[Photo provided to China Daily]

Looking back on their decades-long association, May says there are so many memories.

He says the first one that comes to mind is of him standing alone on the roof of Buckingham Palace and playing the British national anthem to open the Queen's jubilee concert in 2002.

"By that time Freddy was gone, but I was so used to using Freddy as an icon. So, I think if Freddy had been around we would have had him on top of the Palace. But, at that point, it was me. I thought if we wanted to create an iconic experience, one that people would not forget, I had to do this. I had to step up," he says.

There were also many other moments in the band's career spanning four decades, including Live Aid, the historic concert at London's Wembley Stadium in 1985, and the first time they played in Japan in 1975.

"Now we'll have our first night in Shanghai. I can't wait to see what it's going to be like," says May.

If you go

8 pm, Sept 26, Mercedes-Benz Arena, 1200 Shiji Dadao, Shanghai. 400-610-3721.