Those in the crowd for Benson Boone’s recent Coachella debut mostly got what they expected—bedazzled bodysuits, soaring vocals, backflips off grand pianos. However, the audience likely didn’t anticipate Brian May, the legendary Queen guitarist, joining Boone onstage for a sweeping maximalist production of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Several days later, May, 77, took to social media to share his feelings on the historic performance.
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Brian May Praises “22-Year-Old Prodigy” Benson Boone
Taking to Instagram Wednesday (April 16), Brian May posted video footage of his instantly iconic performance with Benson Boone. The 22-year-old “Beautiful Things” crooner delivered an impeccable impression of larger-than-life Queen frontman Freddie Mercury during his April 11 Coachella set. And May showed why he still remains one of the top guitarists of all time when he appeared onstage for his well-known guitar solo.
“Well, I’m still processing that moment in Coachella – seems like the world is, too,” wrote the astrophysicist in the caption. “Mr Boone — you gave us all a gift. Bri.”
Four days earlier, on April 12, May posted that he was “still reeling” from the previous day’s performance. The iconic rocker shared a picture of Boone leaping over the “Tie Your Mother Down” songwriter.
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“[This] particular way of concluding Bohemian Rhapsody will be hard to beat in the years to come !!! Thanks,” May wrote. “And for Benson and his entire team, I have no words. I’m awestruck. Photo by Allen J. Schaben, I understand. Aeronautics by Benson Boone, esq. Bri”
Ahead of the unforgettable performance, May shared a selfie of him sitting side-by-side with Boone on a plane. Calling the American Idol dropout “a truly golden 22 year old prodigy,” the Brit wrote he was “proud and happy to say we are now officially pals.”
Benson Boone Calls Out Coachella Crowd For Tepid Response to Queen Guitarist
Sharing a stage with a legend like Brian May doesn’t happen every day, and Benson Boone clearly understood the gravity of the moment. However, the Grammy nominee apparently couldn’t say the same for the crowd.
In a video posted to TikTok, Boone lip-syncs “Bohemian Rhapsody” into a banana with the overlayed caption: “Me trying to get the crowd at Coachella to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is and the cultural impact he has on music and THE WORLD.” He then points the fruit at an imaginary crowd, adopting a dismayed expression at their lukewarm reaction.
In the comments, one fan pointed out that May suffered a minor stroke in September 2024 that paralyzed his left arm. “So just the fact that this 77 year old man recovered enough to even do this performance is a privilege,” they wrote.
Featured image by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella
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