Brian May says health issues were a “wake-up call” as he gives fans update after stroke

Queen‘s Brian May has said that his health issues served as a “wake-up call” after suffering a minor stroke last year.

• READ MORE: ‘Queen days’: Brian May reflects on his rock ‘n’ roll journey

During a recent appearance on Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Weekend, the veteran guitarist said he was lucky to have recovered after experiencing a “number” of conditions in previous years.

“We were concerned,” said host Titchmarsh. “You had a bit of a stroke. But, you seem to be fully recovered, that was last year.”

May responded: “I’ve had a number of things, Alan, yeah, the stroke was one of them. I’ve been lucky, I get these things, but I seem to be able to get out of them. They give you a wake-up call.”

In September, May 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 to the Guitarist at the time, 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.”

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Speaking to Titchmarsh, he explained: “They called it a minor stroke, and all of a sudden out of the blue, I didn’t have any control of this arm,” he said, moving his left arm and wiggling his fingers to show the movement had returned.

“It was a little scary, I have to say. I had the most fantastic care and attention from the hospital where I went, blue lights flashing, the lot, it was very exciting. I might post a video if you like.”

He continued: “I didn’t wanna say anything at the time because I didn’t want anything surrounding it, I really don’t want sympathy. Please don’t do that, because it’ll clutter up my inbox, and I hate that. The good news is I’m OK.”

Back in 2020, his health issues reared their head once again after 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.

Earlier this month, a fully recovered May reunited with Benson Boone to perform two songs in London, namely Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, followed by the Boone hit ‘Beautiful Things’. The crowd’s response drew praise from Boone, who proclaimed: “Now that is how a crowd should sound when they see Brian May!” The comment is a dig at the Coachella crowd, who gave May a lukewarm welcome when he appeared during Boone’s set as a special guest earlier this year.

May and Boone first joined forces at the Californian festival earlier this year, but the guitarist’s appearance fell flat with the younger crowd. Following the performance, Boone took shots at festivalgoers, joking in a video on TikTok: “Me trying to get the crowd at Coachella to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is and the cultural impact he has on music and THE WORLD.”

During the second weekend of Coachella, Boone substituted May’s performance with a cardboard cutout of the guitarist.

As for Queen, the band were named the UK’s most-played rock act of the 21st century back in October. The month before that, May revealed that Queen have worked on new music with Adam Lambert, though they’re not sure it will go anywhere. “Not many people know, but Adam and we have been in the studio trying things. Nothing really materialised so far. Some things are meant to be and some things are not.”

He then added that the band have considered bringing their live show to The Sphere in Las Vegas. “ I’m very keen on the Sphere. It’s got my mind working,” he said.

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