Brian May: Rock-Star Astrophysicist

Queen
guitarist Brian May will henceforth be known as Dr May, as the
axe-slinger has finally been awarded his PhD.

May presented his thesis, entitled Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal
Dust Cloud, to the examining board at Imperial College, London, on 23
August. The academic scrutineers gave May a category two pass, which
means he needs to make some changes to his work.

"You can call me Dr May!" he said, upon hearing the news. He told
reporters he felt very comfortable using the title, since he had worked
very hard to earn it.

He told the BBC the viva was "very, very tough", and that he is keen to continue his research.

Dr May began work on his thesis back in 1971, before the lure of
spandex and big hair temporarily overcame his academic ambitions.

Brian May, the lead guitarist from rock band Queen, is close to earning his doctorate in astrophysics -- more than 35 years after quitting his studies to become a rock star.

May arrived on the island of La Palma in Spain's Canary Islands several days ago to conduct astronomical observations in support of his thesis, according to a statement by the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands.

His thesis, "Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud," is the last component of his PhD studies, and May expected to complete his work on Wednesday.

"Maybe you'd like to see the Telescope we are working in," May, 60, wrote on his Web site on Wednesday.

"Galileo ... Galileo ... how full of coincidences life is," he added, referring to the lyrics in Queen's hit song "Bohemian Rhapsody."

After submitting his thesis at Imperial College, London, he will have to wait until university assessors approve his work to be granted his PhD next year.

May was studying astrophysics at Imperial College when he formed Queen with singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor in 1970. He dropped his doctorate research into interstellar dust as the band met with increasing success.