Brian May has opened about fears he would never play guitar again following a stroke last year.
In September, the Queen guitarist told fans about the minor stroke he experienced, saying it came on “all of a sudden, out of the blue”, and left him without any control over one of his arms. He said the incident was “a little scary” but praised the “fantastic” medical care he had received.
Speaking in the latest issue of Guitarist, May touched on his anxieties about not being able to play following his health setbacks. “It went through my mind. When I suddenly couldn’t control this left arm, it was quite scary. I had no idea what was going on.
“I phoned my doctor and she said, ‘Okay, I think you’re having a minor stroke. Dial 999, get in the ambulance and I’ll see you there.’ But even at the worst time, although I couldn’t control where the arm was, I could control my fingers. So I thought, ‘I’m probably not really in danger.’ I’m all right now. I’m just taking it slow.”
Throughout his recovery, his wife, Eastenders actor Anita Dobson, has shared updates with fans. Late last year, she revealed that while it was “a challenge”, he had regained use of the affected arm.
Her most recent update was shared with The Sun last month, and seemed to be encouraging, with the 75-year-old saying her husband was stable. “The start of the year has been up and down,” she said. “We both had the flu but we took the kids to Lapland. 15 of them.”
“Brian is stable now,” she added, noting that he had “never been happier” since they moved to the countryside. The Doctor Who actress added that they’re “taking each day as it comes,” concluding: “It makes you realise that at any minute it could be you. You don’t have to necessarily be old, It could be anyone.
This isn’t the first time that May has made headlines after health issues. Back in 2020, the guitarist was admitted to hospital after suffering a heart attack caused by an arterial disease. He told fans that he was “very near death” after doctors found he had three congested arteries.
Meanwhile, May recently explained why he had revamped his guitar parts on Queen‘s debut album for a new reissue.
Queen wrapped up a run of tour dates with Adam Lambert in February of last year, and do not have any other live shows scheduled currently.
Queen Extravaganza, the official tribute band of Queen, are due to embark on a UK and Ireland tour in 2025. The upcoming gigs will celebrate the 50th anniversary of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
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