Brian May recently shared insights into his creative process and the challenge of overcoming insecurity when writing songs, using Queen’s “Hammer to Fall” as an example. The track, featured on the 1984 album The Works, achieved significant success, hitting the Top 40 in the U.S. and the Top 20 in the U.K., and was famously performed during Queen’s iconic Live Aid set in 1985.
In an interview with Guitar World, May revealed the emotional journey he undergoes when developing new music. He described starting with a burst of inspiration and confidence, only to be followed by a period of self-doubt. “With me, it always starts off with a burst of activity, belief, and inspiration,” he said. “And thinking, ‘Ah, this is gonna change the world.’ And it’s usually followed by a period of complete insecurity, thinking, ‘Oh no, this is rubbish. This is never gonna work.… my band’s gonna hate it.’ And then working through it.”
May recalled his experience with “Hammer to Fall,” noting that he initially believed in the powerful riff he created. However, when he presented it to his bandmates, their lukewarm reaction fueled his insecurities. “I thought, ‘This is great. I can do anything with this; this is just what I want to hear when I put my guitar on.’ And then I got into the studio and played it to the guys; and they went, ‘Yeah, okay.’ It wasn’t like, ‘We love it!’”
Despite the initial indifference, May persevered, refining the song until it was nearly complete before presenting it again. “And then they got it; they went, ‘Oh, yeah. Okay, we like this. This is going to be great,’” he said.
May reflected on the common struggle of artistic insecurity, emphasizing the importance of belief in one’s work. “It takes a bit of belief, I think, to get from the first riff to the point where you’re happy with the result. I think it’s common to a lot of people – that moment when you spring it on your people around you, and you’re looking at their faces, and you feel very insecure in the moment.”
The guitarist concluded by acknowledging that sharing new creations is always nerve-racking, regardless of the audience. “When I sing a song to someone, it’s always nerve-racking for me, no matter who it is. If they’ve never heard it before, I get all kinds of insecure. You just have to get over that.”
May’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into the vulnerability and perseverance that accompany the creative process, even for a rock legend.
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