Brian May Covers Buddy Holly’s ‘Maybe Baby” As Tribute

Brian May has recently released his rendition of Buddy Holly‘s 1957 classic “Maybe Baby,” in honor of the late artist who died 63 years ago.

May’s cover of “Maybe Baby” will be a part of his upcoming deluxe reissue of his second solo album Another World as a bonus track. The remastered album will be released on April 22 and includes a collection of rarities, live tracks, remixes, and other covers.

May first heard “Maybe Baby” when he was 10 years old, and said that it had a deep impact on him and his development as a musician. He shared in a statement:

“I’ve never done a Buddy Holly song, and I did ‘Maybe Baby.’ That song more than probably any other is the reason that I’m here doing this, playing guitar and being a rock star and being a very fortunate person.”

The released of the song is accompanied by a video that featured a Brian May fan art, known as Bri-Art, showing the Queen guitarist’s career with a visual nod to T.E. Conway, which is also his birth name.

“Maybe Baby” was written by Holly and producer Norman Petty and credited to Holly’s group The Crickets. It was originally featured on the group’s 1957 debut The “Chirping” Crickets, and reached No. 17 on the US charts and No. 4 in the U.K. upon release.

May added:

“I heard Buddy Holly make that incredible sound on his guitar, that clang, singing that beautiful song, hearing those wonderful harmonies of the Crickets. And it completely motivated me. I just thought, ‘That’s what I want to do. I want to be able to make music that does that to people, makes them feel this kind of yearning, makes them feel this joy and passion.’”

Stream the song below.