Brian May has confirmed that Queen will not undertake any further global concert tours, citing a desire to reclaim his personal freedom after five decades on the road. The 79-year-old guitarist’s decision marks a definitive end to the band’s traditional touring era, following the conclusion of their final worldwide run, The Rhapsody Tour, in Tokyo on February 14, 2024.
Brian May Cites Loss of Personal Freedom
“Eighteen months ago, I decided I didn’t want to go on tour anymore,” May stated in a recent interview with The Times. The guitarist explained that the lifestyle demands of international touring became unsustainable after a personal loss occurred while the band was performing in the United States. When May requested a brief leave to return home, his tour manager informed him that such a departure was not feasible.
“I love playing, I love traveling, but the price for that is the loss of freedom,” May told The Times. “I have a wife, grandchildren, and a lot of astrophysics that I want to pursue, so I think fifty years is enough.” May suffered a “mild stroke” later in 2024, which caused temporary paralysis in his left hand; he has since made a full recovery.
Future Plans for Immersive Queen Experiences
While traditional touring is off the table, May and drummer Roger Taylor are exploring alternative ways to present Queen’s music to audiences. The band is considering a project that would allow for large-scale performances without the physical strain of global travel.
May described the concept as “something quite revolutionary,” noting that it would not be a direct copy of the ABBA Voyage hologram show, though it would share a similar spirit. After visiting the Sphere in Las Vegas last year, May sketched out a concept for an immersive Queen experience. However, he expressed significant reservations regarding the use of artificial intelligence to generate such content, citing environmental concerns over the energy consumption of data centers.
Historical Context of Queen’s Touring
The current iteration of Queen, featuring May and Taylor alongside vocalist Adam Lambert, has been active since 2011. This partnership followed earlier touring collaborations, including a stint with Paul Rodgers that began in 2005. Despite the end of major global tours, May has maintained that he still intends to perform live. In comments to Rolling Stone, he emphasized a desire to continue playing concerts while moving away from the confinement of hotel life and the rigid schedules required by international travel.
Queen Plans Future Performances After Rhapsody Tour Ends
Will Adam Lambert continue to perform with Brian May and Roger Taylor?
While the band has ruled out further global tours, they remain open to performing live in different formats. May and Taylor have indicated a desire to continue working on new projects, including potential immersive experiences, rather than retiring from public performance entirely.
How did the band’s last tour conclude?
The Rhapsody Tour, which featured Adam Lambert as the lead vocalist, officially ended on February 14, 2024, in Tokyo. This remains the final traditional, multi-city world tour performed by the group.
What is the status of the rumored Queen hologram show?
Brian May has confirmed he is conceptualizing an immersive show for the band, inspired by his visit to the Sphere in Las Vegas. He has explicitly stated that while it may share the spirit of the ABBA Voyage show, the band intends to pursue a unique, "revolutionary" format that does not rely on the same technological approach.
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