Brian May Clarifies Queen Retirement Comments: “I Could Never Say Never”
Queen guitarist Brian May has spoken out to clarify recent comments regarding the legendary band’s touring future, assuring fans that a report suggesting a permanent retirement from the road was a “misinterpretation.”
Concerns arose after May spoke with The Times over the weekend, revealing that he had “made a decision 18 months ago that I didn’t want to tour again.” The guitarist explained that a personal realization hit him while touring in the States when a close family friend died. When he told his tour manager he would nip home for a few days, she replied, “You know you can’t do that.”
That tragic loss prompted May to reevaluate the lifestyle demands of heavy touring. “I love to play, I love to travel, but the trade-off is sacrificing your freedom,” he shared, noting that he also balances family and astrophysics outside of music. He added in the interview, “So I’m thinking maybe 50 years is enough.”
Clearing the Air on Instagram
Following the publication of those remarks, May took to Instagram on October 6th to push back against reports claiming the band was done touring for good. He wrote, “This is a misinterpretation of what I actually said. I have actually never said Queen won’t ever tour again. I could never say never.”
May elaborated that he merely made a personal decision last year to take a break from touring. He also emphasized that creative work continues behind the scenes, sharing that he and Roger Taylor are “constantly working together on Queen projects behind the scenes.” Looking ahead, May concluded, “I don’t know what the future holds. I’m ever open to new adventures!”
Queen’s last live trek wrapped up in 2024, and the band currently has no future shows officially on the schedule.
Why an Immersive Hologram Show Was Scrapped
While a traditional tour remains a possibility down the line, May recently ruled out another potential avenue for experiencing Queen live: a high-tech residency or hologram production.
Speaking to Absolute Radio on September 15th, May revealed that he had seriously explored the idea after being impressed by The Sphere and the Eagles’ performances there. However, plans for an immersive Queen experience were ultimately shelved. May confirmed he suffered a change of heart due to concerns over artificial intelligence and the heavy environmental impact associated with the required data centres, explaining, “I’ve kind of backed off now because you can’t do it without massive use of AI, with all the consequences of that.”
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