Queen: The Complete Works (121 page)

PAUL RODGERS: MUDDY WATER BLUES

(Brian May)

Victory Music 828 414 2, 1993

Brian contributed guitar to ‘I’m Ready’, which was recorded at Powerhouse Studios in London during January 1993 and marked the second collaboration between Paul and Brian, more than a decade before the Queen + Paul Rodgers project.

GREENPEACE: ALTERNATIVE NRG
(Brian May)

Hollywood 74321 18091 2, 1993

Brian contributed guitar to Soundgarden’s ‘New Damage’, which was recorded in April 1993 “using solar energy”, according to the album’s liner notes.

GORDON GILTRAP: MUSIC FOR

THE SMALL SCREEN
(Brian May)

Munchkin Records MRCD 1, June 1995

Brian provided guitar on ‘Heartsong’ by Gordon Giltrap, recorded between February and July 1993 at Redditch in the Midlands. Other musicians include Midge Ure, Neil Murray, Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman.

OS PARALAMAS DO SUCESSO: SEVERINO

(Brian May)

EMI 829405 2, January 1994

Brian is on the intriguingly titled ‘El Vampiro bajo el sol’.

JENNIFER RUSH: OUT OF MY HANDS
(Brian May)

Electrola 724303 112623, 1994

Brian is on ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’.

IN FROM THE STORM
(Brian May)

BMG Music 09026 68233 2, 1995

Here, Brian appears on ‘One Rainy Wish’.

STEFAN ZAUNER: SOME OTHER LANGUAGE

(Brian May)

Columbia 4811742, 1995

Brian is a guest on ‘Make My Dream Come True’.

CARMINE APPICE: GUITAR ZEUS
(Brian May)

No Bull Records 34336 2, 1995

Brian provided guitar on Carmine Appice’s ‘Nobody Knew’, and was also featured on two different mixes: the radio version and a ‘Black White House’ mix.

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
(Brian May)

Show CD 025, 1995

Brian is heard on ‘Whatever Happened To Saturday Night’ and ‘Wild And Untamed Thing’.

STATUS QUO: DON’T STOP
(Brian May)

Polygram 531 035 2, 1996

Brian provided guitar on Status Quo’s 1996 track ‘Raining In My Heart’, and it was during these sessions that Brian, Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi recorded the guitar tracks for ‘FBI’ (see that song’s entry in Part Three for more information).

VARIOUS ARTISTS: TWANG! A TRIBUTE TO HANK

MARVIN AND THE SHADOWS
(Brian May)

PANGAE 72438 33928 2 7, 1996

‘FBI’ (see above).

VARIOUS ARTISTS: MOTH POET HOTEL
(Brian May)

COCA 13627, 1996

Brian is on the Mott cover ‘All The Way From Memphis’.

PINOCCHIO: ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
(Brian May)

London 452 740 2, 1996

For more information on the titles ‘Il Colosso’ and ‘What Are We Made Of’, see their respective entries in Part Three.

SAS BAND: THE SAS BAND

(Roger Taylor and John Deacon)

1997

Roger and John are on ‘That’s The Way God Planned It’.

LULLABIES WITH A DIFFERENCE
(Brian May)

BMG 74321 634972, 1998

Brian is on ‘My Boy’.

NAKED SUSHI: ‘CARNIVOROUS GIRL’
(Roger Taylor)

1999

Roger sang backing vocals on Naked Sushi’s ‘Carnivorous Girl’, released on the ‘No Name’ CD single with ‘Love’ and ‘Feel My Groove’ as the other tracks.

STEVE HACKETT: FEEDBACK ’86
(Brian May)
CAMCD 21, 2000

Brian contributed guitar to former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett’s December 1986 sessions, though the songs weren’t released until 1992’s
Unauthorized Biography
(Virgin CDVM 9014), and later reissued on
Guitar Noir
(Viceroy VIC8008 2) and
Feedback ’86
. Brian and Steve collaborated on words and music on ‘Slot Machine’, with Brian also featuring on ‘Casandra’ and ‘Don’t Fall Away From Me’.

TONY IOMMI: IOMMI
(Brian May)

Divine Recordings 72435 27857 2, October 2000

Brian contributed additonal guitar to the tracks ‘Goodbye Lament’ and ‘Flame On’ for Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi’s
Iommi
album.

BOB GELDOF: SEX, AGE & DEATH
(Roger Taylor)

EAGCD187, 2001

Roger contributed drums and backing vocals to his good friend Bob Geldof’s album
Sex, Age & Death
, though there’s no official word to which songs Roger contributes. Joshua J. Macrae is also featured on drums and percussion, as well as production engineering.

GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT: THE LEGACY

OF SUN RECORDS
(Brian May)

Sire WPCR 11170, 2002

Brian is on ‘(I Don’t Want Nobody) Teasin’ Around (With Me)’, on the Japanese-only release.

