Sir Brian May celebrates 79th birthday

musicJul 19, 2026357,078

Sir Brian May, co-founder and lead guitarist of Queen, turned 79 on July 19, 2026, marking his birthday with photo galleries revisiting his 1970s rise and numerous tributes. Born July 19, 1947, in London, May is celebrated for his signature Red Special guitar that he and his father built in the early 1960s and for shaping Queen's sound while Freddie Mercury provided the theatrical focal point. Posts and articles note May's parallel career as an astrophysicist, including a PhD with a thesis surveying radial velocities in the zodiacal dust cloud, and his public work on animal welfare. Coverage also highlights honors and recognition he has received, including CBE and knighthood, and frequent rankings in guitar polls by outlets such as Rolling Stone and Guitar World. Photo retrospectives and birthday messages emphasize both May's musical legacy and his offstage roles as a scientist and activist. The day’s tributes include longtime friends and collaborators sending personal birthday greetings.

Jimusic

@jimusic.bsky.social

Happy Birthday to Brian May, guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of Queen born in London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 79 years ago today. What are your favourite songs that showcase Brian May? #BrianMay

391046d ago

Oz Wiltshire.66

I only discovered recently that Sir Brian May as well being an exceptional guitarist is also an astrophysicist.

Noel Keith26

This is a Brian May project, seriously. Brian spent years calmly persuading folks of the pointless cruelty of badger culls, to no avail. When this went viral it ended up being played before the House of Commons within a week. Look for the badger with Brian’s hair. youtu.be/EllYgcWmcAY?...

The Global Shorelines project24

I think Seven Sea's of Rhye is still a stand-out, proper rock song, with great echo and delay on the guitar. Here's a great all-star version for the Prince's Trust back in 2010. youtu.be/z84JoFhLn3M?...

PeteO'L 🇦🇺 🇮🇪 🧷 🐸 🚲19

Tie Your Mother Down. Brighton Rock. Hammer To Fall. Princes Of The Universe. Sheer Heart Attack. Stone Cold Crazy. Modern Times Rock N Roll. Invisible Man. Action This Day. Headlong. Keep Yourself Alive. Don't Stop Me Now. Tear It Up. One Vision. Breakthru.

Stagger McTipsy, AKA Captain Awesome Motherfucker17

"Fat Bottom Girls" always gets me. I know it's a blunt and obvious choice, but I like big riffs and I cannot lie.

Lizzy Schofield13

39 Of course with all of Queen but love this version youtu.be/RYWJqaWZiBc?...

Quoting this

Phil Plait313

You mean the astronomer? I heard he dabbles in music. ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007PhDT...

Oregon Randy5

Happy Birthday to the Astrophysicist Brian May! 🧪 🤘

Passing Strange At Present3

Astrophysicist, advocate for historic stereoscopic photography, animal welfare advocate. More than music. Yes, he's also good on the guitar. Happy birthday, sir.

🇬🇧🇨🇦3

How can Brian May possibly be 79? That’s utterly ridiculous. I saw Queen in 1976 and that was only a few years ago…..

Prof. Liz Oakley-Brown2

Far too many to name BUT loved his contribution to this summer's Masters of the Universe film soundtrack

Jen2

Happy Birthday to Dr. Brian May!

Legal Weed 4 SC 🌱

@legalweed4sc.bsky.social

Happy 79th Birthday Sir Dr. Brian May of Queen. Awesome guitarist. His other accomplishments include a PhD in astrophysics and bring knighted by King Charles. 🤘🤘🤘

149546d ago

HansKI16

and a fellow #vegan and animal rights activist. www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/veg...

The Salty Sgt9

Ok. Listen. Yall have no idea how AWESOME he is. He helped generate the 3D maps used to land on the Asteroid Bennu. Dude is literally a Space Rock Star.

LastDeadMouse⏹️7

Designer of one of the camera units on the Cassini Probe that photographed Pluto.

Eat The Rich6

The movie Bohemian Rhapsody…did an excellent job finding the dude to play Brian.

koshkakitty55.bsky.social6

Wow! Had no idea of his life outside of Queen! Most impressive

Dan Davis6

Also quite a good luthier

Quoting this

vegankhan.bsky.social5

Best accomplishment being vegan and a animal rights activist.

