‘s first new solo music in over 20 years, titled, “New Horizons.” The track, which the Queen guitarist co-wrote with Don Black has been released digitally following its global debut on January 1st at 12:02 ET via NASA control headquarters in Maryland. According to the announcement, the new track, “celebrates the whole 12-year Journey of New Horizons probe. This is Brian’s personal tribute to the on-going NASA New Horizons mission, which on New Years Day 2019 will achieve the most distant spacecraft flyby in history.”
May, who has a PhD in astrophysics, found the blending of music and science to be a natural one, telling Newsweek: “I find myself in an unusual place because I’m deeply immersed in music — and have been all my life — but I’m also deeply immersed in astronomy and astrophysics.” He said the offer to create music for the project was “an amazing opportunity for me to combine the two.”
May also touched upon the massive success of Bohemian Rhapsody, while speaking to Newsweek, which chronicles the career of Queen and has gone on to become the highest-grossing music biopic in history: “Nobody expected it to be that huge. We thought it would do quite well. We didn’t expect it to be a record-breaking blockbuster.” May went on to salute actor Rami Malek for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury, calling his performance, “colossal,” and adding: “What an incredible performance he gives. He just became Freddie.”
Brian May admitted to Newsweek that deciding to make a movie based around Freddie Mercury and Queen’s lives and career was a daunting undertaking for him and drummer Roger Taylor: “We were a little reluctant in the beginning, because it’s difficult to make a film that would do Freddie justice. And what happened over the years was that we realized that if we didn’t get involved, then somebody else would do it and then you wouldn’t be able to protect Freddie’s legacy. And so, we got involved and it’s a long journey — it’s probably nearly 10 years. That we’ve been talking to people, getting things ready, trying to get things ready.”
Queen + Adam Lambert tour dates (subject to change):
July 10 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
July 12 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
July 14 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center
July 16 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Arena
July 19, 20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
July 23 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
July 24 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
July 27 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
July 28 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
July 30 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
July 31 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
August 3 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
August 4 – Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
August 6, 7 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
August 9 – Chicago, IL – United Center
August 10 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
August 13 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
August 15 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
August 17 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – BB&T Center
August 18 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
August 20 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
August 22 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
August 23 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
