Queen Guitarist Brian May Rules Out US Tour Over Safety Fears
Queen guitarist Brian May has stated that the legendary rock band will not be touring in the United States for the foreseeable future, citing significant safety concerns in the country. The 78-year-old musician expressed his sadness over the decision, highlighting the band's deep historical connection with America.
"America Is a Dangerous Place"
In an interview with the Daily Mail, May explained his position clearly. "America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account," he said. "It's very sad because I feel like Queen grew up in America and we love it, but it's not what it was. Everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment."
While May did not specify exact dangers, his comments come amid growing concerns about various threats in the US. These include fears surrounding immigration enforcement activities and the persistent issue of mass shootings, with 425 such incidents reported in 2025 alone, resulting in 420 deaths and 1,898 injuries.
Growing Trend Among Artists
May's concerns reflect a broader pattern among international performers. British dance music artist Piri recently cancelled a US tour, citing "what's going on in the US right now" as a key factor. Similarly, Hungarian classical pianist András Schiff withdrew from US engagements in 2025, stating he felt "morally obligated" due to political changes.
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny provided particularly stark reasoning when questioned about omitting US dates from his world tour. He confirmed fears about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at concerts, saying: "There was the issue of – like, fucking ICE could be outside [a concert]. And it's something that we were talking about and very concerned about."
Impact on Cultural Events and Tourism
The concerns extend beyond individual artists to affect broader cultural participation. Numerous events celebrating Latin heritage have been cancelled since ICE increased activities during Donald Trump's second term, due to fears of targeting by anti-immigration agents.
These safety apprehensions are having measurable economic consequences. The World Travel & Tourism Council projected in May 2025 that the US would lose $12.5 billion (£9.35 billion) in international visitor spending across the year. Later data from the International Trade Administration supported this trend, showing a 5.5% drop in international visitor spending in September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Enhanced Scrutiny for Visitors
Compounding these issues is a proposed policy from US Department of Homeland Security and border officials. The measure would involve examining five years of social media activity by potential visitors before granting entry to the United States, potentially creating additional barriers for international travellers and performers.
Queen's American Legacy
May's decision carries particular weight given Queen's substantial history in the United States. The band broke into the American mainstream with their third album, Sheer Heart Attack, and achieved remarkable success with five consecutive US Top 10 albums. Their 1980 album The Game reached number one, featuring two US number one singles: Another One Bites the Dust and Crazy Little Thing Called Love, the latter being a clear homage to Elvis Presley and American rock'n'roll traditions.
Queen are currently on a touring break following the conclusion of their Rhapsody tour, which ran from 2019 to 2024 with Adam Lambert as frontman. May's comments suggest that when they do return to touring, American dates will not be part of their plans until safety conditions improve significantly.
