Queen’s Brian May Provides Brief Health Update

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Brian May (Photo source: brianmay.com)

(Update December 6): Brian May tweeted today with the briefest of updates on his health, which caused him to postpone concerts that were to have taken place this month. He wrote: “Just want to say thanks, dear twitter folks – for all your kind wishes. I’m still taking it relatively slowly, but getting stronger. Bri.” (The tweet is below…)

Here’s our original item from October 22…

Queen’s legendary guitarist Brian May and singer Kerry Ellis have announced, “with great regret,” the indefinite postponement of their December concert dates in the U.K. The two were set to perform 11 “Candlelight Concerts” in the three weeks leading up to Christmas.

On his official website, the classic rocker explained, “This is a decision I’ve agonized over, but in the end it has become inevitable. I managed to complete the recent Queen and Adam Lambert dates in Asia but I have been increasingly battling with a persistent illness which is destroying my energy and my will. I am now at the point where I don’t feel confident to perform the scheduled shows to the standard we all expect. I’ve been strongly advised to rest and heal, rather than go out and risk ‘falling down on the job’ out there, which would be a real tragedy. I’m convinced it’s much better taking the step to cancel the dates now, refunding the fans for the ticket sales, and giving all our team a chance to re-plan their time in December.”

Here’s May’s tweet from December 6…

Just want to say thanks, dear twitter folks – for all your kind wishes. I’m still taking it relatively slowly, but getting stronger. Bri

— Dr. Brian May (@DrBrianMay) December 6, 2016

A week ago, May—who said in 2014 that he had beat prostate cancer—wrote, on his own website, “I’ve been battling against a very big black cloud in my personal sphere … which saps enthusiasm and energy and makes you feel everything is pointless.”

Related: Brian May, astrophysicist

Brian May (right) and Kerry Ellis

Ellis commented, “Brian is a dear friend of mine and obviously his health must come first. I was so looking forward to touring the U.K. again with Brian. I know so many of you had bought tickets for an early Christmas treat, and I am truly sorry that we are letting so many of you down. But we will be back next year for sure, with new music for you all to hear.”

May and Ellis will release a newly recorded studio album, Anthems II, in March.

Ticketholders can receive a refund at the point of purchase.

Watch May and Ellis perform “Somebody to Love”