Queen's Brian May Gives Muse the Thumbs Up

Brian May has come out of the closet -- as a Muse fan.

In a move unlikely to cause too many ructions in the space-time continuum, the curly-haired Queen guitarist admitted he was rather taken with the Devon, England trio, saying the band's new album 'The Resistance' is '"great stuff."

"I think they're very good boys and extremely talented, and like us they have their tongue in cheek a lot of the time," May said in an interview with the BBC News website.

One of the album's most over-the-top tunes -- no easy choice given Muse's default settings -- has already drawn parallels to the prize pomp of classic Queen. and the track, 'United States of Eurasia,' has been described as "brilliantly done" by May.

He added, "They are extraordinary musicians. Real virtuosos - much more than I am."

Last month, Muse drummer Dom Howard admitted, "I guess people have thought it sounds a bit like Queen, particularly that big chord and the big harmonies."

May is not one to keep his admiration of modern recording artistes under a bushel. In 2007 he was quick to leap to the defence of camp pop star Mika after the latter was savaged in the press for his debut album.