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Brian May, Rock Legend, Publishes His Thesis

Posted by kdawson on from the eyes-just-like-a-laser-beam dept.

A year ago we took note when Brian May, guitarist for Queen for the last 30 years, submitted his thesis for a Ph.D. in astrophysics. The news now is that the thesis has been published. You, too, can read all about the population of tiny asteroids and space dust that cause the Zodiacal light. The completed thesis appears as the book "A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud" (Springer and Canopus Publishing Ltd., 2008), available at Amazon for $71.96. May was awarded his Ph.D. last summer and accepted a position as chancellor at a British university in November.

52 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. Too pricey by Ron_Fitzgerald · · Score: 5, Funny

    $71.96? Come on, Halo 3 was only $60 and that cost $100,000,000 to make.

    --
    ~ Ron Fitzgerald
    1. Re:Too pricey by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah, but it didn't that 35 years!

      Actually I went to his Imperial College lecture on the subject, and he was well into it.

      Sadly not being a physicist I was initially more interested in that he was using Powerpoint on a Macbook Pro to present the material. But it all looked good, graphs and explanation were all there.

      Glad the guy could finish the PhD he started way back then!

    2. Re:Too pricey by commodoresloat · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Authors usually don't choose those prices, and a price like that generally reflects a low confidence that anyone besides libraries will purchase this work. In this case it seems like a strategic error; I bet there's a huge market for this among fans of his music if it were say $25. But I don't see how that market can be very large at this price point. I suppose once they notice interest in it they might consider releasing it in paperback. But a $71 price tag is generally not something an author wants to see on their published dissertation. I'm surprised he didn't negotiate something different though.

    3. Re:Too pricey by reset_button · · Score: 5, Informative

      I just paid $60 for a copy of MY OWN dissertation! Five years of hard work and then my university makes me pay $200+ for copyright and publishing, then charges me another $60 to get a copy!

    4. Re:Too pricey by DarkKnightRadick · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That's cold, perhaps you should have considered using the CCD CopyWrite, instead?

      --
      "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)
    5. Re:Too pricey by CowardWithAName · · Score: 3, Funny

      So tell him where to stick that fancy label.

      Somehow I doubt May has been sleeping on any sidewalks recently...

      </inside-joke>

    6. Re:Too pricey by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      And this my friends, is the part of the reason why nobody in his right mind busts his hump to participate in science/engineering/mathematical scholarship--and why we have way too many lawyers.

      With very, very few exceptions, you really would have to be at least a little psychotic to want to become an engineer, chemist, physicist, etc. given: the rewards most people reap in these fields of study, the expenditure of money, time and the discipline required to reach competency in your own little niche.

      Yeah, this dude had to pay $200+ and $60, to get further raped in the wallet. You'd think that after paying a fuckton--er going into debt by about another bazillion bumfucking Benjamins, that they'd have the goddamn courtesy to at least give you a free fucking copy of your own dissertation, which in a just and sane universe, could do nothing but remain your own property...

      Have you ever noticed that most people with a Ph.D. in a natural science, engineering or mathematical field tend to be a little off balance (or a lot)? Even since the ancient times, philosophers in every culture with surviving writings have likened the human emotion love to psychotic behavior. Modern science, through the technology of looking into the human mind, has verified this long held, if casual presupposition. One would have to love something very much indeed, to go through the trials and tribulations our Ph.D. friends volunteered for.

      Guess they were just a little bit too crazy--or stupid--to become a chiropractor or psychiatrist, or prostitute.

    7. Re:Too pricey by sunny256 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Queen sucks! They are the worst band I've ever heard (tied with Rush and Avril Lavigne). Does anyone actully listen to them? And if so, why?!?

      Well, they were declared "best British band" by listeners of BBC2 (20.000 votes total), and came on second place in another contest (600.000 votes total).

      You may not like the music, but you're hardly in a position to say they suck.

  2. Rock music by DivineGod · · Score: 5, Funny

    This sorts of gives that term a new meaning?

    1. Re:Rock music by Ron_Fitzgerald · · Score: 5, Funny

      I though for sure the first bad joke would have something to do with Mercury!!

      --
      ~ Ron Fitzgerald
    2. Re:Rock music by xenocide2 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Maybe. I'd heard calls to make scientists into rockstars, but never rockstars into scientists!

      --
      I Browse at +4 Flamebait

      Open Source Sysadmin

    3. Re:Rock music by chill · · Score: 2, Funny

      Mercury or Uranus. Maybe both.

      --
      Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
    4. Re:Rock music by Pseudonym · · Score: 2, Informative

      Someone else mentioned Milo. Brian Cox is probably the most hard-core. He used to be the keyboard player in Dare and D:ream and once got into a bar fight with Jimmy Page. He is now a full-on professor of physics. But you're kinda right. It's actually more common for scientists to be classical or jazz musicians.

