Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor are coming to Sweden in May to receive the Polar Prize on May 27. This year's other winners are American jazz musician Herbie Hancock and Barbara Hannigan, Canadian soprano and conductor.
When I realized what a very prestigious prize this is, I understood that I had to sharpen up and dress up, says Brian May and pulls a face.
The Polar Prize was created by Abba manager Stikkan Anderson, and Brian May remembers how Queen and the Swedish supergroup competed for the top spots on the charts in the 70s.
We used to bump into them frequently back then, and especially Annifrid would come to our concerts. People probably think we were rivals, but we had a good relationship even though we moved in different genres. I have so much respect for their music, says May.
Big among the young
It's been over 50 years since Queen was formed, and next year it will be 35 years since singer Freddie Mercury passed away in AIDS, but the band continues to attract new listeners. Even in the streaming era, not least thanks to the film "Bohemian Rhapsody" about the band's history, which came out last year.
During the Zoom interview, Brian May turns his computer screen to show the wall in his office in Surrey, where among gold and platinum records, there is a plaque from Spotify as proof that "We Will Rock You" has been streamed over a billion times on the service.
We're very lucky to have written songs that appeal to all generations. It's whole families at our concerts, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters. And even grandchildren. It's a great feeling.
Can you get blasé, does it still feel special when "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "We Are the Champions" is played in an arena and everyone sings along?
No, you never get used to it. It always fills me with warmth when it happens, says Brian May and smiles.
"Call an ambulance"
The 77-year-old guitarist is on his way back after having a stroke last year. Suddenly, he lost feeling in his left arm and thought at first that his shoulder was out of joint.
So I called my doctor, and she told me to call an ambulance immediately, "I'll meet you at the hospital. You've probably had a mild stroke!" And that's exactly what it was, says Brian May.
The worst part was that he couldn't lift his elbow and therefore couldn't play guitar for a while.
The muscles didn't get any signals from my brain, and it was quite scary, but I recovered quickly and could train it again.
Can you play guitar again?
Yes, I'm back to 95 percent.
Now a trip to Stockholm and the Polar Prize ceremony in May awaits. One wonders if Freddie Mercury, who loved galas and big parties, would have enjoyed it.
He absolutely would have. Without a doubt. But he's with us in spirit, says Brian May and smiles.
The Polar Prize has been awarded since 1992. Here are the winners from recent years.
2024 Esa-Pekka Salonen and Nile Rodgers, 2023 Chris Blackwell, Angelique Kidjo and Arvo Pärt, 2022 Iggy Pop and Ensemble intercontemporain, 2021 No winner, 2020 Diane Warren and Anna Netrebko.
The 2025 winners are Queen, Herbie Hancock, and Barbara Hannigan.
Queen was founded in 1970 and consisted during its heyday of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor. The big breakthrough came with the song "Bohemian Rhapsody" and the album "A Night at the Opera" in 1975.
Songs like "We Will Rock You", "We Are the Champions", "Somebody to Love", "Another One Bites the Dust", "Under Pressure", and "Radio Ga Ga" are all classics.
After Mercury's death in 1991, Queen has continued to release albums and tour, with, among others, Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert as singers. In 1997, Deacon withdrew.
In 2002, the Queen musical "We Will Rock You" premiered in collaboration with Ben Elton, and in 2018, the film "Bohemian Rhapsody" premiered with Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury.
