Brian May Warns of Rising Dangers for Touring in America

Brian May, the legendary guitarist of Queen, has expressed concerns that the United States is becoming increasingly “dangerous” for bands looking to tour. At 78 years old, May reflected on the band’s recent decision to forego performances in America, noting that it wasn’t a choice made lightly.

“America is a dangerous place at the moment, and we really have to consider that,” May shared. He mentioned that while Queen has a deep affection for America, times have changed. “It’s very sad. I feel like Queen grew up in America and we love America, but things are different now. People are really having second thoughts about going there,” he added.

His comments come against a backdrop of rising anti-ICE protests and recent violent incidents involving federal agents, highlighted by the deaths of two individuals in Minneapolis. May also expressed reluctance to perform in other venues due to political disagreements. He stated he would not be participating in Britain’s Glastonbury festival, citing the festival’s management and their stance on hunting badgers—a cause he’s passionate about. “I can’t support that because we’ve been trying to save badgers for years, and the situation hasn’t improved. That’s a missed opportunity for us,” May explained.

An established animal rights advocate, May previously founded the Save Me Trust and has been vocal about issues concerning animal welfare. When addressing whether Queen has ever turned down a gig, he expressed uncertainty: “They know how I feel, so I don’t think that conversation of us doing it ever happened.”

Though he has specifically ruled out touring in the U.S. and Glastonbury, this decision might please his wife, Anita Dobson, who recently urged him to avoid touring after he suffered a stroke. “I want him to come home,” she shared, voicing her concerns.

As part of Queen + Adam Lambert, May and drummer Roger Taylor have been touring together since 2012, with Lambert taking over for the iconic Freddie Mercury after his passing in 1991. Their most recent tour wrapped up in February 2024 at Tokyo Dome, marking the conclusion of the “Rhapsody Tour.”

When asked about future performances, May admitted uncertainty but hinted that it isn’t the end of Queen. “It was time for me to take a break, spend time with my family, and take a good look at myself,” he remarked. As for new music, he hinted that something might be in the pipeline, stating, “But never say it’s not coming back. The Queen Two rebuild is coming back. There are some things you haven’t heard yet.”