Queen guitarist Brian May recovering from minor stroke

Sept. 4 (UPI) — Sir Brian May of the legendary rock group Queen revealed that his recent “health hiccup” was, in fact, a minor stroke. He assured fans that he’s recovering well and has regained the ability to play guitar.

“It was in some doubt because that little health hiccup that I mentioned happened about a week ago,” the 77-year-old musician explained in a video posted Wednesday on his personal website, Brian’s Soapbox.

According to May, doctors described the incident as a “minor stroke that affected his left arm.”

“All of a sudden, out of the blue, I didn’t have any control over this arm,” May said, admitting that the experience was quite frightening.

May recounted his “very exciting” ambulance ride to Frimley Hospital in Surrey, England. Thanks to the swift treatment he received there, he has been on the road to recovery, albeit with some necessary precautions.

“I’m not allowed to go out,” May shared. “I’m not allowed to drive, not allowed to get on a plane, not allowed to raise the heart rate too high.”

He chose not to publicly announce his minor stroke diagnosis last week to avoid an outpouring of sympathy and a flood of well-wishing messages in his inbox.

This isn’t the first health scare for the Queen guitarist. In 2020, May suffered a heart attack while gardening.

“Shear Heart Attack, eh?” he quipped at the time, referencing the title of Queen’s third album recorded in 1974.

The rock icon has had his share of accomplishments and honors beyond his music career. King Charles III knighted May at Buckingham Palace on March 14, 2023.

In addition to his musical achievements, May earned a doctorate in astrophysics from Imperial College in London in 2007.

As a founding member of Queen, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.