Brian May reveals Queen despised their first music video

In recent discussions, Brian May, the lead guitarist of the iconic rock band Queen, revealed that the group had been dissatisfied with their initial music video for their hit song. This candid admission was made during an episode of their YouTube series, Queen The Greatest Special: Behind The Promo Videos, which aired on December 13, 2024. May shared that the band felt the original video was lacking the authenticity and energy they associated with rock and roll. They expressed their disappointment with the production values, particularly the lighting, which they deemed too clinical, almost as if they were just figurines on stage rather than live musicians. This dissatisfaction led to the band taking creative control of the project, opting to re-shoot the video with a more vibrant aesthetic featuring a black stage and colored lighting, which ultimately became a defining component of their visual identity. Furthermore, May and drummer Roger Taylor reflected on a peculiar incident from 1973, surrounding their first television appearance which notably did not include any footage of the band during the performance. At that time, Queen was working hard to promote their debut album and sought to gain exposure through major TV shows like The Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops. Unfortunately, due to the absence of an official music video, the producers resorted to creating a quirky animation that accompanied their single, effectively omitting Queen during their first televised moment. This quirky outing left the band members both surprised and bemused, highlighting the challenges they faced in establishing themselves in the music industry. These revelations come amidst Brian May’s health updates from his wife Anita Dobson, who discussed his recovery from a stroke he suffered in September 2024. She conveyed that he has regained the use of his arm and is now in good spirits, even engaging in playing the piano at home. This context showcases not only the challenges faced by the band in their early days but also the personal challenges that Brian has been overcoming recently. Through their honesty about both past experiences and present circumstances, May and the band continue to share insights into their journey, providing fans with a deeper understanding of the band's history, identity, and ongoing resilience.