Monica

@softtail65.bsky.social

Happy Birthday, Sir Brian May! 🎶 What's one of your favorite May solo or Queen albums? 🎶 Born on July 19, 1947, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, author, animal activist and astrophysicist, May still plays the "Red Special" guitar that he and his dad built in the early 60s. May first 👇

46346d ago

Monica29

formed the band "1984" in 1965 & the band Smile in 1968. Along with May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon & Freddie, officially became Queen in 1970. By 1975, they were one of the biggest rock bands in the world, with the international success of the album, A Night at the Opera. In 2008, May finished his

Captain CV6

Keep Yourself Alive * The 1st time I ever heard Queen was this opening guitar riff sitting in a dentist chair. It made be forget I was being murdered, and kept myself alive. 🎵 www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3ec...

Linda Oswald5

A Night at the Opera

Frozenborderline3

Sheer Heart Attack and The Game are my favourite Queen albums. For fave songs, I'll go with The Prophet's Song, Save Me and Innuendo.

areyoucertain.bsky.social3

Not necessarily favourite but memorable music.youtube.com/watch?v=oygI...

MJ 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈3

His best solo has to be the one in this song youtu.be/fJ9rUzIMcZQ?...

The 70s Guy

@stevenw888.bsky.social

Born 19 Jul 1947, Queen guitarist & singer-songwriter Brian May is also a PhD in astrophysics. One of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time & Guitar World’s 2nd-greatest guitarist, he received a CBE. He was a Chancellor of Liverpool at John Moores & fights for animal rights. #BrianMay

35046d ago

jazzrat2000 AKA Bonsai anonymous3

The moral/lesson of the story? If you want to make money as an astrophysicist play guitar in a superstar rock band

Quoting this

Captain Jack #86472

One of our mates. He and Lily shared research back in the day. It’s Sir Brian May, now.

Cool Bike Art

@coolbikeart1.bsky.social

Musician Brian May enjoying one of London's Santander bike share bicycles Happy #BicycleBirthday, Brian! Born July 19, 1947

A man in a red jacket rides a bike on a street.

19346d ago

N__B4

He...clears throat...wants to ride his bicycle?

Real Gaz on a proper bike: gazza_d@toot.bike3

He is such a cool person.

Todd Adams 🇺🇦1

Astrophysicist Brian May. And musician. His preference.

Tony Iommi

@iommi.com

A very Happy Birthday to my dear friend Sir Brian May. We have been best friends for many years and we always have a fabulous time when we get together. He is a real true friend and a wonderful human being. Have a terrific day Bri. X Cheers, Tony 🤘🎸

16146d ago

Oz Wiltshire.

@ozwiltshire.bsky.social

I only discovered recently that Sir Brian May as well being an exceptional guitarist is also an astrophysicist.

6646d ago

joehesta.bsky.social68

After delivering a dissertation in which he proved that the earth's rotation is caused by women with large glutes.

Pixi3

And most importantly, he rescues a lot of hedgehogs and says nothing makes him happier! 🦔

John Guay2

He has the Isaac Newton style

cwnol51.bsky.social2

He co-wrote , Islands in Infinity Galaxies in 3D , he has a PHD in astrophysics .

Ohm's Resistance2

He contributed to the analysis of an asteroid required to aim accurately to hit it with a projectile in a particular way to alter its path. Trump is one year older than him and his brain is mush. I guess being a decent, curious human being is good for longevity. www.space.com/nasa-osiris-...

Bad Hare1

As well as being an environmentalist. 😊

Mr Natural

@neilmatheson66.bsky.social

Happy 79th birthday, guitarist, songwriter, singer, animal welfare activist, and astrophysicist - Brian May. 🎂 #Queen

3246d ago

Dr Kat Day (she/her) 🌑

@chronicleflask.katday.com

Happiest of birthdays to astrophysicist,*† Sir Brian May, born #OTD 19 July 1947. *PhD thesis: A survey of radial velocities in the zodiacal dust cloud. †Also known for some musical stuff.

Brian May of Queen on the yellow carpet at the World Premiere of Wizard of Oz at Sphere at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.

© Gagew Skidmore

4346d ago

Dr Kat Day (she/her) 🌑8

Photograph attribution: Gage Skidmore en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_M...

AJ Fidalgo1

I like to imagine he's standing in front of a huuuuuge Zardoz poster.

Michael Warburton

@michaelwarburton.bsky.social

16yr old BRIAN MAY — 79 Candles 🎂 today — in 1963, with the new “Red Special” guitar he and his father made with wood from an 18th century fireplace.

3046d ago

Prof Frank McDonough

@fxmc1957.bsky.social

PERSON OF THE DAY. 19 July 1947. Brian May, co-founder and lead guitarist of Queen, was born in London. In 2005, a Planet Rock poll he was voted the 7th Greatest Guitarist of all time. In 2012, he was ranked the 2nd Greatest Guitarist in a Guitar World magazine readers’ poll.