40th Anniversary boxed set of Queen's Brian May's Star Fleet features Eddie Van Halen

Renee Hansen

Queen & Adam Lambert Live Show At The Ziggo Dome In Amsterdam / BSR Agency/GettyImages

In 1983 when on hiatus from the band Queen, guitarist Brian May created a fantastic album Brian May + Friends: Star Fleet Sessions. Louder Sound reports this year, May celebrates the 40th anniversary of the project with a fantastic deluxe box set release.

The new box set of Brian May + Friends: Star Fleet Sessions will contain two CDs, on vinyl single and other collectible items. Fans can pre-order now with the release date set for July 14. May enlisted the talents of Eddie Van Halen, fellow Queen bandmate Roger Taylor, who provided backing vocals, and
REO Speedwagon drummer Alan Gratzer, keyboardist Fred Mandel who has played with Alice Cooper & Pink Floyd, and bassist Phil Chen, who has played with Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart for the project.

The original release of Star Fleet was a three-song EP that included the title track, with May's solo "Let Me Out" and the 13-minute "Blue Breaker Jam" dedicated to guitarist, singer, and songwriter Eric Clapton. The anniversary collection will contain remixed versions of these songs with interviews and live recordings. Also included in the anniversary collection will be alternative takes and new jam sessions from the two-day recording session in 1983 at Los Angeles' Record Plant studio.

May loved the music at the end credits of the Japanese TV series Star Fleet that aired in the UK in 1980-81. Written by Moody Blues and Hollies back-up musician Paul Bliss, it inspired May to create his version of the song.

Brian May Star Fleet tracklist Credit: Stairway to 11

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Renee Hansen

Renee Hansen, a contributing writer for Undead Walking, joined the Fansided family in 2019. She has written for numerous sites, including Netflix Life, Winter is Coming, Show Snob, Audio Phix, and Stairway to 11. She covers a wide range of pop culture topics, from horror, zombies, and romantic comedies to music and period dramas. Renee has also conducted interviews with many notable figures, including Lennie James, Steven Ogg, Tom Payne, Josh Hamilton, Carrie Genzel, Cooper Andrews, Dan Fogler, and Vince Neil. She has also hosted panels at various events, such as The Camp Events and Atlanta Comic Convention. When not writing, Renee enjoys watching new TV and movie releases, revisiting 80s movies, or rewatching The Walking Dead.