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CarFest 2024: why Brian May is teaching Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick to rock out
Virgin Radio
26 Aug 2024, 13:46
Credit: Getty/Rex
The Queen legend swaps his iconic guitar for a vet scalpel as he schools Noel Fitzpatrick in the art of shredding.
CarFest 2024 has seen its fair share of surprises, but none quite as unexpected as the sight of Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick picking up a guitar with none other than Queen legend Brian May as his tutor.
The man known for saving our furry friends with cutting-edge veterinary techniques is now learning how to rock out, all thanks to May.
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It all started with a simple rumour, as Virgin Radio’s Steve Denyer reported live from the muddy fields of Laverstoke Park Farm.
"It's a bit like if you imagine this, all seasons rolled into 24 hours, and we've all got the mud to prove it. You should see the boots here," Denyer quipped, before sharing his conversation with the nation’s favourite vet.
"I caught up with Professor Noel Fitzpatrick last night. He's been into Virgin Radio loads of times. I asked him about a certain rumour involving Brian May from Queen, and his answer blew us all away!" Denyer teased, setting the stage for one of the most heartwarming – and hilarious – stories of the weekend.
So, what’s the deal with the Supervet and the guitar god? As it turns out, it’s a tale of childhood dreams, missed opportunities, and an unexpected friendship.
Noel Fitzpatrick, who’s better known for his groundbreaking work on the TV show The Supervet, revealed that he once had aspirations of becoming the next Brian May.
"I've been deeply blessed that Brian came to see a show I was doing," Noel began, recounting how the legendary guitarist first got involved. "And there was a bit in my show where I said: 'Of course, all of this could have gone horribly wrong because when I was 10, I wanted to be Brian May.' I built this guitar out of a bale of hay and some twines and a fertiliser sack and a broom handle."
But fate had other plans. As Noel recalled, his father wasn’t exactly on board with his rockstar ambitions. "My father said, 'There'll be no guitar-ing around here!' And he handed me a saw to saw horns off cattle. So I became a vet and not a musician. 'A win for the world of music!' That was my gag, right?"
Brian May, however, wasn’t ready to let that dream die so easily. After hearing Noel’s story, the Queen guitarist had a simple suggestion: “Hey, mate, why don't you play guitar at that bit?"
Noel’s response?: "Well, there's a small problem there, Brian, I can't play guitar."
But the rock legend was undeterred, famously replying: "How hard can it be?"
It was then that Noel realised he was in over his head.
"I'm like, 'Well, you're Brian May. How about I hand you a scalpel blade and say, go on there, Brian?'" he joked.
But May was serious, and before Noel knew it, he found himself on stage, guitar in hand, learning to play in front of a live audience.
Noel continued: "So he comes in my office and he says, 'Right, what song are we gonna play?' And I said, 'Well, we're gonna not gonna play anything, Brian, because you're gonna be on tour in America and I'm gonna be in Folkstone. And he says, 'No, no, we're gonna play.
"And I say, "Okay, One Vision.' So Brian puts me up on stage in front of my audience not knowing how to play guitar.
"I must be the only person that you've ever met that's learned how to play guitar on a stage," Noel laughed.
But it wasn’t just music that brought Noel to CarFest. In a full-circle moment, Noel shared the surprising origin story of the festival itself.
He revealed that: "CarFest came about because of a conversation between me and Chris [Evans] on a park bench. And he said, 'Well, you like dogs, why don't you have DogFest?' I said, 'Well, you like cars, why don't you have CarFest?' Ba boom, here we are."
As CarFest continues to be a roaring success, raising funds for UK children’s charities and delighting crowds with its mix of music, cars, and family fun, it’s clear that the spirit of collaboration and creativity is alive and well.
And if Brian May’s influence can turn a top vet into a rockstar, who knows what other surprises might be in store?
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