An early version of the band was loosely formed for 19 October 1991, when May took part in the Guitar Legends guitar festival in Seville, Spain. The line-up for his performance was May (Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar), Cozy Powell (Drums & Percussion), Mike Moran (Keyboards), Rick Wakeman (Keyboards), Maggie Ryder (Backing vocals), Miriam Stockley (Backing vocals) and Chris Thompson (Backing vocals).
Following the death of Freddie Mercury in November 1991, May chose to deal with his grief by committing himself as fully as possible to work, first by finishing his solo album and then touring worldwide to promote it. He frequently remarked in press interviews that this was the only form of self-prescribed therapy he could think of.
The original line-up was Brian May (Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar), Cozy Powell (Drums and Percussion), Mike Caswell (Guitar), Neil Murray (Bass), Maggie Ryder (Backing vocals), Miriam Stockley (Backing vocals) and Chris Thompson (Backing vocals). This version of the band lasted only during the South American support tour (supporting The B-52's and Joe Cocker) on only five dates. Afterwards, May made significant changes, feeling the group never quite gelled. In Spain, a Catalan band, Sweet Sister support the tour
Most significantly, May brought guitarist Jamie Moses on board to replace Mike Caswell. May considered Moses a perfect fit to the band. The other change made was in the backing vocal department. Ryder, Stockley and Thompson are replaced with Catherine Porter and Shelley Preston.
On 23 February 1993, this new line-up of The Brian May Band began its world tour in the US, both supporting Guns N' Roses and headlining a few dates. The tour would take them through North America, Europe and Japan.
After the tour ended on 18 December 1993, May returned to the studio with fellow surviving Queen band members Roger Taylor and John Deacon to work on tracks that became Made in Heaven, the final Queen album. The band took Freddie's solo album demos and last recordings, which he managed to perform in the studio after the album Innuendo was finished, and completed them with their additions both musically and vocally. Work on the album after Freddie's death originally began in 1992 by John Deacon and himself, but was left till a later date due to other commitments.
In 1995, May began working towards a new solo album of covers tentatively named Heroes, in addition to working on various film and television projects and other collaborations. May subsequently changed the approach of his second album from covers to focus on those collaborations and on new material. The songs recorded for that album, Another World would feature mainly Edney, Powell, Murray and Moses, who had become his core support/collaborative team.
On 5 April 1998, Cozy Powell was killed in a car accident on the M4 motorway near Bristol, England. This caused a huge, unexpected dent in the upcoming tour for The Brian May Band, with the need for a new drummer on short notice. Steve Ferrone was brought on to help May finish recording drums for the title track "Another World" and to join the band for the early stage promotional tour of five dates in Europe before the world tour.
The line up was then Brian May (Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar), Spike Edney (Keyboards), Neil Murray (Bass), Jamie Moses (Guitar), Steve Ferrone (Drums & Percussion), Susie Webb (Backing vocals) and Zoe Nicholas (Backing vocals). Following the early promo tour, Eric Singer replaced Steve Ferrone for the full 1998 world tour. The band then consisted of Brian May (Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar), Spike Edney (Keyboards), Neil Murray (Bass), Jamie Moses (Guitar), Eric Singer (Drums & Percussion), Susie Webb (Backing vocals) and Zoe Nicholas (Backing vocals).
The Dark
The Brian May Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do not stir
We will bring a coat of fur
We will rock you, rock you, rock you
We will rock you, rock you, rock you...
See the fur to keep you warm
The lyrics of The Dark by The Brian May Band seem to be a lullaby, sung to a sleeping child. The first two lines are an invitation for the baby to keep on sleeping and not to wake up. The next two lines suggest that the parents will bring a coat of fur to wrap the baby in for warmth. The repetition of "rock you" implies that the parents are comforting the child by rocking them back and forth, trying to soothe the child into a deeper slumber. The final two lines confirm that the fur will be soft and warm around the baby's small body, providing comfort and security.
The song is very likely to have been inspired by Brian May's children, Louisa and Jamie. In the liner notes of the album "Back to the Light", Brian May says that "The Dark" was the first song he wrote for his children, Louisa and Jamie, and the first song he wrote in a very long time. He also stated that he had a children's album in mind, but that he wasn't sure he would keep the idea going. In an interview, he stated that he wrote the song on Christmas Eve, as a lullaby for his then very young children.
Line by Line Meaning
Little baby sweetly sleep
Oh little baby, may you sleep soundly and peacefully
Do not stir
Don't move or awaken from your slumber, as we want you to rest well
We will bring a coat of fur
We will provide you with a warm, comforting coat made of soft fur
We will rock you, rock you, rock you
We'll gently sway and comfort you by rocking you back and forth
See the fur to keep you warm
Look at the soft, warm fur that will protect you from the cold
Softly round your tiny form
This soft fur will gently cover your little body and keep you warm
Contributed by Alice N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mark Wilson
Most underrated album of all time. Overlooked likely because his singing is compared to Freddie, which has always been unfair.
kaze
Bri is a guitar player and great singer though
Ben
I think it's just simply because he didn't care for attention to this album. No need, he'd already made it
Patrick Brent
God, this runs chills up my spine, the hairs on my arms stand up...more of an eargasm than it was 25 years ago. I bought this not having heard any of it but just sure of one thing: if it's Brian May, it's got to be great. I was right. Brian is one of greatest who ever lived, one of a kind, a true original. Long live rock!
Brandon McLendon
One of the best things Brian May has ever created. The strings used are so beautiful
salud y riqueza
Brian May, es un genio de la música.
GoodVsEvil1314
1:26 Gotta love that little orchestral break there.
Gabriel Mendivil
Si bien el álbum se publicó en el '92, esta joya de Brian se grabó en el año '80, según tengo entendido.
ManUtdMrs
Whoa, what an album.
Best listened to with headphones x
trikerj1
Dr Brian may. Simply the best.