Brian May says there was no one better to induct Def Leppard into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week, in the evening's headlining event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, than himself.
The Queen guitarist May has been one of Def Leppard's most prominent supporters and closest allies for decades. But he says they first met when he sought them out to tell them he was sorry for showing up late to a show they opened, recalled in a recent interview.
"We go back to about 1981, when I failed to see them as support act to Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow in Munich," May recalled. "And I felt so bad that I didn't see 'em, 'cause it's rude. You get there too late. So I went in their dressing room. I found where they were, knocked on their door, put my head in and said, 'Hi, guys. I just wanted to say hello.' I said, 'I'm Brian May from Queen.' And they went, 'No s--t!'"
The Def Leppard guys quickly thanked May for dropping by and professed their admiration for Queen, citing Queen as a huge inspiration for their band.
"I had no idea they even knew who I was, so we became very close for a long time."
He says it was only right that he got to welcome Def Leppard into the Hall of Fame.
"I would hate it if anyone else had done it rather than me, 'cause they are family to me, and they have been for a long time, and I love 'em dearly," May said.
He went on to say that he and Def Leppard front man Joe Elliott are "kind of like brothers," due to their history.
HBO will broadcast highlights from the Rock and Roll Hal of Fame presentation on April 27 at 8 p.m. EST.
Photo: Getty Images