Brian May Says U.S. Is Now Too “Dangerous” for Queen Concerts
Brian May has cast serious doubt on Queen’s return to American stages, saying current conditions in the United States have made touring there increasingly risky.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Queen guitarist said the band has effectively ruled out U.S. concerts for the foreseeable future, citing safety concerns following recent deaths of U.S. citizens involving immigration enforcement. “America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account,” May said. “It’s very sad because I feel like Queen grew up in America, and we love it, but it’s not what it was. Everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment.”
The comments mark a notable shift from May’s tone last year, when he told Rolling Stone that Queen were actively discussing a potential residency at the Las Vegas Sphere. At the time, May said he was inspired after attending an Eagles show at the venue. “I’m very keen on the Sphere,” he said in 2025. “It’s got my mind working. I sat there thinking, ‘We should do this.’ The stuff we could bring to it would be stupendous.”
Queen + Adam Lambert last toured the United States in November 2023, wrapping up a global run that concluded at Tokyo Dome in February 2024. Since then, the band’s future touring plans have remained uncertain. May suffered a minor stroke in 2024 but has since returned to performing, including a surprise appearance at Coachella last year alongside Benson Boone.
May’s remarks also revisited the band’s long-running tensions with U.S. politics. Queen have repeatedly objected to the use of their music at Donald Trump campaign events, particularly “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.” In 2020, a band spokesperson described attempts to stop the usage as an “uphill battle.”
Beyond the U.S., May also ruled out another major performance opportunity: Glastonbury Festival. The guitarist said Queen would not headline the event due to ethical objections tied to Worthy Farm, where the festival is held. “I wouldn’t do Glastonbury because of the politics of the people who run it,” he said, citing concerns about animal treatment on the farm. “Unless that changes, I won’t do it.”
Despite the uncertainty, May stopped short of declaring an end to Queen’s live performances altogether. “Never say never about not coming back,” he said. “There are a couple of things you haven’t heard. I don’t know when Queen will be back on stage; it’s an unknown. We’ll take it day by day.”
However, May’s comments suggest that any return to U.S. venues, including the much-discussed Las Vegas Sphere, is off the table, reflecting a broader hesitancy among international artists navigating an increasingly unstable touring landscape.
