Sir Brian May has insisted he’s just “on a break” from touring with Queen.
The 79-year-old guitarist recently declared he wouldn’t hit the road with the band again but he’s now admitted his words were “misinterpreted” and he’s simply taking some time off although he’s adamant he doesn’t want to commit to “nine-month-long tours again”.
During an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, May explained: “Oh, yeah, I got kind of misinterpreted, slightly misquoted there. I never said we’ll never tour again. I don’t know how I could ever say that. I couldn’t.
“I feel like I’m on a break, and I’m enjoying my break, and I’m getting to do all the things which I dreamed of doing when there was no time all those years on the road.
“So I’m getting to see my kids, I’m getting to see my grandchildren, getting to do a lot of projects on the side which I’ve dreamed of doing. I get to do more astrophysics.
“I get to do more animal welfare and animal campaigning work. And all round, it’s been a good decision for me so far.”
May went on to insist he is likely to perform with Queen again, adding: “Maybe one day I’m gonna wake up and think: ‘Ah, maybe we should get out on the road.’ But I don’t think I will be committing to nine-month-long tours again.
“I think I’ll be happy just doing … I mean, at the moment I get to play just when I want to, which is not a bad deal really … “
May sparked fears fans would never get to see another Queen tour when he told the Times newspaper he is ready for more “freedom” and time to spend with his wife Anita Dobson and their extended family.
Asked if there’s a future for Queen, he told the publication: “I made a decision 18 months ago that I didn’t want to tour again.
“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.’
“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.”