Biography
Brian May is regarded as one of the finest film music composers in Australian cinema history. His compositions are noted for their rich, full-bodied, and highly melodic orchestration. Born on July 28, 1934, in Adelaide, South Australia, he trained as a pianist, violinist, and conductor at the Adelaide Elder Conservatorium. In 1957, May joined ABC Adelaide to establish and conduct the acclaimed ABC Adelaide Big Band. At 35, he relocated to Melbourne to serve as conductor and arranger for the ABC's Melbourne Show band.
May began his career by creating themes for TV shows such as "Bellbird," "Countdown," and "New Wave" before transitioning to film scoring. His work on the dramatic series "Rush" is considered one of his finest achievements. He gained major commercial success with his powerful and intense scores for the first two "Mad Max" films, contributing dramatically to their on-screen tension and excitement. For "Mad Max," May earned the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Score. His work on "Roadgames," "Mad Max 2," and "Frog Dreaming" also received AFI nominations.
He worked with director Richard Franklin on four films: "The True Story of Eskimo Nell," "Patrick," "Roadgames," and "Cloak & Dagger." Although Franklin initially planned to collaborate with May on "Psycho II," the project ultimately involved Jerry Goldsmith. Additionally, May scored several films produced by Anthony I. Ginnane, including "Patrick," "Snapshot," "Harlequin," "The Survivor," "The Race for the Yankee Zephyr," and "Turkey Shoot." He also composed effective scores for horror movies like "Nightmares," "Blood Moon," "Dr. Giggles," and "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare." Brian May passed away from a heart attack on April 25, 1997, at the age of 62.
