Who Wrote We Will Rock You?

What has now become an international rock anthem sung en masse at sporting events, Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” from their 1977 News of the World album, was written by their inimitable lead guitarist Brian May.

By all accounts, Brian May is one of the most accomplished guitarists in the history of music. He has been ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” He was also ranked the second-greatest guitarist in a Guitar World magazine readers poll. May was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 as a member of Queen and in 2018 the band received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to being a world-class musician (he is a classical pianist too!), singer and songwriter, May is also an astrophysicist with a PhD degree from Imperial College London! As if that’s not enough, he was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), which means he was knighted by the Queen in 2005 for services to the music industry and for charity work. May’s official title is Sir Brian May!

May founded Queen in 1970 with the late, great vocalist, pianist and songwriter, Freddie Mercury. Queen became one of the most widely-known rock bands in the world with the 1975 release of the album A Night at the Opera and its now infamous single “Bohemian Rhapsody,” performed in the 1992 Mike Myers hit movie Wayne’s World.” It’s familiar “Mama Mia, Mama Mia!” will no doubt be sung by generations to come.

Much of May’s sensational electric guitar work, both live and in the studio, is performed on his so-called Red Special guitar, which he built with his father, an electronics engineer, when he was just sixteen years old. What a talent!

In addition to “We Will Rock You,” May also wrote several more of Queen’s biggest hits including, “I Want It All,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and “Save Me.”