Brian May denies Queen have retired from touring: 'I'm ever open to new adventures!'
He says media reports were a "misinterpretation" of his comments
Last updated 7th Oct 2026
Brian May has denied that Queen have quit touring, saying "I'm ever open to new adventures."
Queen + Adam Lambert haven’t performed live since the conclusion of the hugely successful Rhapsody Tour in Japan in February 2024, and, speaking to The Times over the weekend, Sir Brian seemed to suggest they wouldn't be hitting the road in the future.
"I made a decision 18 months ago that I didn't want to tour again,” the 79-year-old rock legend explained.
“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.' She looked me in the eyes and said, 'You know you can't do that.'”
He continued: "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."
On Tuesday evening (6th October), Brian took to Instagram to clarify his comments.
Sharing a photo of Rolling Stone's headline 'Brian May says Queen won't tour again', Brian wrote: "This is a misinterpretation of what I actually said. I have actually never said Queen won't ever tour again. I could never say never.
"I simply made a personal decision last year to take a break from touring. I've been making lots of music, and Roger and I are constantly working together on Queen projects behind the scenes. I don't know what the future holds. I'm ever open to new adventures! Bri"