Queen guitarist Sir Brian May was visibly moved to tears during the 2025 Polar Music Prize ceremony in Stockholm after a heartfelt tribute to the band\u2019s late frontman, Freddie Mercury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joined by drummer Roger Taylor to accept the prestigious award on behalf of Queen, May witnessed Swedish singer Miriam Bryant deliver a breathtaking performance of The Show Must Go On<\/em>\u2014a song that holds profound significance for the band and fans alike. The emotional rendition left May overwhelmed, prompting him to interrupt a live TV interview to personally thank Bryant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was such a beautiful interpretation,\u201d May said. \u201cI feel very honoured. She\u2019s amazing \u2013 you\u2019re amazing! We\u2019re all like hearts in our mouth, [it was] beautiful\u2026 I was just so moved, that was perfect, just perfect. Thank you, thank you, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Show Must Go On<\/em> was Queen\u2019s final single before Freddie Mercury\u2019s death in 1991, co-written by May and Mercury in 1990 as a testament to Freddie\u2019s determination to keep performing despite his private battle with AIDS. The song\u2019s soaring vocals and stirring guitar work are widely regarded as some of Mercury\u2019s finest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reflecting on the song\u2019s creation in a 2023 Guitar World<\/em> interview, May recalled how Mercury, despite severe illness, insisted on singing the challenging vocal lines. \u201cBy that time he was suffering a lot. He could hardly stand,\u201d May explained. \u201cI played him some of the demo, with me singing, which went incredibly high and was very difficult\u2026 But he just heard it and said, \u2018I\u2019ll f****** do that. Don\u2019t worry.\u2019\u201d May recounted how Mercury downed a couple of neat vodkas, propped himself up, and delivered a vocal performance that \u201creached into a place that even he\u2019d never got to before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n First released in October 1991 on Queen\u2019s Innuendo<\/em> album, The Show Must Go On<\/em> has since become a powerful anthem of resilience and artistry. It\u2019s been covered by numerous artists and featured widely in films, television, and live tribute concerts, underscoring the lasting impact of Queen\u2019s music even during their darkest moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Polar Music Prize\u2014often dubbed the \u201cNobel Prize of music\u201d\u2014honored Queen this year for their monumental contributions to popular music. As Brian May and Roger Taylor accepted the award in Freddie Mercury\u2019s honor, they celebrated the enduring legacy of one of rock\u2019s most fearless and beloved frontmen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n