Queen fans, rejoice – the legendary guitarist Brian May has revisited the band’s very first album, Queen, for a 2024 overhaul that delivers the sonic experience he and his bandmates had always envisioned. Originally released in 1973, Queen has now been reborn as Queen I, with May reworking his own guitar parts to bring the “live, ambient sound” that the band originally craved but couldn’t capture due to early recording limitations.
In a recent conversation with MOJO, May opened up about the extensive effort behind the remixed, remastered edition of Queen I. “It’s not that the original was bad, it just wasn’t what we dreamed of,” he shared. The new reissue, crafted alongside engineers Justin Shirley-Smith, Joshua J Macrae, and Kris Fredriksson, dives deep into each layer, revisiting every instrument to enhance the sound quality with today’s technology.
Even with his father’s feedback in mind – who once critiqued the album’s lack of “ambience” – May embraced the opportunity to fulfill Queen’s vision from the start. "Every instrument has been re-examined from the bottom up," he explained. Guitars, once recorded “dry,” now possess the rich resonance May envisioned decades ago.
What’s next? May hinted that Queen II, the band’s 1974 follow-up, may also undergo a similar reimagining. For now, Queen I offers a rare glimpse at Queen’s roots, transformed for a new generation.
Photo: Miikka Skaffari/Getty, Press