      --
      sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
    5. Re:Rock music by originalTMAN · · Score: 2, Funny

      what does Freddie Mercury have to do with Uranus?

    6. Re:Rock music by 1u3hr · · Score: 2, Informative
      It's actually more common for scientists to be classical or jazz musicians.

      Richard Feynman was a pretty serious bongo drummer.

    7. Re:Rock music by FishWithAHammer · · Score: 2, Informative

      There's also Greg Graffin of Bad Religion, too. Life Sciences professor at UCLA.

      --
      "You can either have software quality or you can have pointer arithmetic, but you cannot have both at the same time."
  3. Full thesis title by radimvice · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Another One Bites the Dust: A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud".

    1. Re:Full thesis title by philspear · · Score: 4, Funny

      I wonder if he used a radio-ga-ga telescope to get his data?

    2. Re:Full thesis title by MarkTraceur · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, it was "Fat-Bottomed Girls, They Make the Rockin' World Go 'Round: A Study of Possible Causes of Gravity."

      (TOTALLY stolen from UserFriendly, go upmod that site if you like this comment)

    3. Re:Full thesis title by nick_davison · · Score: 5, Funny

      The rotation of oscillating rotational planets, as influenced by female homo sapiens with large gluteal regions.

    4. Re:Full thesis title by tyrione · · Score: 3, Funny

      The rotation of oscillating rotational planets, as influenced by female homo sapiens with large gluteal regions.

      Fat-bottomed Girls to the less verbose-minded.

    5. Re:Full thesis title by Eccles · · Score: 2, Informative

      Unnecessary. Open your eyes, look up to the skies, and seeeee...

      --
      Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.
    6. Re:Full thesis title by rk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm so glad that there's always someone to explain all these liberal egg-head jokes around here to me.

  4. Two down, two to go by plopez · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now all he needs to do is learn how to do brain surgery and start making movies.

    If you don't get the joke, rent this one:
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086856/

    and watch the extended version

    --
    putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
  5. Professors by Enderandrew · · Score: 5, Funny

    His astrophysicist professors kept arguing with him that despite his assertions, fat-bottomed girls did not make the world go round.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    1. Re:Professors by meringuoid · · Score: 5, Funny
      His astrophysicist professors kept arguing with him that despite his assertions, fat-bottomed girls did not make the world go round.

      However, it appears that travelling at the speed of light would make a supersonic man out of you.

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  6. Dedicatory by gmuslera · · Score: 3, Funny

    To all people that didn't finished school to search for fame and fortune.

    1. Re:Dedicatory by Eighty7 · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's more common than you'd think. For example, it is a little known fact that Ms Spears is an expert in semiconductor physics. And the president himself knows a few things about high energy physics.

  7. Good for him by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sure beats getting coked out and dying in a gutter like some other rock legends.

    1. Re:Good for him by philspear · · Score: 5, Funny

      As someone going for their PhD, I have to wonder if it actually does.

    2. Re:Good for him by commodoresloat · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As someone with a PhD, I can assure you that it doesn't. Posted anonymously for obvious reasons.
       
      D'oh!

  8. And he still plays! by Master+of+Transhuman · · Score: 5, Informative

    Andrea Corr & Brian May performing "Is This The World We Created?" at the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Concert at Hyde Park on June 27th 2008. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amG-3BiiEu8

    --
    Richard Steven Hack - This sig is TOO GODDAMN SHORT TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL WITH! MORONS!
  9. Beyond impressed by Pheidias · · Score: 4, Interesting

    To an opera singer who is wading into comp. sci. / AI / brain science (and rapidly getting submerged, I must admit), this is rather inspiring.

    Come on, Neil Peart! Don't let the guitarists get all the PhD's!

    --
    811.29.3.2
    1. Re:Beyond impressed by rob1980 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Peart is a fantastic writer. If he put out a thesis in anything I'd take a look just because it'll be an interesting read.

    2. Re:Beyond impressed by porcupine8 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Not a musician, but Mayim Bialik ("Blossom") got her PhD in Neuroscience from UCLA last year. She's still working as an actress, too - mostly voice work in cartoons and guest appearances. As a theater major getting a science PhD, I keep an eye out for these types, they're definitely inspirational. :)

      --
      Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
  10. WIth a cool doctoral dissertation like that by Hawthorne01 · · Score: 4, Funny

    the guy will finally be able to score with the chicks!

    --
    "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
  11. My opinion by DrugCheese · · Score: 2, Informative

    I didn't read the article, but Brian May is one of the greatest unsung guitar heroes still alive.

