9.24.13 Fairy Godfathers, Berting, Berting and more Berting!

Culture [Russia]
Brian May - "Culture":
portal-kultura.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296

Dennis BOCHAROV
Brian May - a figure in popular music is truly unprecedented. Clever and intelligent among the rockers and otvyaznoy professors, Mae - the only rock musician with a worldwide reputation, which is a Doctor of Science. Always polite, courteous, always with a charming smile, the man - the exclusive property of the ambiguous world of pop culture. They are hard not to admire, it is impossible not to respect. July 19 founder, guitarist, and the keeper of traditions of Queen marks 65 years of age. In anticipation of this significant date, "Culture" was able to talk to the principal gentleman of rock.

Culture: Brian, what do you think the main difference between rock and pop music?

Mae: Interesting question. I think there all a matter of sincerity with which the artists present their works. I think that pop music is primarily designed to please people, give them pleasure. While rock music is more honest, passionate, not only is it not so appealing to our pleasure centers, how many invites to reflection, empathy. Although in general the line delineated these concepts are very thin. You should not take these things one-sided and blinkered: they say, is rock and pop here. Over time, this is a good start to understand, since the age of perfectionism is giving way to judgment. When I was young, I also differentiated between items on a "cool" or "not cool". Then, because it was thought that love rock - cool, and pop - no. Queen clearly fell under the category of "rock", and, say, ABBA were pure pop. And for a young music fan is a fan of ABBA was the same as if not worthy, because there was an unspoken belief that they lack creativity "klevosti." But today, listening to the songs of Benny and Bjorn, I feel as much in their passion and sincerity. This is a brilliant pop. Or, say, Leonard Bernstein - I love his music, although this is not a rock. His stuff too full of passion, though very different properties. You know, by and large, it does not matter which direction to include a particular piece of music. There are just good music and bad.

Culture: What's the difference between the popular music of the past and present?

Mae: I can not say that is familiar with many of today's trends. However, it is obvious that the penetration of Internet in almost every house music has become, perhaps, more personal, personalized, which is probably a good idea. Today, you can put your product in a network to put video on YouTube, and it will become known to thousands of people around the world. Music - is communication, and in this sense similar to "access" - it is a healthy phenomenon.

Culture: You recently traveled to Russia with concerts, which acted as a frontman Adam Lambert. Do not plan to undertake this large-scale tour with his participation?

Mae: I do not exclude such a possibility. This guy is great. Adam is full of energy, he's a brilliant professional. He has an amazing voice, and with very few people can be compared to the contemporary scene. His enormous range is not only to take notes exorbitant - thanks to Adam express themselves beautifully. At rehearsals, I was sometimes overwhelmed with emotion. When I first heard him perform Who Wants To Live Forever, I was literally stunned just was not internally ready for such an amazing interpretation of the song. I get great pleasure from the co-operation with Adam.

Culture: And why do your co-operation began with Adam? How and why did you choose it?

Mae: I think some things in this world is predetermined, prescribed by fate itself. Once Adam came on the scene in the show American Idol, our drummer Roger Taylor began receiving calls and sms-messages along the lines of: "You should pay attention to this guy! He's great! He - like Freddie! He was the only person who can do his songs, 'and everything like that. Of course, we were intrigued. And then the show organizers called us and asked if we would want to play with the two finalists - we were pleased to do so.* During this mini-set, we found that Adam is really phenomenal. Then at the MTV Awards ceremony in Belfast, we, along with Adam played The Show Must Go On, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions - and he was again incomparable. Therefore, when shortly after the above ceremony, the Russian promoters reached out to us with a proposal to perform with Adam Lambert in your country, we did not think for too long.*

Culture: There are persistent rumors that you are going to collaborate with Lady Gaga ...

May: Actually, I have worked with her, played the song You And I with her ​​latest album Born This Way. We also performed together at the MTV Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. I was very pleased with it. Dense concrete plans of cooperation we are not bears, but are in contact. I think it is a very talented actress, completely given to the business: it seems that she lives it 24 hours a day. Music for her - it is both work and pleasure and a hobby, just her whole life.

Culture: How are shooting a feature film about Freddie Mercury with Sacha Baron Cohen in the title role?

Mae: I know that everything was okay, as planned, so to speak. We have seen the script, and he, in general, is largely correct, that is, the more precise to say, not divorced from reality. And this is not easy to achieve when it comes to movies, biopic on the rock stars. Of course, in this case there are points of contention - some of the details, I'm sure will cause a heated controversy in the camp of fans of Queen, and in the press, but overall, once again, the script is very good. Remove truthful film in general is very difficult - you just can try to make a movie, which is relevant to real life painting, which has its own point of view. This film has attitude. It is not absolutely realistic, but it is a very honest attempt to tell about Freddie.

Culture: What are you more proud in my life - the fact that a famous musician or the fact that you respected scholar?

Mae: I suspect that the fact and the other in about equal measure. However, today I am most proud that this is actively engaged in this (pointing to his badge with the words Save Me. This name-based Bryan Foundation in charge of protecting animals from abuse and cruelty - "Culture"). I spent a lot of time and energy trying to change the alarming state of affairs in the world, namely, how people treat animals. I think that humanity is making a serious mistake, believing that the person - is master of the universe, and in general the only creature on this planet that deserves attention. In the cement-concrete world we have created, there is no room for others - a charming and defenseless - creatures. I try to change it. People today are for the most part so far removed from the animals, which sometimes panicky fear them: see, used to fly in horror throw up one's hands and immediately rush to kill her. Thus, without noticing, we kill everything. This is a big mistake. This is bad for animals and for ourselves.

Culture: What would you say is the biggest failure, a major setback in your life?

Mae: We need to think ... Failures of the last, perhaps, that's what. We have, as you know, there's the musical We Will Rock You, which is delivered in many countries around the world. In London, he still continues to accompany a great success. For ten years the theater Dominion, in which he shows every evening gathers notices. But here in Las Vegas this musical, they say, "not rolled." In general, bringing We Will Rock You in every country, we come to the matter very carefully and meticulously - from production to the selection of musicians and actors. In Vegas, we have also had a great cast, and generally find fault with, from our point of view, it was not for nothing, but there is a musical suffered a complete fiasco. This is hardly possible to name the biggest failure in your career and life, but it was definitely a big disappointment.

Culture: What music do you listen to while driving?

May: Yes, what you want, depending on your mood, from Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff to the Foo Fighters and the new album of the same Adam Lambert - I absolutely omnivorous.

Culture: You are a recognized astronomer. But astrology, you are not interested in an hour? Do you believe horoscopes?

May: At the instinctive level, probably not. I do not follow this logic, it seems to me a kind of a funny game. But sometimes, sitting in any Chinese restaurant, for the sake of curiosity, with a smile lurking horoscope: they say, well, well, something I prepared for the fate of this week? Yeah, I will be meeting with someone important to me to avoid this or that, well, everything like that. Sometimes some of this is true, why not?

Culture: What is the period of creative activity Queen is most interesting to you?

May: Oh, really, I do not know ... (For a long time thinks). Perhaps the earliest years. After all, it was a novelty then, everything was so exciting, vibrant and intriguing ... We were, in fact, ordinary boys, we had no vision and a clear understanding of what to do and how to get it right. We moved the touch, experimenting, risk. And we just did was unreal, insane belief in themselves.

In general, each period in the history of our group was amazing. And the present also. We had a wonderful life - beyond the most daring and desperate dreams. And I do not get tired every day thankful.

*Google translation corrections by nica575.