I Was Very Near Death”: Queen’s Brian May Reveals Terrifying Series of Health Crises**
In a shockingly candid and emotional new interview, Queen guitarist Brian May has laid bare the full, terrifying extent of the health battles he has quietly endured in recent years, revealing a harrowing brush with mortality that he bluntly summarizes: **”I was very near death.”**
The 78-year-old rock legend has spoken before about past struggles, including a near-fatal heart attack in 2020. However, he now discloses an even more alarming cascade of crises, capped by a **”minor” stroke in 2023** that served as a stark “wake-up call.”
**The Stroke: Losing Control**
May revealed that last year, he suffered a minor ischemic stroke—a blockage of blood flow to the brain. The most terrifying symptom was the sudden, temporary loss of control in his legendary left hand.
“I couldn’t hold anything. I had no strength,” May recounted, describing the helplessness of watching his primary creative tool fail him. The event triggered a “blue-lights-flashing” emergency dash to the hospital. While he has thankfully made a full recovery, the psychological impact was profound. “It makes you feel very vulnerable,” he admitted, stating it forced him to reevaluate the physical toll of his demanding career.
**The “Stomach Explosion”: A Closer Brush with the End**
Yet, the stroke was not his closest call. May detailed an even more graphic and life-threatening ordeal: a **”stomach explosion”** several years prior.
While gardening, he suffered a severe tear in his gluteus maximus muscle, which then became infected. The infection spiraled into a **”flesh-eating” necrotizing fasciitis** and caused three abscesses to form in his body. One abscess, pressing against his sciatic nerve, left him in excruciating, immobile pain. But the most dangerous was a rupture in his stomach.
“My stomach actually exploded,” May said plainly. The resulting peritonitis—a deadly inflammation of the abdominal lining—led to sepsis, pushing his body into systemic shock. He was rushed into emergency surgery.
“The surgeon said afterwards, ‘You were very near death.’ A few hours later, you wouldn’t have been here,” May shared. The recovery was long and agonizing, requiring him to relearn how to walk.
**A New Perspective**
These consecutive crises have fundamentally changed the astrophysicist and musician’s outlook. He has spoken before about reconsidering Queen’s grueling tour schedule, particularly in the United States, citing safety and health concerns. Now, that perspective is rooted in deeply personal trauma.
“It makes you analyze your life,” he reflected. “You think, ‘What do I want to do with the rest of it? How much do I want to tour? How much do I want to go into the studio?’”
Despite the trauma, May’s spirit remains resilient. He is focused on his recovery, his family, and his ongoing advocacy work for animal welfare. He continues to create music and participate in Queen projects, but with a renewed sense of caution and gratitude.
His story is a raw and powerful reminder of the fragility behind even the most legendary of figures, and a testament to the quiet battles fought long after the stadium lights go down.
