The Queen Hit That Almost Had No Guitar—Until Brian May Fought for It!

Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now stands as one of the band’s most iconic tracks, an anthem of exuberance and energy. The song is widely recognized for its high-octane piano riffs and powerhouse vocals from Freddie Mercury. But behind the infectious rhythm and crowd-pleasing chorus lies a story of creative conflict and determination.

In a 2024 interview with Total Guitar, Brian May shared the challenges he faced in getting his signature guitar sound onto the track. Despite his reputation as one of the world’s most influential guitarists, May found himself almost entirely sidelined during the initial recording of Don’t Stop Me Now.

Mercury, who penned the song, had a clear vision for its sound. He saw it as a piano-driven masterpiece, inspired by the likes of Elton John, where the piano and vocal would take center stage, leaving little room for the guitar. May recalls how he played rhythm guitar during the recording, but Freddie wasn’t having it. “Freddie said, ‘No, no, no, no – it’s a piano song!’” May chuckled, reflecting on the moment.

However, Queen’s dynamic was one where creativity was nurtured in a collaborative environment, and Mercury did see the need for a guitar solo to complement the song’s structure. “He did say, ‘Well, it does need a solo. I need you to take over the vocal,’” May explained. This remark gave May the opportunity to push for his contribution. “I said, ‘Okay, give me a verse and let me see what I can do.’”

Despite the initial setback, May’s intuition and musical sensibility came through in the recording process. He listened to the track evolve in the studio and soon began hearing the guitar solo in his head. “It’s a counter melody. It’s not the actual tune of the verse. But it’s something which goes with it, a sort of counterpoint, and it’s something I could sing. And it was just a question of transferring it to a guitar,” he explained.

The result is a guitar solo that, though simple, adds an electrifying burst of energy to an already high-tempo track. For May, the solo has become a defining feature of the song, one that fans eagerly anticipate. “Every time the solo comes up live, I think, well, actually I can’t do much better than that! So I tend to play it more or less as it is on the record – with little variations,” he said. His approach is consistent because, as May noted, “I feel like the audience is singing along to it, and it would be disappointing to them if I didn’t play it!”

Don’t Stop Me Now might have started as a piano-driven track, but Brian May’s determined push for his guitar solo helped elevate the song to its place as a Queen classic. Now, it’s hard to imagine the anthem without May’s signature sound weaving through the melody, proving that sometimes, even in the world of rock royalty, a little musical persistence can go a long way.