In a moment that sent shockwaves through the music world, legendary Queen guitarist Brian May recently revealed that he suffered a minor stroke, temporarily leaving him unable to use his left arm—a development that could have spelled the end of his iconic guitar playing. At 77, May, who has been the backbone of Queen’s timeless sound, took to social media to share his ordeal and reassure fans that he’s on the mend.
In a video posted on Instagram, May opened up about his health scare, describing it as a “little health hiccup” that occurred out of the blue last week. “I’m here to bring you some good news — the good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days,” he said, moving his fingers to show that his dexterity had returned. But it wasn’t always so certain.
May recounted the terrifying moment when he suddenly lost control of his arm, an experience that left him and his doctors unsure if he would ever play the guitar again. “It was a little scary, I have to say,” he admitted. For someone whose life has been defined by his ability to electrify audiences with his guitar riffs, the prospect of losing that ability was daunting.
However, May was quick to praise the medical team that cared for him during this crisis. He expressed his gratitude for their “fantastic care,” while also downplaying the severity of his condition in typical British fashion. “I didn’t want to say anything at the time because I didn’t want anything surrounding, you know. I really don’t want sympathy,” May quipped, trying to keep the mood light. “Please don’t do that because it’ll clutter up my inbox and I hate that.”
Despite the scare, May appeared to be in good spirits, though his recovery is far from over. He noted that he’s currently “grounded,” following strict medical advice to avoid anything that could elevate his heart rate. “Not allowed to have planes flying over, which will stress me,” he joked, indicating that while he’s recovering, he’s not quite ready to return to his normal routine.
This isn’t the first time Brian May has faced serious health challenges. Back in 2020, the rock legend narrowly escaped death after suffering a heart attack that revealed three blocked arteries. He was fitted with stents to keep his arteries open, a procedure that saved his life but left him with ongoing complications. “It’s a long climb back,” May said at the time, adding that he was baffled by the heart attack since he led a healthy lifestyle.
May’s resilience in the face of these health battles is nothing short of remarkable. While he hasn’t been on the road since Queen wrapped up a five-date tour in Japan this past February, it’s clear that the rock icon is determined to keep going. His latest health scare may have grounded him for now, but fans can rest assured that Brian May’s indomitable spirit is far from broken.
As one of the most influential guitarists in rock history, May’s return to the stage is eagerly anticipated. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the man who helped pen “We Will Rock You,” it’s that he won’t let a minor stroke keep him down for long. The show, as they say, must go on.
