Rocking the Cosmos

Dr. Brian May is an astrophysicist; (17) ____________ and eventually earned his doctorate there. He went on to write a book about the history of the universe and become chancellor of John Moore’s University in Liverpool.

That’s a quick view of Dr. May’s resume. But it does leave one thing out. Although he began studying for his degree in the early 1970s, (18) ___________. Something came up, you might say, and sidetracked him for thirty-five years.

The man who loved studying stars became a star himself.

When he wasn’t studying astrophysics, Brian played the guitar. And his band was getting so busy that (19) ____________. The band was called Smile, until (20) _____________ Queen.

Bulsara changed his name to Freddie Mercury, Brian May left his studies behind to go on tour, and (21) ____________. May says his physics training helped him with his music career. It came in handy, for instance, when (22) _____________. In an age before digital, he was able to make the calculations necessary to create the sound of thousands of people stomping and clapping with no echo whatsoever.

As a result, Brain May can claim the distinction of being the only astrophysicist in the world ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.