Brian May: Queen guitarist suffers minor stroke but says he's OK
Sir Brian May, the famed guitarist of Queen, recently suffered a minor stroke that temporarily hindered his ability to use his left arm. At 77 years old, the rock icon revealed that he’s now recuperating and has regained enough mobility in his arm to play guitar once again.
The frightening episode, described by May as an unexpected health hiccup, occurred about a week ago. Suddenly finding himself with no control over his left arm, May admitted it was quite a scary experience. Nonetheless, after a period of uncertainty, he is now able to continue his music making, much to his fans’ relief.
Sir Brian also expressed gratitude for the medical team at Frimley Hospital in Surrey who tended to him in a hurry. Now under strict instructions to take it easy and avoid all strenuous activities, he confirmed that he is adhering to the doctors’ advice diligently.
At the time of the episode, Sir Brian chose to keep the incident private, stating he did not want to be flooded with messages of sympathy. Jovially, he added that such messages would just clutter up his inbox.
In other news, Sir Brian was also seen contributing to the BBC One documentary about his efforts to save badgers from being culled, a topic very close to his heart. He also discussed reactions related to the programme, acknowledging that it had evoked a response from farmers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
While managing his health, Sir Brian continues to be a relevant figure in music. In the 1970s and 80s, his exceptional guitar playing, songwriting and vocal contributions helped make Queen one of the most prominent bands in the world. Some of the iconic hits he penned include ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’, and ‘Flash’. Despite the loss of lead vocalist Freddie Mercury in 1991, Queen continues to perform with new singer Adam Lambert.
Apart from his musical accomplishments, Sir Brian’s activism in animal rights is well known. Impressively, he also holds a PhD in astrophysics which he received in 2007, three and a half decades after leaving his thesis due to the successful rise of Queen. As for his personal life, he is happily married to ex-EastEnders actress Anita Dobson.