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK:

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II
(Brian May)

Hollywood Edel 0110302HWR, 2002

Brian provided lead guitar to Foo Fighters’ re-recording of Pink Floyd’s classic ‘Have A Cigar’.

DON NIX: GOING DOWN –

THE SONGS OF DON NIX
(Brian May)

Evidence ECD 26125-2, October 2002

Brian contributed guitars to Don Nix’s ‘Going Down’.

PROCOL HARUM: THE WELL’S ON FIRE

(Roger Taylor)

CD Eagle (Red) 20006, 2003

With a band featuring Gary Brooker (lead vocals, piano), Geoff Whitehorn (guitars), Matthew Fisher (organ), Matt Pegg (bass guitar) and Mark Brzezicki (drums), Roger contributed backing vocals to Procol Harum’s ‘Shadow Boxed’, released on
The Well’s On Fire
in 2003.

THE YARDBIRDS: BIRDLAND
(Brian May)

UKCD FN22802, April 2003

Brian is on ‘Mr, You’re A Better Man Than I’.

TIM STAFFELL: aMIGO
(Brian May)
aMIGO Records aMOO 1, 2003

For years, it had been rumoured that Tim Staffell, erstwhile vocalist, bassist and songwriter with Smile who was now making a comfortable living as a commercials director and designer, was planning on making a solo album. In 2001, he confirmed the rumours by forming a new band, aMIGO, and stating that he was going to record an album. The impetus of the album came from Tim’s son Andrew, a drummer who had suggested that father and son record some material together.

Once a core band was formed – featuring Tim on vocals and guitar, Andrew on drums, Richard Lightman on bass guitar and John Webster on keyboards – sessions began in January 2002 at Aftertouch Studios. Sessions continued into 2003, with guest musicians Snowy White (former auxiliary guitarist with Pink Floyd), Morgan Fisher (whom Tim had worked with in the 1970s), former one-time Smile keyboardist Chris Smith, and others like Peter Hammond, Dave O’Higgins, Corrina Silvester, Johnny Griggs, Rob Tolchard, Peter Hammerton, Martin Shaw and Keith Johnson.

Brian’s contributions were recorded last. ‘Doin’ Alright’ and ‘Earth’ had been early Smile favourites and, initially, Tim had wanted to drastically rearrange them; he quickly decided, however, to leave well alone and remain faithful to the original recordings. Brian duetted with Tim on both songs and provided additional guitar, and Tim later said that his former bandmate’s contributions were the highpoints of the album.

SOUNDTRACK: SPIDERMAN 2
(Brian May)

Interscope Records, June 2004

Brian contributed lead guitar to Jimmy Gnecco’s ‘Someone To Die For’, released on the soundtrack to
Spiderman 2
, and produced by Rick Rubin.

ZUCCHERO: ZUCCHERO & CO
(Brian May)

Polydor 981990, 2004

Brian contributed guitar to two of Zucchero’s latest songs: ‘Il Mare Impetuoso Al Tramonoto Sali Sulla Luna E Dietro Una Tendina Di Stelle...’ and ‘Madre Dolcissima’.

PETER KAY: ‘(IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO?’

(Brian May and Roger Taylor)

During rehearsals for the Queen + Paul Rodgers tour, Brian and Roger took some time to appear in the video for British comedian Peter Kay’s 2005 Comic Relief single, a cover of the 1971 single ‘(Is This The Way To) Amarillo?’ Like the other stars of the video, Brian and Roger are seen running with Peter; the three were filmed in front of a green screen that showed footage of Buckingham Palace while giving a handclap similar to ‘Radio Ga Ga’, before the scene cuts to Peter with other guests. Kay would later join the band at their May 2005 Manchester concert for a version of this song.

HANNAH JANE FOX: WE WILL ROCK YOU –

AROUND THE WORLD
(Roger Taylor)

Roger produced ‘Stalker’, released on the iTunes-only download EP
We Will Rock You: Around The World
.

MEAT LOAF: BAT OUT OF HELL III:

THE MONSTER IS LOOSE
(Brian May)

Virgin 0946 3 77737 2 7, October 2006

At the behest of his good friend Meat Loaf, Brian contributed some screaming guitar to ‘Bad For Good’ on Mr Loaf’s third instalment in the
Bat Out Of Hell
series, this time subtitled
The Monster Is Loose
.

CLIFF RICHARD: TWO’S COMPANY – THE DUETS

(Brian May)

EMI 0094637707227, October 2006

Brian played guitar on ‘Move It’, released on the star-studded album
Two’s Company
.

DIANA ROSS: I LOVE YOU
(Brian May)

Angel 094637681220, October 2006

‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ was recorded for Diana Ross’ 2006
I Love You
album, and Brian duly contributed a vastly different guitar solo, in addition to some rudimentary bass.

