Brian May, who wrote hits like 'We Will Rock You,' 'The Show Must Go On' and 'Flash,' has switched his plectrum for a pen and co-authored a book with two leading British astronomers, telling the story of the big-bang and how the universe has evolved since As the guitar power in the legendary British rock band Queen, Brian May conquered most of the planet -- and now he has his sights set on mastering the universe. The star musician, who wrote hits like "We Will Rock You," "The Show Must Go On" and "Flash," has switched his plectrum for a pen and co-authored a book with two leading British astronomers, telling the story of the big-bang and how the universe has evolved since. "Bang!
The Complete History of the Universe," was written with Patrick Moore, who has presented BBC television's "The Sky at Night" since 1957, and cosmology boffin Chris Lintott, Moore's regular sidekick on the show. May, 59, earned a degree in physics at Imperial College London but after years of studying interplanetary dust, he abandoned work towards his doctorate when Queen -- fronted by stellar performer Freddie Mercury -- took off. May said: "When I was seven years old, I got my first guitar.
That's about the time when I first saw 'The Sky at Night' and the two passions have stayed with me throughout my life." Decades of hard rocking later, he is now completing his thesis and hopes the colorful 192-page book will be as successful as any of his hits. "This is not a book for scientists, it's a book for everybody," said the world-renowned guitarist.
"We firmly believe this is something which hasn't been achieved before, and that is a proper accounting of the story of the whole history of the universe from the big-bang up to the present day and into the unforeseeable future -- but in a form which can be understood." Moore badgered May to write the book with him and the 83-year-old drafted the basic skeleton in two weeks. May and Lintott then spent two-and-a-half years with the eccentric, xylophone-playing astronomy legend fleshing it out.
May's co-authors insist he has the credibility to write about stars as well as be one. "Brian was an extremely hard task master, we didn't get away with anything," said Lintott. "His papers are still leading the field in zodiacal light.
He won't say so but it's true -- I checked the figures -- and I know people are waiting for his thesis. He's absolutely a top-class researcher." Moore added: "Brian is a highly qualified, very eminent astronomer who has done fundamental work on his particular subject.
" The book explains the history of the universe from the big bang 13.7 billion years ago, through the formation of the first stars, galaxies and planets and on into the evolution of human beings able to contemplate their origins and destiny in space.
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