Brian May Confirms Queen Will Never Tour Again: ’50 Years Is Enough’
Brian May has confirmed that Queen’s touring days are officially finished. Speaking in a new interview, the legendary guitarist revealed that he and drummer Roger Taylor decided 18 months ago to step away from the live circuit for good.
A Realization on the Road
May pointed to a specific moment during a recent U.S. run that shifted his perspective on life on tour. When a close family friend tragically passed away, May told his tour manager he planned to briefly fly home and return.
"She looked me in the eyes and said, ‘You know you can’t do that,’" May recalled to The Times. The experience made the guitarist realize that the lifestyle had become unsustainable. While he still loves playing and traveling, the constant touring required sacrificing his personal freedom.
"I have a wife, grandchildren and a lot of astrophysics I want to do, so I’m thinking maybe 50 years is enough," May said.
Looking Back and Saying No to Holograms
Queen’s surviving members have increasingly focused on individual solo projects in recent years. Their last live performance together took place in 2022 at a tribute event for the late Taylor Hawkins. May subsequently completed a tour with vocalist Adam Lambert under The Rhapsody Tour banner, which wrapped up in Japan in February 2024.
May also considered following in the footsteps of ABBA’s virtual residency by developing a Queen hologram show modeled after London’s ABBA Voyage production. However, he ultimately scrapped the concept due to concerns over artificial intelligence.
"I spent a lot of time planning out what I thought could be a Queen show," May shared. "I’ve kind of backed off now because you can’t do it without massive use of AI, with all the consequences of that."
Continuing his concerns regarding technology, May used the interview to call on British politician Andy Burnham, urging authorities to block AI data centres before it is too late.
Related reading: Queen’s Final Concert Film With Freddie Mercury Heads to IMAX, Liam Gallagher Rules Oasis Out of Glastonbury 2027 Headlining Slot, Barry Mitchell, Early Queen Bassist Who Played Before John Deacon, Has Died
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