Queen guitarist Brian May Sees Echoes of Freddie Mercury in Rising Rocker Luke Spiller
Los Angeles, CA – Queen guitarist Brian May has publicly lauded The Struts’ lead singer, Luke Spiller, drawing striking parallels between Spiller’s stage presence and vocal talent and those of his late bandmate, Freddie Mercury. The endorsement comes as The struts re-released their hit song, “Could Have Been Me,” featuring a collaboration with May.
May’s comments highlight a potential passing of the torch in the world of theatrical rock, offering a notable boost to The Struts’ profile and resonating with Queen fans globally. The guitarist’s praise isn’t merely about vocal similarity; it centers on a shared, unwavering self-belief and a captivating performance style that defined Mercury’s legacy. This connection is particularly poignant as a new generation discovers Queen’s music and seeks similar energy in contemporary artists.
Speaking with Classic Rock around the time of the song’s re-release, May explained, “Working with Luke, I’m often thinking of Freddie [Mercury]. There are a lot of similarities.They both have this unstoppable belief. They have amazing voices, they’re grate songwriters, but they have that extra ingredient.’I’m going to do this. I’m going to let the world come to me.’ That’s what Freddie had, and that’s what I see in Luke.”
beyond Spiller’s performance qualities, May connected with the inspirational message embedded within “Could Have Been Me.” He described the song as a powerful reminder to seize opportunities and live life to the fullest. “I don’t want to look back and think I didn’t live my life and take all the opportunities that were in front of me,” May stated. “I love that sentiment. You can say it in words. But you really feel it in the song. Could it be me? It says everything that a kid needs to know when they’re growing up.”
