Coachella Crowd Criticised for Muted Response to Brian May’s Surprise Appearance
A surprise appearance by Queen guitarist Brian May during Benson Boone’s set at Coachella on Friday was met with a muted response from the California audience. The 77-year-old rock legend emerged from the stage on a platform to play the guitar solo in Queen’s classic 1975 single "Bohemian Rhapsody", but was greeted with a lukewarm reception.
According to eyewitnesses, Boone donned an ermine-fur cloak reminiscent of Queen singer Freddie Mercury’s famous ensemble from his band’s farewell tour in 1986, before sitting at the piano to begin performing the iconic song. When the song reached the guitar solo, May rose up out of the stage to play it, with Boone shouting "Brian May, everybody!" to the crowd.
However, the audience failed to appreciate the cameo, with fans taking to social media to criticise their lack of enthusiasm. "I fear the crowd didn’t understand the significance of this," one person commented on a video of the performance on TikTok. "If this was a UK crowd, you would not have been able to hear anything after Brian came out. I don’t think people realise the true significance of who he is," said another.
The Independent understands that May had teased his appearance on social media before the show, sharing a photo of him and Boone onboard a private jet. He captioned the photo: "Look who I bumped into – on the way to the fabled Palm Springs … Maybe something will happen ?!" In a follow-up post, the Queen legend called Boone "a truly golden 22 year old prodigy. I’m proud and happy to say we are now officially pals."
Despite the muted response from the Coachella crowd, May seemed to enjoy the performance, reflecting on it in a post on Saturday. "I’m still reeling from last night at Coachella," he wrote. "Thanks to all of you folks who made it feel so special — you know who you are !!!! And this particular way of concluding ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ will be hard to beat in the years to come !!! Thanks. And for Benson and his entire team, I have no words. I’m awestruck."
The appearance was not the only surprise of the day at Coachella, with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong making a surprise appearance with The Go-Gos, joining the reunited band for an exuberant performance of their 1984 single "Head Over Heels." Green Day will headline the Saturday night of the festival in Indio, California.
For those not attending the festival in person, performances can be livestreamed on Coachella’s YouTube channel or via the new Coachella Livestream app, beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET each day.
As reported by The Independent, the crowd’s reaction to May’s appearance was seen as a rare misfire for the festival, which is known for its eclectic lineup and surprise performances. The Independent’s coverage of the event provides an in-depth look at the performances and trends emerging from the festival.
Brian May’s performance with Benson Boone was a highlight of the festival, with many fans expressing their delight on social media. However, the crowd’s muted response was seen as a surprise, given the significance of the performance. As The Independent reported, fans from the UK and other countries were quick to express their disappointment at the crowd’s reaction, saying that a UK crowd would have reacted more enthusiastically to the performance.
The Independent’s coverage of Coachella provides a comprehensive look at the festival, including performances, trends, and emerging artists. With its in-depth reporting and analysis, The Independent is the go-to source for news and updates from the festival.
