Queen guitarist Brian May has announced that he’s cancelling all tour dates for the rest of 2016 due to a “persistent illness.” May was set to perform 11 Candlelight Concerts with Kerry Ellis in the UK for three weeks leading up to Christmas, but has apologized to fans that he is fighting an illness and doesn’t feel confident to perform the shows to the standard expected.
“We’re very sad today to announce the indefinite postponement of our ‘candlelight’ concert dates this coming December,” May says in a press release. “This is a decision I’ve agonized over, but in the end it has become inevitable. I managed to complete the recent Queen and Adam Lambert dates in Asia but I have been increasingly battling with a persistent illness which is destroying my energy and my will. I am now at the point where I don’t feel confident to perform the scheduled shows to the standard we all expect. I’ve been strongly advised to rest and heal, rather than go out and risk ‘falling down on the job’ out there, which would be a real tragedy. I’m convinced it’s much better taking the step to cancel the dates now, refunding the fans for the ticket sales, and giving all our team a chance to re-plan their time in December.”
“I managed to complete the recent Queen and Adam Lambert dates in Asia but I have been increasingly battling with a persistent illness which is destroying my energy and my will.”
“Brian is a dear friend of mine and obviously his health must come first,” Ellis comments. “I was so looking forward to touring the UK again with Brian. I know so many of you had bought tickets for an early Christmas treat, and I am truly sorry that we are letting so many of you down. But we will be back next year for sure, with new music for you all to hear.”
A consolation for disappointed fans is a newly recorded studio album from May and Ellis, titled Anthems II, which is scheduled for release in March.
All tickets already purchased are fully refundable at point of purchase.
