Let’s settle this once and for all, shall we? You’ve been up late, down a rabbit hole of YouTube clips, and you spot James May—the slow-talking, fast-car-loving co-host of The Grand Tour—and then your eye catches Brian May—the astrophysicist and iconic queen guitarist with the unmistakable curly mane. And your brain short-circuits: “Wait… are they… related?”
I hate to burst your bubble, but no. They are not related, unless you count “vaguely British and awesome” as a bloodline. James May was born in Bristol in 1963; Brian May was born in Hampton in 1947. Different parents, different planets—though Brian did co-found Queen, so you could say he’s from a galaxy far, far rockier.
The confusion is understandable. Both have a certain “mad scientist” energy. Brian spends his free time studying 3D imagery of asteroids and playing a homemade guitar; James builds model airplanes and has a shed full of… well, more sheds. They both have a passion for precision—Brian for his Red Special guitar, James for the perfect cup of tea. And let’s not ignore the names: “May” is almost as common as “Smith” in Britain, so the universe is just trolling us.
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Still, I propose we imagine they’re secret cousins. Picture it: a family barbecue where Brian teaches James the riff to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and James responds by explaining the fuel efficiency of a 1974 Rover. It would be the most wonderfully awkward, delightfully nerdy reunion in history. And honestly? That’s the uplifting part: even when two brilliant men aren’t blood relatives, they’re still connected by the joy they bring us. So whether you’re watching James test a ridiculous Italian supercar or listening to Brian shred a stadium solo, just smile—because the only family tree that matters is the one full of people who make life a little more fun. And in that tree? They’re definitely related.
