May revealed that he originally chose a coin over a pick, explaining that it was primarily to do with the sound it produces, as well as his hatred of how malleable picks are.
He said; “I use a coin to play the guitar because it has a particular sound and feel”.
May previously performed with Taylor in the blues rock band Smile, which he had joined while he was at the University. After the Queen’s formation in 1970, bass guitarist, John Deacon joined to complete the line-up in 1971.
They became one of the biggest rock bands in the world with the success of the album, A Night at the Opera and its single, Bohemian Rhapsody.
In June 2022, Queen + Adam Lambert opened the Platinum Party of the Palace outside Buckingham Palace to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.