London, 8th June – Guitarist Danny Gomez and drummer Chris Allan have pulled together a supergroup of musicians from the Queen extended family to create an incredible musical tribute and message of support to Brian May.
Introduced by the comedian and author Ben Elton, who wrote We Will Rock You, the book and musical based on Queen, he said “... some of us decided to put this message together to send you all our love and to thank you, for all the joy we´ve had in our lives that´s been driven by YOU...”
Watch and share this new video here: youtu.be/cJZGCItwpWQ
The song Driven By You was on Brian’s first full solo album Back to the Light launched in 1992 and was also the single off the album and went on to be adopted by Ford for an advertising campaign.
The supergroup that features in the video represents the whole history of Queen and Brian May’s musical journey going way back to Brian’s first band Smile in 1968 which proceeded Queen. Other eras of his career are represented with members of the Queen touring band, musician’s from his own Brian May band, We Will Rock You, the Queen Extravaganza and A Night at the Opera.
Commenting on the video Brian May said “I’m absolutely floored by this wonderful ‘get well soon’ work of art. I had no idea whatsoever it was happening. My dear friends kept the secret very well. I have a strange feeling again – that I am witnessing my own jolly wake! I feel truly privileged and deeply moved. How can I possibly thank everyone who contributed to this fantastic recording? Well I can only say here that I am profoundly grateful, and I will never forget this.”
The Band ‘The online champions’ are:
DRUMS: Chris Allan (A Night At The Opera, Cozy Powell´s Octopuss) Drums
GUITAR: Danny Gomez (Brian May, We Will Rock You (WWRY), A Night At The Opera) Guitar
BASS: Ally McLachlan (session ace) Bass
KEYS/ BACKING VOCALS: Darren Reeves (WWRY, Queen Extravaganza)
Also playing from Brian May’s own band:
Spike Edney (Queen, Brian May band) keys
Jamie Moses (Queen + Paul Rogers, Brian May band) Guitar
Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Brian May band) Bass
And from Queen!
Neil Fairclough (Queen + Adam Lambert) Backing vocals
Tyler Warren (Queen percussionist + Adam Lambert, Queen Extravaganza) Backing Vocals
From We Will Rock You (WWRY):
Ben Elton (WWRY)
Kerry Ellis (WWRY, Brian May) Vocals
Mig Ayesa (WWRY) Vocals
Alirio Netto (WWRY, Queen Extravaganza) Vocals
Livia Dabarian (WWRY) Vocals
Frank Rohles (WWRY) Guitars
Tristan Avakian (WWRY) Guitars
Luis Álvarez (WWRY) Spain producer
Plus:
From the original Smile band vocalist/ bassist Tim Staffell
Additional musicians and vocals:
Ronnie Romero (Ritchie Blackmore´s Rainbow, Lords of Black) Vocals
Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) Guitars
Jorge Salán (Soto, Joe Lynn Turner, solo) Guitars
Arielle (solo) Guitars
Martha García (solo)
Izzy Lysell (Kings Daughters) Guitar
Yohan Kisser (Guitar)
Marcio Sanches (Guitar)
Pete Malandrone (Queen- Brian May Guitar tech)
Andrew Guyton (Guyton Guitars)
Nigel Knight (Knight Audio Technologies – Treble Boosters)
Simon Bradley (Author)
Audio mixed and video edited by Chris Allan
Thanks too:
Paul Bond (Queen Extravaganza tour Manager, aka Mr. Wolf)
Hope you enjoy it and feel free to share.