The embedded video is part two of my highlights package of the 2024 U.K. Brian May Red Special enthusiast meet-up held at the Holiday Inn Reading West in Berkshire and primarily features the guitars and musical equipment. Part 1 covers a selection of video clips of Brian’s time with us:
The event was hosted by Jon Underhill of The Red Special Guitar podcast and his team of assistants including Paul Cottrill, Steve McCulla, Matt Netherwood, Jonathan Planner and Luke Timmins, guitarist in the Supreme Queen tribute band. The theme was a 60th birthday celebration for Brian’s original Red Special which he completed in October 1964.
Attendees included co-author of the Red Special book, renowned music journalist Simon Bradley, Nigel Knight of Knight Audio Technologies, Andrew Morgan of A Strings, Wales’s premier independent retailer of guitars, amplifiers and effects, Rafa Diaz guitarist with the Magic Queen tribute band, artist Sarah Rugg and classical guitarist and host of the Fret Not podcast, Rosie Bennet.
The event had been held at Theale Village Hall, four miles away since 2017 but Jon and his event team sought a new venue to accommodate increased popularity and to separate the customary band section from the quieter day activities.
Doors opened at 10.00 a.m. allowing people time to mingle, chat and browse the guitars and equipment on display before several talks and demonstrations in the morning session. Souvenir merchandise including various stickers and badges from businesses and enthusiasts associated with the community were provided in a Star Wars themed goodie box. Exquisitely detailed commemorative sixpence coins were produced to celebrate the occasion.
There were many Red Special guitar variants on display including Brian May Guitars Specials in various finishes and custom versions built by both amateur and professional luthiers. These included a double neck made by Raymon Guitars of Spain, a 1993 Guild and a Guyton RS Transporter. Let’s take a look at some of these exquisite instruments.
A raffle of donated items raised a considerable amount of money for the Save Me Trust and Prostate Cancer U.K charity. There were some superb and valuable prizes on offer this year including a BMG ukulele and Queen I boxed set both signed by Brian himself, books, magazines and artwork by Sarah Rugg, a KAT Studio-One amplifier donated by Nigel Knight, effects units including amplifier attenuators donated by various enthusiasts.
After lunch, we watched a video compilation of photographs from previous meet-up events since 2017 with video messages from various enthusiasts on what the Red Special meet-ups and community mean to them. Afterwards, Jon dropped a bombshell on us. A very special guest had arrived… Dr Sir Brian May. Not only that, but guitar technician Steve Prior was looking after the object of our interest, the original Red Special guitar.
Jon had Brian as his guest in episode 20 of The Red Special Podcast in November 2022, maintained a dialogue then subsequently invited him to attend the meet-up to witness for himself how much we celebrate his guitar as a piece of Britain’s musical heritage.
One triple heart bypass operation and a stroke later, Brian found the time and energy to visit us. He did not confirm that he would attend until around lunchtime of the meet-up so it was a surprise to everyone. He lost some mobility in his arm as you might have read on social media and had not played guitar for about two months until today.
Steve Prior was on loan from David Gilmour’s stint at The Royal Albert Hall for guitar technician duties until Pete Malandrone returns to work. He managed to guard the revered original Red Special but still allow many of us to hold it, photograph it and compare our own Red Special guitars with it.
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