Brian May Says He Doesn't Want to Tour With Queen Again, Explains His Decision | Just Jared

Brian May says Queen + Adam Lambert is done touring.

In a new interview with The Times, the 79-year-old guitarist said he doesn’t plan on returning to the road and made his decision 18 months ago.

The group hasn’t performed since the Rhapsody world tour in February 2024.

“A close family friend died when we were in the States, so I said to my tour manager, ‘I’ll just nip home for a few days and come back,’” Brian told The Times. “She looked me in the eyes and said, ‘You know you can’t do that.’ I love to play, I love to travel, but the trade-off is sacrificing your freedom. I have a wife, grandchildren and a lot of astrophysics I want to do, so I’m thinking maybe 50 years is enough.”

That being said, Brian said the group still wants to do something “revolutionary” with the music, like an “immersive experience.”

“Last year I went to the Sphere, my juices started flowing and I sketched out a whole Queen show. I think an immersive experience is still on the cards and it could conquer time and space, but currently you can’t make it without AI and I have serious misgivings about that… Data centers are a massive evil and have to be fought.”

He previously said he was exhausted with 50 years of touring and doesn’t particularly enjoy the idea of waking up in hotel rooms anymore and feeling “trapped,” not to mention that he wants to be able to be with his family. Brian is married to Anita Dobson and has three kids from his first marriage.

Adam Lambert recently made a surprise appearance during the George Michael tribute at the 2026 VMAs.

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