London (AP) – Brian May, rock star and
astrophysicist, has been appointed chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.
May will be
installed as the university's figurehead leader early next year, it was
announced Monday. The 60-year-old Queen guitarist said the appointment was ''a
great honor and a great new challenge.''
He is an
honorary fellow of Liverpool John Moores University, which has a well-known astrophysics research institute.
''Brian May
is an intensely talented individual who achieved global success with Queen,''
said the university's vice chancellor, Michael Brown, in a statement. ''In this
age of celebrity culture, it is rare to find someone who has fame, fortune and
universal acclaim and yet who remains true to his core values of learning and
enlightenment.''
May
succeeds Cherie Booth, wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Liverpool John Moores University was formed in 1992 from the former Liverpool Polytechnic.
May
completed his doctorate in astrophysics earlier this year. He was awarded his
qualification by Imperial College London.
He was an
astrophysics student at Imperial College when he joined Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor to form
Queen in 1970, but dropped his doctorate as the glam rock band became more
successful.
May is the
co-author of ''Bang! The Complete History of the Universe,'' which was
published last year.
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