Last year, May told Rolling Stone that Queen were discussing shows at the Sphere — now he says the U.S. has become a “dangerous place” and the band will avoid the country
After telling Rolling Stone last year that Queen were in discussions about performing at the Sphere in Las Vegas, guitarist Brian May has now ruled out any American concerts for the foreseeable future. “America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account,” May told the Daily Mail, in the wake of the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of immigration officials in Minnesota. “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.”
Last year, during a Rolling Stone interview for the 50th anniversary of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” May had been effusive about the prospects of a Vegas residency. “I’m very keen on the Sphere,” he said at the time. “It’s got my mind working. I sat there watching the Eagles, thinking, ‘We should do this. The stuff that we could bring to this would be stupendous.’ So, yeah, I would like to do it. We’re having conversations.”
Queen + Adam Lambert last performed in the U.S. in November 2023, on a global tour that concluded at Tokyo Dome in February 2024. May suffered a minor stroke in 2024, but he’s returned to the stage, including a Coachella performance with Benson Boone last year.
Previously, Queen repeatedly demanded that President Donald stop using “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions” at campaign events — efforts a band spokesperson described in 2020 as an “uphill battle.”
May also told the Daily Mail that the band would never headline Glastonbury Festival, citing his opposition to the treatment of animals on the festival’s Worthy Farm grounds. “I wouldn’t do Glastonbury next year because of the politics of the people who run it,” he said, “Unless that changes, I won’t do it.”
Queen may still return to the stage, however. “Never say never about not coming back,” May 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.”
