Legendary Queen guitarist Brian May disclosed a significant health scare, revealing that a minor stroke last week compromised his ability to play guitar.
At 77 years old, May experienced a sudden loss of control in his left arm. On Wednesday, he shared the alarming news via social media, reassuring fans that he could still play guitar despite the incident, which he called a “little health hiccup.”
In an Instagram video, May demonstrated his recovery progress by wiggling his fingers and expressing optimism about his condition. “I’m here to bring you some good news – I can play guitar after the events of the last few days,” he said.
During this challenging time, May acknowledged a moment of doubt about his future in music. “It was a little scary, I have to say,” he explained, detailing the initial impact of the stroke.
He commended his medical team for their excellent care and explained his initial silence. May preferred privacy, stating, “I didn’t want to say anything at the time because I didn’t want sympathy.”
In good spirits, May shared more about his recovery in the video. “The good news is I’m okay. I’m just doing what I’m told, which is nothing. I’m grounded,” he joked, noting restrictions on driving and flying to avoid elevating his heart rate.
The recovery timeline remains unclear, as does the long-term impact on his guitar playing. This health scare follows a serious heart attack in 2020, after which May had three stents inserted due to arterial disease.
Since concluding a tour with Queen earlier this year, May has been working on a BBC documentary about the UK’s badger cull policies. Fans are hopeful for his full recovery and return to the stage.
