Brian May reveals heartbreaking struggle with depression
Queen star Brian May has spent years struggling with depression admitting it's "always there" and he can "only find happiness in moments".
Brian May's depression is "always there" and he can "only find happiness in moments".
The Queen star, 79, has opened up about his mental health issues revealing he's spent years struggling with condition since his diagnosis - confessing he can only feel truly content during rare times when it's "hidden in a corner".
In an interview with The Times newspaper, Brian explained: "Well, I’m a depressive. I’ve been diagnosed as such. Depression is an animal that lives inside you, so happiness is found in those moments when depression is hidden in a corner.
"That’s when you’re experiencing life to the full, in spite of it, or perhaps because of it."
He went on to add: "The depression is always there, and if I don’t look out it will kick me in the teeth. I can only find happiness in moments. As a rock star, you do get a lot of great moments."
Brian went on to to talk about his decision to retire from touring with Queen revealing a family tragedy made him realise he had been sacrificing his "freedom" for too long and he wanted to spend more time at home with his loved ones.
He explained: "I made a decision 18 months ago that I didn’t want to tour again. A close family friend died when we were in the States, so I said to my tour manager: 'I’ll just nip home for a few days and come back.'
"She looked me in the eyes and said: 'You know you can’t do that.'
"I love to play, I love to travel, but the trade-off is sacrificing your freedom. I have a wife [Anita Dobson], grandchildren and a lot of astrophysics I want to do, so I’m thinking maybe 50 years is enough."
However, the veteran rocker is adamant his performing days aren't completely over and he is even considering a Queen show at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
He said: "Last year I went to the Sphere, my juices started flowing and I sketched out a whole Queen show.
"I think an immersive experience is still on the cards and it could conquer time and space, but currently you can’t make it without AI and I have serious misgivings about that."
