[2] He formed the Pretty Things at Sidcup Art College in 1963 with guitarist Dick Taylor, who had recently left the fledgling Rolling Stones.

[3] With May as lead singer, the band became part of the British blues rock scene and quickly gained a recording contract.

[3] In the late 1960s, The Pretty Things started to branch out into psychedelia and May became a prominent counterculture figure, known for his claim of having "the longest hair in Britain",[4] drug-taking and bisexuality.

[3] May remained with the Pretty Things until they retired in 2018, following a final concert with guests including David Gilmour and Van Morrison.

[3] In 1976 a new group called the Fallen Angels, led by guitarist Mickey Finn, with Greg Ridley from Spooky Tooth and Humble Pie, Twink from the Pretty Things, and Bob Weston from Fleetwood Mac set out to record an album and for vocals recruited May.