Brian May

Sir Brian May is best known as the big-haired guitarist for legendary rock band Queen. He is also an astrophysicist, although abandoned his PhD after two years to pursue his musical career.

Alongside Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor, May co-founded Queen in 1970. The trio were joined by John Deacon in 1971 and released their debut eponymous album in 1973. It was Queen’s 1975 Album, A NIght at the Opera, that catapulted them to rock stardom, with the single Bohemian Rhapsody remaining at number in the UK charts for nine weeks. Between 1973 and 1991, Queen released 15 studio albums and both Brian May and Roger Taylor are still writing and performing music under the moniker.

Why Brian May is vegan

Although May had been fighting for wildlife for years, he didn’t actually go vegan until January 2020, when he took part in Veganuary as an experiment.¹Reilly, N. 2020. Brian May backs widespread veganism after coronavirus crisis: “Eating animals has brought us to our knees”. NME. Available: https://www.nme.com/news/music/brian-may-backs-widespread-veganism-after-coronavirus-eating-animals-has-brought-us-to-our-knees-2646320 [Accessed 8 September 2021]. Since the coronavirus pandemic, May has been advocating for veganism as a way for humans to exist in more harmony with the planet and its ecosystems.

Over the last three decades, May has become heavily involved in the animal rights movement, especially campaigning to protect badgers against the cruel and unjustified badger cull. Brian supported Viva!’s call to Stop the Cull and he formed the campaigning group Save Me, named after a Queen song, focusing on protecting foxes and badgers from persecution. May has even said that he would rather be remembered for his animal welfare work than his scientific and musical accomplishments.²Bryanmaycom. 2010. BBC HARDtalk – Brian May (Pt2) 22 Sept 2010. Youtube. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ4eeS5D8dc [Accessed 16 May 2026].

“… we’ve seen more of the effects of how eating animals has brought us to our knees as a species, I think it’s time to re-examine our world in a way that doesn’t abuse other species. Whether we will see that happen, I don’t know, but I think I will start to be a bit more preachy about veganism because to me it is the way forward, in so many ways.”³Reilly, N. 2020. Brian May backs widespread veganism after coronavirus crisis: “Eating animals has brought us to our knees”. NME. Available: https://www.nme.com/news/music/brian-may-backs-widespread-veganism-after-coronavirus-eating-animals-has-brought-us-to-our-knees-2646320 [Accessed 8 September 2021].