Rock legend Brian May has hinted that Queen's touring days may be a thing of the past.
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May, 79, recently opened up about the band's future during an interview with The Times on Friday, October 2.
"I made a decision 18 months ago that I didn't want to tour again," he revealed.
Queen last performed during their Rhapsody world tour in February 2024, with Adam Lambert serving as the band's frontman.
Brian May Admits He No Longer Wants to Tour
May spoke candidly about the sacrifices that come with touring and the other interests he wants to pursue away from the stage.
"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,'" he added.
"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."
Despite hinting that he is ready to step away from touring, May did not completely close the door on performing again.
If he does return to the stage, the guitarist said he would like to create "something fairly revolutionary."
"Last year I went to the Sphere, my juices started flowing and I sketched out a whole Queen show," he continued.
Queen Could Explore Immersive Concert Experience
The Sphere in Las Vegas, which cost $2.3 billion, has impressed audiences with its immersive video and audio capabilities since opening in late 2023.
The venue clearly inspired May, although he has concerns about the technology potentially required to bring his vision to life.
"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," May said.
"Data centers are a massive evil and have to be fought."
May also name-dropped ABBA. While he does not want Queen to replicate what the Swedish group has done, he would consider something "along those lines".
In 2022, ABBA launched a virtual concert residency at London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, featuring digital versions of the four members known as "ABBAtars".
The group created their digital counterparts using motion-capture and performance technology.
The groundbreaking project was reportedly one of the most expensive live music experiences ever created, with a budget of $175 million.