MOMO CORTES: CONSTANTE CONTRADICCION

(Brian May)

2007

Brian played guitar on ‘Tanto Amor No Es Bueno’, a Spanish re-recording of ‘Too Much Love Will Kill You’. Cortes was the original Galileo in the Spanish production of
We Will Rock You: The Musical
.

LYNN CAREY SAYLOR: YOU LIKE IT CLEAN

(Brian May)

2007

Alongside Danny Miranda and Spike Edney, Brian played guitar and contributed vocals to this American singer-songwriter’s debut album,
You Like It Clean
, specifically the tracks ‘If We Believe’ (an original composition and first released in 2002, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Mercury Phoenix Trust) and ‘We Belong’ (a cover of Pat Benatar’s 1984 single).

BANDAGED TOGETHER: BANDAGED TOGETHER

(Brian May)

TOGCD1, 2009

Recorded for the Children In Need charity, this updated recording of The Beatles’ classic plea for peace during the Summer of Love features Brian on guitar, alongside a host of other star musicians: Hugh Cornwell, Sharon Corr, Cara Dillon, Andy Dinan, Troy Donockley, Ade Edmondson, Paloma Faith, Bryan Ferry, Finbar Furey, Peter Gabriel, Anthony Head, Red Hurley, Imelda May, Lee Mead, Beth Rowley, Heather Small, Clare Teal, Bailey Tzuke, Midge Ure, Hayley Westenra, and Terry Wogan (vocals), Terry Taylor (acoustic guitar), Nick Mason (drums), Bill Wyman (bass guitar) and Jason Rebello (piano).

CATHERINE PORTER: GEMS FOR RUBY
(Brian May)

Nova B001RTYKPO, March 2009

Brian played guitar on Catherine Porter’s re-recording of Queen’s 1976 classic ‘Somebody To Love’.

MEAT LOAF: HANG COOL TEDDY BEAR
(Brian May)

Mercury 273 4097, April 2010

Brian, alongside Steve Vai and Rob Cavallo on guitars and Justin Hawkins on backing vocals, contributed guitar to Meat Loaf’s ‘Love Is Not Real (Next Time You Stab Me In The Back)’.

TAYLOR HAWKINS AND THE COATTAIL RIDERS:

RED LIGHT FEVER
(Brian May and Roger Taylor)

RCA 8897684982, April 2010

Both Brian and Roger contributed their respective instruments on Taylor’s second solo album outside of the Foo Fighters,
Red Light Fever
, though they weren’t on the same tracks: Brian played on ‘Way Down’ and ‘Don’t Have To Speak’, while Roger was on ‘Your Shoes’.

KERRY ELLIS: ANTHEMS
(Brian May)

Decca 2740128, September 2010

Brian was almost immediately smitten with Kerry Ellis’ voice since she was cast as Meat in
We Will Rock You: The Musical
, and went to great lengths to secure her a record deal – not that her credentials as a West End favourite wouldn’t have helped anyway. Starting in 2006, Brian and Kerry worked on her full-length debut, recording material only when the two of them were available to do so in between other commitments; what emerged in September 2010 was a unique blend of orchestral rock and musical theatre. Brian acted as producer and arranger, and contributed guitars, bass, piano, keyboards and backing vocals, while the few guest musicians were friends of Brian’s: Roger played drums with Keith Prior on ‘No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)’ (itself recorded in 2005 and taken from the
We Will Rock You: Around The World
EP), Taylor Hawkins on drums on ‘Defying Gravity’ and ‘I’m Not That Girl’ and Rufus Taylor, Roger’s son, on drums on four of the songs.

Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t to everyone’s tastes, and while Brian’s heavy-handed gushing over her talents and arrogant dismissal that anyone who disliked the album was small-minded, critics and fans alike cocked an eyebrow at the involvement. The album performed respectably enough, entering the UK charts at No. 15, before it fell the following week to No. 78, and then dropped out entirely. Two singles – ‘I’m Not That Girl’ from
Wicked
, backed with ‘Dangerland’, and ‘Anthem’ from
Chess
– were released in the fourth quarter of
2010, but both failed to chart.

However, the album was significant for two reasons: first, it got the normally songwriting shy Brian to write two new songs – ‘Dangerland’ and ‘I Can’t Be Your Friend’, the latter title with Don Black – both of which could have fit in nicely on
The Cosmos Rocks
(intriguingly, he opined that ‘Some Things That Glitter’, here pointlessly retitled as ‘I Loved A Butterfly’, was written for Kerry’s voice, and not Paul Rodgers’). Secondly, it riled him from his post-Queen + Paul Rodgers ennui, and changed his stance on touring: in May 2011, he set out for a month-long UK tour with Kerry, and appeared rejuvenated and thrilled to be on a stage again. For its faults, and countering any claims that the album was an ego trip for Brian,
Anthems
may have relit that musical spark in Brian, that had been lacking for several years – and who in their right mind would deny a man of his age a little fun every now and then?