Just a few months later, Sir Brian May suffered a minor stroke and wondered if he’d ever pick up a guitar again.
Thankfully, the 78-year-old fully recovered and has enjoyed playing a few one-off cameo gigs at Benson Boone concerts; first over at Coachella and most recently in Birmingham this month.
As for Queen, Sir Brian teamed up with Roger Taylor for a special 50th anniversary orchestral performance of Bohemian Rhapsody at the Last Night of the Proms last year.
But what about the next Queen and Adam Lambert tour? Roger’s keen, so why not his bandmate?
Promoting today’s release of Queen II remastered edition, Sir Brian, who is enjoying spending time with his grandchildren, told us: “[I] have loved touring over the years, and I’m very grateful for it. It’s been a fantastic thread to our lives. But at the moment, although I love playing live, I don’t feel that I want to be away for months on end at this point in my life, it may change. I’m not saying I’m retiring. I’m just saying right now, I don’t feel like I want to.”
In contrast, Roger confessed to us: “I don’t feel similarly. I always love touring and was always happy to do it. I love my grandchildren, but I don’t want to give up my life in order to be with them. I think that’s their parents’ job… What a horrible thought!” the drummer chortled cheekily. “I’m very lucky. I have a lovely house, but I don’t want to be in it all the time. I’m still in the world and like to get about. So I would certainly not be averse to playing again.” Sir Brian turns 79 and Roger will be 77 this year, but surviving members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles are in their 80s and still touring. So fingers crossed after a bit of time, Queen and Adam Lambert will be back on the road.
Queen II remixed, remastered and expanded is out now and can be ordered here.