Queen Guitarist Brian May on Coronavirus: 'You Cannot In Any Sense Be Complacent'

Queen Guitarist Brian May on Coronavirus: ‘You Cannot In Any Sense Be Complacent’

2020-03-23

Brian May of Queen – Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Ken Settle

Brian May of Queen is self-isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic and encouraging fans to do the same

Queen guitarist Brian May has taken to YouTube to express his concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Hi, folks. Just a final word from me. I try to resist the temptation to watch the TV all day,” he said in a YouTube video. “But, I did catch some images from Italy, which were so heartbreaking I just wanted to say we feel for you so much, our beautiful friends in Italy and around the world, those of you suffering and bereaved and sad and frightened and looking for some kind of meaning in all of this.”

He added, “I just send love and prayers and hopefully our miracle will come. In the meantime, it’s probably good to be jolly, but you can’t be jolly all the time, and you certainly cannot in any sense be complacent.”

May has also started posting a series of videos recorded in his living room as he self-isolates and says he’ll regularly post videos online described as “micro concerts across the ether.”

“This is my contribution to the Common Good tonight. A raw cheer-up outburst. Living Room Rock!” he explained on BrianMay.com. “Is this the future? To all you folks out there feeling as disorientated as I do — let’s isolate together!!! And keep rockin’ together!! OK? With love. Yours truly — your friendly neighbourhood chap who clearly imagines he’s in Hawaii!!!”

In the first video May posted, he says, “So folks, here we all are self-isolating, ’cause it’s really the only thing we can do, and we’re thinking to ourselves, ‘What happened to my life?! Who am I? Who was I? Who could I be in this new kind of world?’ And we’re all gonna need a friend.”

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.