“We denied a sample of one of our songs to Gangster Rap artists, their song was offensive to women”

Queen have forbidden “gangster rap” artists to sample one of their songs, fearing that it could promote violence or abuse. The guitarist Brian May explained that the band refused some requests for use of his music because he believed it was the right choice.
The guitarist, today seventy -seven -year -old, revealed that at the time of the band – composed of him, Roger Taylor on drums, John Deacon on bass and the late Freddie Mercury on the voice – opposed a specific sampling request. The reason? The text of the song in which their musical fragment would be inserted did not reflect their values.

In an interview with Mojo, May said: “We prevented our music from being used to promote violence or abuse. During the boom in gangster rap, someone wanted to sample it for a song that we considered offensive to women”. He added: “But otherwise, our songs are for everyone. After all, all art is a theft”.
During the same interview, May also spoke of Queen's musical heritage. He revealed that he was not initially a great fan of “Don't Stop Me Now” (1979), since he did not approve the text written by Freddie Mercury, who celebrated his hedonistic lifestyle. Over time, however, he changed his mind thanks to the affection of the public: “At the time I didn't feel comfortable with 'Don't stop me now'. I think I took a long time to understand why people loved her so much”.

Freddie Mercury was undoubtedly the creative soul of Queen, but sometimes he had to surrender in front of the opposition of his bandmates. Especially when some of his too exuberant ideas did not meet Brian May's favors. The guitarist, in an interview with Mojo, explained how the overwhelming enthusiasm of the frontman should, in some situations, be contained.
“Deeply, Freddie was one of the most shy people I have ever met. But it was so exuberant that you tended to forget about it. He always had an irrepressible energy and ideas outside the box, and we often encouraged them”. But apparently, apparently. “Sometimes his ideas were brilliant, other times a little less,” said May, remembering Mercury's proposal for the 1989 album title, which then became “The Miracle”. “One day he came enthusiastic and said, 'Do you know that Michael Jackson released an album entitled' Bad '? Well, I thought we could call our' good '”. The proposal met the frost of the other members of the band: “We looked at each other perplexed and we said to him: 'Freddie, maybe we should think about it for a moment, what do you say?'”.

In the same interview, May also spoke of the possibility of new music for the Queen, this time with Adam Lambert under the voice. Although it is discussed for years of unpublished with the singer who has long been guided the group on stage, so far has not emerged material considered up to par. But the guitarist now does not exclude the possibility: “It could happen. Roger and I write continuously, we experience in the studio … I could have the beginning of a Queen song in front of me right now. It is only a matter of seeing if the idea grows and takes shape”. Roger Taylor, last year, also said he was a possibility in an interview with Uncut: “Brian and I talked about it recently and we think we have in the hands of the good material, so why not? We are still able to play and sing, so I don't see why we should not”.

Recently, May revealed that the Queen had asked themselves about the choice to collaborate with Freddie Mercury in 1970: “The first time we worked with him, it was a little destabilizing,” he explained. “He ran everywhere and screamed in an uncontrolled way. We wondered: 'He will work?'”.
According to May, Freddie was not yet the frontman It was said that he would become, and his exuberant personality divided the public: “Some found him abruptly, but everyone found him interesting and fun. However, he was not yet the Freddie Mercury we know”. The change arrived during the first demo sessions in 1971. Once in the studio, Freddie listened to his recorded voice and was not satisfied with it: “He said immediately: 'I don't like it. The redone',” recalls May. Mercury's determination led him to record several times until he obtained the desired result, becoming increasingly aware of his potential and quickly transforming himself into the singer who aspired to be.
May highlighted that this process required a long period, a perfectionism that would last for the entire career of the Queen: “Each new album was an opportunity for Freddie to go further, listened to the recordings and constantly tried to improve, with more passion and intensity. And among us we encouraged each other, continuously pushing us to give the best”.