The Struts Join Forces With Queen’s Brian May for Reimagined “Could Have Been Me”

British rock powerhouses The Struts are back in the spotlight with a bold new reimagining of their quintessential single, “Could Have Been Me,” this time featuring the legendary Queen guitarist Sir Brian May. Released today alongside a striking official music video, the collaboration breathes fresh fire into the band’s already iconic anthem of defiance and empowerment.

Since its original debut, “Could Have Been Me” has lit up global stages, stormed playlists, and even soundtracked Sing 2. With Brian May’s unmistakable guitar work now woven into the track, the song takes on an even more timeless edge, solidifying The Struts’ status as torchbearers of modern glam-rock swagger.

Luke, you've called Brian May your hero. What was it like recording and reimagining this track alongside him? 

Brian and Queen have always been a huge part of our lives, musical influences, and British rock n roll DNA. To have Brian excited about our music and want to be involved and put his stamp on it has been a remarkable compliment and honour!

"Could Have Been Me" has become an anthem of empowerment worldwide. Why do you think it continues to resonate so strongly a decade later? 

The message of Could Have Been Me and the song's original conception came at a time when the band was facing some real challenges early on…we poured our frustration into a positive moment that captured the imagination of thousands of people around the world. We're still so moved by how many fans stop us in the street, message us, and even get tattoos of the lyrics, telling us how the song helped them through their own challenges.

The fact that the song was born with us, "not looking back, saying it could have been me," and now features our hero on the track a decade later, after he has toured the world, is truly our "could have been me" moment. We're excited for even more people to discover it and feel that empowerment. 

How did Brian's involvement shift the energy or direction of the track compared to the original? 

We always loved what Queen did with their fast version of 'we will rock you'. This was almost a little nod to that, taking an anthemic halftime rhythm and reimagining it with a different energy. 

The Struts are known for their electrifying live shows. How do you plan to bring this new version to the stage during your current tour? 

We play a hybrid of the original & the Brian version in our live show now. One hell of an honour for our guitarist, Adam, to play Brian's solo every night! One of the highlights of the show for sure. 

Looking ahead, do you see more collaborations like this in the future, or was this a once-in-a-lifetime pairing?

We will always welcome collaborations if they make sense and provide something of real value to our fanbase. In terms of 'legendary' status, there are very few that come close to Sir Brian May.

As a band member, starting out in your teens, to release a song featuring one of the musicians from your bedroom wall posters will always be an amazing feeling…but Brian May is one of those few, extra special artists, and we're so thrilled to be sharing this with the world.