During a conversation with Cleveland, Queen’s Brian May talked about his upcoming tribute to late guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Asked about the tribute and his solo project The Star Fleet Project, May said:

“Yes, it is, but I did hesitate. At the time when I was starting to think about it, it was just about the time Ed passed away, and I just couldn’t do it (the tribute).

”I just didn’t feel right about it. Then a few years passed, and I got to talking to Alex Van Halen, who’s a great inspiration and also a wonderful musician.”

Brian May then revealed whether Alex gave him his blessings for his brother’s tribute:

“Alex has become a trusted friend, and I have enormous admiration for him. He’s been through such a terrible time because, of course, the two brothers were completely inseparable.

”For Alex, it’s like losing half of himself. So I wanted Alex’s blessing to do this ’cause I didn’t want to do anything that felt distasteful.”