Brian May remembers the creation of a Queen album following Freddie Mercury’s death

In 1995, after the passing of Freddie Mercury, Queen unveiled their ultimate album, “Made In Heaven,” as guitarist Brian May recounts, it was a venture that presented both trials and triumphs. Crafted using some of Mercury’s final vocal and piano recordings, the album underwent enrichment by May, alongside drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Deacon, at their band-owned Mountain studio in Montreux, Switzerland.

May delved into their studio sessions during a 2017 MOJO magazine interview, reminiscing, “Suddenly we were back in the studio, Roger and John and I. We’re looking at all this stuff, and we’re thinking: this is what we created, this has been an enormous part of our lives.” The trio’s fervent approach to the project resulted in moments of great joy. Moreover, May disclosed, “For that album, we pillaged a few things from Freddie’s solo work, and refashioned them, which was a great labor love.” The song “Made In Heaven” had its origins as a track recorded for Mercury’s solo album, “Mr. Bad Guy,” released as a single in 1985.

Revisiting “Made In Heaven,” May expressed his admiration, noting, “I always loved it. But Freddie merely sketched it on his solo album, with a couple of synths and drum box.” Collaborating with Queen’s trusted engineer, co-producer, mixer, and keyboardist David Richards, May transformed the track into a more elaborate production. Acknowledging the extensive effort put into “Made In Heaven,” May reflected, “I spent months creating a panorama for Made In Heaven, but it eventually got too big for me, and I had to call in David Richards to get it all under control.”

Furthermore, May remarked on Queen’s extensive body of work, touching upon classic albums from the ’70s like “Sheer Heart Attack,” “A Night At The Opera,” “A Day At The Races,” and “News Of The World.” Imperfections within their compositions were viewed as integral elements by May, emphasizing, “They’re not perfect. Nothing’s perfect. There are little flaws, but the flaws are almost as much a part of it as the success of it.” He also delved into the group dynamic and the competitive spirit among the band’s four songwriters.

Each member showcased their songwriting prowess, yielding numerous hit singles. Mercury, for instance, contributed chart-toppers like “Killer Queen,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Are The Champions,” and the legendary “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Taylor’s credits include “Radio Ga Ga,” “A Kind Of Magic,” and “One Vision.” Deacon penned hits such as “Another One Bites The Dust,” “You’re My Best Friend,” and “I Want To Break Free.” May’s repertoire featured anthems like “We Will Rock You,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” “Flash,” and “Hammer To Fall.”

Describing Queen’s songwriting process, May disclosed, “The convention with us was: somebody brings in a song, puts it on the table, we all mess with it, change it, evolve it, and then the person who brought it in has the final say on its final form. But your song is your baby, and you get pretty emotional about it. You’re sort of fighting for your life.”