Q&A: The Struts and Brian May Reignite a Rock Anthem

Ten years after its initial release, The Struts have reimagined their hit song “Could Have Been Me” with none other than the legendary Sir Brian May. This isn't just a rerelease of the anthem that helped define The Struts' arrival onto the rock scene, it is an electrifying new twist of the original. By bringing new life and edge to the song with the energy of May’s guitar work, this song feels fresh and like a true celebration of artistic identity. What began during pandemic-era studio sessions has finally come to life as a collaboration of a lifetime and one you don’t want to miss. 

We caught up with guitarist Adam Slack to discuss how this collaboration came together, the message behind the song, and what working with rock royalty meant to the band. 

PLEASER: This reimagined version of “Could Have Been Me” is such an exciting new take on the original. Can you walk us through what inspired you to revisit this song and bring it back in such a big way?

Adam Slack: It actually started back when we were recording Strange Days during the pandemic. We wanted a bunch of features on that record, and Luke had spoken to Joe Elliott of Def Leppard. Joe gave him Brian’s number, and Brian loved the song. He asked for the stems and sent over a reimagined version a few years back, which was perfect. But we were all so busy, and it never got released. With it now being 10 years since the original came out, it felt like the perfect time to finally share it.

You’ve spoken about how this song is an anthem of empowerment. In what ways do you feel the updated version with Brian May has amplified that message?

AS: The song was written at a really turbulent time, where our future was really uncertain, and we were backed into a corner by people around us to change. We didn’t want to do that, so we poured that energy into this song and how it’s all about chasing your dreams without compromise. Queen and Brian have been such a huge influence on us, so being able to work with him just makes the lyric hit even harder.

If you’d told us 10 years ago this would be happening, we wouldn’t have believed it. That’s the message: anything is possible.

Collaborating with Sir Brian May is a dream for many musicians. How did the collaboration come about, and what was it like working with someone who’s had such a monumental impact on rock music?

AS: It came through our good friend Joe Elliott, who connected us. Working with Brian was incredible, especially for me as a guitar player. Going to his studio, talking about music, and actually recording with him was just awesome.

The song’s message is all about living life to the fullest. In your day-to-day life, what’s one thing you do to remind yourself to seize the moment and not take things for granted?

AS: When things get tough or I’m having a dark day, I try to practice gratitude. Being able to do what I love is a blessing, but it’s easy to forget that. I don’t have one specific ritual, but I try to stay present and remind myself of the journey so far and how lucky I am.

The Struts have opened for legends like The Rolling Stones and Foo Fighters. Do you feel that working with someone like Brian May brings a sense of full-circle energy to the band’s journey?

AS: Definitely. We’ve toured relentlessly for 10 years and given it everything we have to get here.

To now have one of our heroes give us his seal of approval feels like the icing on the cake.

Was there a specific narrative or concept you wanted to convey in the music video?

AS: Brian wanted a gritty, punk-rock style of performance, and we loved that idea. At the same time, we wanted to include footage from the last 13 years of the band to show the journey we’ve been on. I actually found a hard drive full of old videos just a few months back, so the timing worked out perfectly.

How has your sound and approach to rock evolved over the years since the original release of “Could Have Been Me” in 2015?

AS: When we first released “Could Have Been Me”, guitars weren’t really on the radio, which pushed us to be more experimental with our production to stand out. Over time, though, we’ve been able to bring more of the energy of our live shows into the recordings. We truly believe everything happens for a reason, and I think our signature Struts sound wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the musical climate we were in in the early 2010s. We’re so eager to get into writing mode as soon as this tour is finished. We have lots of ideas, and working with Brian and this new version has really inspired us.

What do you hope listeners take away from the reimagined version, and why is this song particularly important to you right now?

AS: We hope people feel inspired to chase their dreams. Over the years, so many fans have told us this song gave them the courage to quit their jobs or pursue their passions, and that’s exactly why we wrote it. Back then, people were telling us to change our look, our sound, to not be ourselves. This song was our way of saying, “Hell no!”  and the rest is history.