Quote Of The Day By Brian May: Freddie, In His Last Days, Was Like, 'Okay Guys, I'm Not Going To Be Here Long. Just Give Me...'

As a founding member of Queen, Brian May formed a quintessential part of one of the most influential rock bands of all time. His crunchy guitar riffs and unique playing style proved to be as vital to the group's success as Freddie Mercury's resounding and crowd-stirring voice.

July 19, 1947, signified an important day in the chronicles of music, as May was born in Middlesex, England. His love for the proverbial game began at a young age, as he and his father built his first-ever guitar, which would have a guiding hand in shaping the monumental sound of Queen in the years to come. Queen exploded as one of the biggest musical acts of its time in the '70s and '80s, unleashing hit single after hit single and delivering some of the greatest live performances ever experienced by mankind. Unsurprisingly, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for their loud and legendary role in writing a new chapter in the never-ending book of music.

Mercury's death in 1991 marked a sad turning point in Queen's history, but as May later revealed, the sensational singer insisted on working even when he knew the end was nigh due to his AIDS-related declining health. May's recollection of the events leading up to Mercury's passing hits hard but inspires, and it's for this reason that he's today's quote of the day.

"Freddie, in his last days, was like, 'Okay guys, I'm not going to be here long. Just give me stuff to sing. I'll sing. Write me stuff on the back of a cigarette packet — whatever. Just give me stuff to sing.'"

Brian May said this during a discussion with ex-Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar for an episode of AXS TV's "Rock & Roll Road Trip" in 2023. The pair spoke about Queen's enduring legacy and how the band continued to stay alive after Freddie Mercury's death. However, May disclosed that there was initially a belief that if any band member passed away, Queen would retire the royal crown. Mercury, though, refused to stand still even when he was ill, pushing his bandmates to keep the music going and continue the legend of Queen. It's a remarkable revelation from May, showcasing how Mercury knew his time was running out, but he wanted to create as much music as possible before he died.

It's clear that Brian May thought Queen would end with Freddie Mercury's death. In fact, he and the other band members likely believed that music would be the last thing on Mercury's mind as he approached the end of the road. This wasn't the case, though, as Mercury's love for music never faltered — he pressed on and wanted to make the most of his time left by doing something he enjoyed more than anything else. In turn, in one of his lowest points, he still managed to inspire his bandmates to carry on — and this is why there will never be another band like Queen.

A reminder of one's mortality is always a surefire way to snap someone back to the importance of time and appreciating every single moment as if it were the last. An hourglass never fills itself back up; it only loses the sands of another day. As such, it's crucial to use every second to do what makes the heart sing.

Even in the moments of despair and hopelessness, there's a hint of joy to be found in this life. It's there — and it's never too late to appreciate this literal once-in-a-lifetime gift that we have all been given.

• "When I look back on it, I don't think I could have been born at a better time. As kids we were so lucky to have grown up in that period when things were bursting through and all the boundaries were being broken."
• "When I pop off from this planet, I would like to know that I've done my best on anything that I ever touched."
• "I very seldom turn down a collaboration. A regret is that I didn't get the chance to work with John Lennon."
• "When I saw [Jimi] Hendrix, I thought, 'Oh my God. This guy is doing everything that I was trying to do.' He just made me feel like I couldn't play."
• "I can never have a single day without thinking about Freddie."
• "We were doing things that really hadn't been done before, so there was a degree of experimentation."
• "Every time we were going to make a new album, Freddie would push himself further."
• "There are a lot of facets to Queen's music. We entered into so many areas believing we could innovate."