Brian May has confirmed that he will not tour again, saying he decided 18 months ago that he no longer wanted to take part in touring.
A decision shaped by a personal loss
The 79-year-old guitarist told The Times that his decision followed a tragic experience during a series of concerts in the US, when he lost a close family friend.
May said he told the tour manager he wanted to return home for a few days, but was told that doing so was practically impossible.
“I love playing music and travelling, but the price is that you sacrifice your freedom,” May said, adding that he has his wife, Anita Dobson, grandchildren and his work in astrophysics to focus on.
He said he felt that “perhaps 50 years is enough” when it comes to touring.
Queen music could take a new form
Although May remains firm on stepping away from live touring, he said he is open to new ways of bringing Queen’s music to large arenas.
He pointed to ABBA’s immersive concert concept as an inspiration, while stressing that he had something different in mind.
After visiting the Sphere in Las Vegas last year, May said he began imagining a complete Queen concert designed as an immersive experience that could transcend time and space.
However, he said such a project currently could not be created without artificial intelligence, which he has serious reservations about.
May also criticised the environmental impact of data centres, describing them as “a huge evil” that needs to be tackled.
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