Sir Brian May, 79, has revealed he made a decision 18 months ago not to tour again with Queen, following a heartbreaking loss during the band's most recent concerts in the US. The lead guitarist said a close family friend died while the band was in the States, and he was not permitted to return home to support his loved ones, including wife Anita Dobson.
Tour Manager's Response
Speaking to The Times, May recalled: "I made a decision 18 months ago that I didn't want to tour again. A close family friend died when we were in the States, so I said to my tour manager, 'I'll just nip home for a few days and come back.' She looked me in the eyes and said, 'You know you can't do that.' I love to play, I love to travel, but the trade-off is sacrificing your freedom."
May added: "I have a wife [the actress Anita Dobson], grandchildren and a lot of astrophysics I want to do, so I'm thinking maybe 50 years is enough."
Queen's Future Plans
In a joint interview with bandmate Roger Taylor, 77, the pair floated the idea of a Queen experience, which would give fans an opportunity to experience their live music without the need for a tour. The duo were quizzed about the band's future after focusing on separate ventures, including Taylor's solo album, Violence Insane in a Beautiful World, and May launching his own gin brand.
May last took to the stage with Queen + Adam Lambert during The Rhapsody Tour, which wrapped up in Japan on 14 February 2024.
Immersive Show and AI Concerns
Drawing parallels with ABBA Voyage, the virtual concert featuring digital avatars of the iconic Swedish pop group, Taylor revealed: "We do want to do something fairly revolutionary. Not as Abba did, but along those lines." He explained: "Last year I went to the Sphere [the planetarium-like concert hall in Las Vegas], my juices started flowing and I sketched out a whole Queen show. I think an immersive experience is still on the cards and it could conquer time and space, but currently you can't make it without AI and I have serious misgivings about that."
May shares these concerns, having previously voiced worries about AI and its environmental consequences through energy-hungry data centres. He told Absolute Radio in September: "I spent a lot of time planning out what I thought could be a Queen show. I've kind of backed off now because you can't do it without massive use of AI, with all the consequences of that."
