Legendary rock band Queen will never again perform concerts in the United States, according to a stark declaration from their lead guitarist, Sir Brian May. The 78-year-old musician has stated unequivocally that America is now considered "too dangerous" for the iconic group to include on any future touring schedules.
Safety Concerns Halt American Performances
In a candid interview with the Daily Mail, Sir Brian explained that while Queen maintains deep affection for America—the country where they essentially "grew up" as a band—the current climate has made touring there unwise. "America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account," May told journalist Richard Eden. He expressed profound sadness about this decision, noting, "It's very sad because I feel like Queen grew up in America and we love it, but it's not what it was."
The guitarist revealed that this sentiment is widely shared within the music industry, observing that "everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment." Queen's last tour with vocalist Adam Lambert concluded in 2020, and while future performances remain possible, American venues will definitely be excluded from any itinerary.
Glastonbury Boycott Over Badger Cull Dispute
In related revelations, Sir Brian confirmed he would never perform at the world-renowned Glastonbury Festival due to fundamental political disagreements with its organisers. The conflict centres on the controversial badger cull, which festival founder Sir Michael Eavis—a dairy farmer—supports as a measure to prevent bovine tuberculosis.
As a dedicated animal rights activist who founded the Save Me Trust to protect foxes and badgers, May finds this position unacceptable. "They like killing badgers, and they think it's for sport," he stated. "That's something I cannot support because we've been trying to save these badgers for years, and they are still being killed." He clarified that discussions about Queen performing at Glastonbury have never seriously occurred because organisers "know how I feel."
Family Considerations and Future Plans
The decision to avoid American touring comes as something of a relief to May's wife of 26 years, Anita Dobson, who has reportedly pleaded with her husband to stop touring because "I want him home." Sir Brian acknowledged taking a break to spend time with family and "take stock," but hinted at possible new musical developments.
"Never say never about not coming back," he suggested mysteriously. "The rebuild of Queen Two is coming back, and there are a couple of things you haven't heard." Queen, featuring May and drummer Roger Taylor alongside American Idol alumnus Adam Lambert, will continue performing elsewhere internationally, but American fans will need to travel abroad to see them live.
This dual stance—avoiding America over safety concerns and boycotting Glastonbury over animal welfare principles—demonstrates how personal convictions increasingly influence touring decisions for veteran musicians, even those of Queen's monumental stature.