    --
    *DrugCheese rants*
    1. Re:My opinion by Darth_brooks · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's very easy to make the case for May being "unsung"

      -First and foremost, Queen is arguably the most successful and ignored band in the United States. Yes, they own the Rock Anthem chart and "we are the champions" is played to death at every major sporting event (C'mon, can't they try "February stars" by the Foo Fighters at the super bowl? just once? ), but in terms of album sales? Queen is so far down the list it's pathetic. Their worldwide sales were disproportionate to their US sales from 1975-ish on. Once glam rock died out, Queen all but disappeared from US charts. From about 84 on they still ruled the rock charts in Europe, but they never toured the US after 1982. As the "Home of rock and roll", i'd say that says something.

      -Solo success. I own Brian May's first post-queen solo album and I'm probably one of the 15 people in the US that does. He's a helluva guitar player (especially considering he and his father *built* his trademark guitar from a discarded fireplace mantle) but if you ask people to name the ten greatest guitar players of all time, I'd bet huge....tracts of land that you probably wouldn't get close to hearing his name. There are plenty of other "name" guitarists out there. He just doesn't have the cult of personality that Clapton, Page, Vaughn or Hendrix have. Heck, He doesn't have the following of Satriani or even Yngwie.

      He's one of the greats, but he's definitely not one of the best known. You've really got to know your guitar Gods to throw May's name out there.

      --
      There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
    2. Re:My opinion by Freultwah · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I've seen him standing next to Vai on stage and play a song of Vai's, together with the soloing. He did not miss a note.

  12. Re:Checking astro-ph... by Faux_Pseudo · · Score: 2, Funny

    He isn't going to publish it on a public source because he is
    following the advice of everyone on Slashdot and adding some form of
    value added feature to his music. At $71 a print he can make enough
    money to support his touring habit and get all the money that the
    labels never paid out from their lawsuits-to-protect-the-artists.

    Think of it as a very expensive tour shirt except that has a lot more
    text on it and you can't get it on a tour. /end insane_justification

    --
    Ascii artist &
  13. w00t! by neokushan · · Score: 2, Interesting

    He's the chancellor for MY university.
    Sadly, it's the only good thing I can say about said university, but as a massive Queen fan, that's good enough for me!

    --
    +1 IDisagreeSoHeMustBeATrollOrAnAstroturferOrAShill
  14. Rock legend becoming a PhD? by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 3, Insightful
    That's not news. PhD's are ten a penny and I see no reason to assume that rock legends are less intelligent than the rest of us. It's like those news stories that make a big deal of educated women. "And she has a degree in Mathematics - ooh, aah!"

    Now a PhD becoming a rock legend on the other hand. That would be news! Becoming a rock legend is not an ordinary everyday occurrence.

    --
    Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
  15. Obligatory Simpson's by LM741N · · Score: 3, Funny

    Homer: "Rock stars- they know everything!"

  16. Not bad... by hyades1 · · Score: 2

    ...for a guy in a band that sang about fat-bottomed girls, bicycles and stormtroopers in stilettos.

    --
    I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
  17. The real question is... by astrosmash · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is Brian May a LaTeX user? Perhaps he could write a song about it.

    --
    ENDUT! HOCH HECH!
    1. Re:The real question is... by mike260 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Is Brian May a LaTeX user? Perhaps he could write a song about it.

      I Want to Break Free?
      Chinese Torture?
      I'm Going Slightly Mad?

    2. Re:The real question is... by Bazman · · Score: 2, Funny

      Perhaps if Freddie had been, he'd still be here now...

      Oh, "LaTeX", not... you know...

  18. I think... by david.given · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...he's going to be the only person in academic history to actually generate any income from selling his Ph.D thesis.

  19. Re:I quite My Astrophysics PhD To Work In Music... by tyrione · · Score: 2, Informative

    I moved from Ireland to California to work at a company called myplay.com and later moved to Napster. Now I'm at imeem.com

    I still entertain some deep down belief that one day I might return to astrophysics and submit my thesis, maybe if one of these internet music companies finally make me some money.

    (of course, even if I stopped work tomorrow I now have young kids to take care of...)

    You may know Astrophysics, Quarks, Blackholes and more, but you'd think it's very simple to figure out which companies make money off of music via the Internet. Give me an A! Give me a P! Give me another P! Give me a L! Give me an E! What's that spell? MONEY.

    Besides there are quite a few Astrophysicists, including former SETI folks that work at Apple so you won't be the only one orbiting the campus.

  20. He's no Buckaroo Bonzai by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sure he's a rockstar and astrophyics scientist... But is no neurosurgeon, race car driver, nor comic book hero. He gotta ways to go.

    --
    God spoke to me.
  21. He's also a /.-alike geek... by Moredhel · · Score: 2, Informative

    Or I'd guess so, having stood next to him in a toy shop (The Entertainer in Camberley, UK) selecting Star Wars figures, presumably for our respective kids, but you never know ;O)

  22. Re:May's song on relativistic time dilation by aedan · · Score: 2, Informative

    '39 is also the 39th track on Queen's albums.