Brian May, the 77-year-old guitarist of Queen, recently revealed that he suffered a “minor stroke” about a week ago. In a video posted to YouTube and Instagram on Wednesday, September 4, May opened up about his health scare while discussing his new documentary, “Brian May: The Badgers, The Farmers and Me.”
“The good news is that I can still play guitar after the events of the last few days,” May shared, adding, “It was in doubt because of that little health hiccup I mentioned. About a week ago, I had a minor stroke, and suddenly, out of the blue, I lost control over this arm. It was a little scary.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, May maintained a lighthearted tone, expressing gratitude for the care he received at Frimley Hospital in Surrey, England. “I had the most fantastic care and attention… blue lights flashing and all. Very exciting!” he joked.
He explained that he initially chose not to disclose the stroke because he didn’t “want sympathy.” Downplaying the incident, May stated, “I’m grounded – not allowed to drive, fly, or even raise my heart rate too high, but I’m good,” coincidentally commenting as a plane flew overhead.
May has faced multiple health challenges in recent years, including a heart attack in May 2020 following a gardening accident in which he tore his gluteus maximus muscles. At the time, he also suffered a compressed sciatic nerve, causing severe pain, which he likened to feeling as if “someone was putting a screwdriver in my back.”
