Brian May Says Queen’s Touring Era Is Over After 50 Years

Brian May says he has made a decision that many Queen fans hoped would never come: he no longer wants to tour. After roughly five decades of life on the road, the guitarist believes the personal cost of extended concert runs has become too high.

Why May is stepping away from touring

May explained in an interview with The Times that he reached the decision about 18 months ago. A close family friend died while Queen were touring in the United States, and he learned that the demands of the schedule made even a short trip home impractical. The moment forced him to reconsider how much freedom touring requires an artist to surrender.

Now 79, May still speaks warmly about performing and traveling. But he also wants more time with his wife, actress Anita Dobson, his grandchildren and his work in astrophysics. His conclusion was blunt: after 50 years, the balance no longer works for him.

Queen + Adam Lambert last performed together when the Rhapsody Tour ended at the Tokyo Dome on February 14, 2024. May had previously sounded less final about the group’s future on the road, suggesting that he was exhausted rather than permanently finished. His latest remarks draw a firmer line under traditional touring.

Queen may still create a new kind of show

That does not necessarily mean Queen is disappearing from large-scale entertainment. May said he and drummer Roger Taylor remain interested in developing something “fairly revolutionary,” potentially an immersive production that could bring the band’s music into a shared live setting without requiring another world tour.

A visit to Sphere in Las Vegas inspired May to sketch an idea for a Queen show. However, he has reservations about the artificial intelligence that might be needed to build such an experience. He has also distinguished the concept from ABBA Voyage, which uses digital versions of the Swedish group in a purpose-built London venue.

For now, there is no announced production, venue or opening date. The immediate takeaway is more personal than technical: May is closing the chapter on the grueling travel cycle that helped turn Queen into one of rock’s defining live acts, while leaving open the possibility that its music could return in a different form.