Queen guitarist Brian May, 79, has expressed doubts about using AI to recreate Freddie Mercury for virtual performances similar to ABBA Voyage. He criticizes the environmental impact and ethical concerns of AI technology, particularly regarding data centers' massive water consumption and carbon footprint. While May initially saw potential in such a project, he now feels conflicted due to his reservations about AI's role in society and its ecological implications.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Queen guitarist Sir Brian May has cast doubt on the prospect of Queen returning with a virtual Freddie Mercury as he voiced his concerns over AI.
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he → cast → AI
The guitarist, 79, has poured cold water on an ABBA Voyage-style show because it would involve AI and the 'massive evil' of data centres.
Sir Brian and Roger Taylor are still exploring ways to recreate their original line-up with Freddie, who died in 1991, but only if they can figure out a workaround for the ethical issues surrounding the technology.
The pair hoped that they would create a 'revolutionary' immersive spectacular that would take fans back in time to experience the original Queen line-up.
Plans had been explored for an experience similar to the ABBA Voyage show, which uses digital avatars of the band from their prime in the late 1970s, and the Eagles show at the Las Vegas Sphere last year, where band members performed in front of LED displays which surround the auditorium.
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which → pour → auditorium
Speaking to Absolute Radio, Sir Brian said: 'We looked at it very seriously after I saw what the Eagles did with the Sphere, which I thought was amazing.
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I → speak → Sphere
I spent a lot of time planning what I thought could be a Queen show.
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I → spend → time
I've kind of backed off now because you can't do it without massive use of AI, with all the consequences of that.
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you → back → that
However, Sir Brian said he had reservations about AI technology, admitting he is 'not so keen as I was'.
Queen pictured with original members (l-r) John Deacon, Roger Taylor (on drums), Freddie Mercury and Brian May performing in 1977
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I → say → 1977
Sir Brian May, 79, has poured cold water on an ABBA Voyage-style show because it would involve AI and the 'massive evil' of data centres
'I'm not quite sure where I stand on it, because we'd be stealing from the Queen oeuvre,' he said.
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he → pour → oeuvre
'At the same time, you're adding to the stresses that AI is adding to the world.
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AI → add → world
So I don't know, I'm not so keen as I was.
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I → know → ?
'I think it would be great to have a permanent place where people could go and feel like they are seeing us play live in our peak, maybe all over the world, maybe at all points in time.
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us → think → time
The doors are open, but I don't know if we're going to walk through.'
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we → know → ?
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Sir Brian described AI data centres as a 'massive evil' that 'have to be fought'.
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that → speak → evil
'We all like AI.
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We → like → AI
It helps us write emails.
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us → help → emails
It's even saved a few lives.
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It → save → lives
But the harm it is bringing to the world is immense,' he said.
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he → bring → world
He added: 'It's turning us into a very different civilisation and, personally, I'm terrified.
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I → add → civilisation
These tech billionaires do not have our best interests at heart'.
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billionaires → have → heart
The guitarist also voiced concerns about the environmental cost, with huge amounts of water being crucial to cooling data centres, as anywhere from 50 million to 150 million litres of water is needed per year to cool a 100MW centre.
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litres → voice → centre
Rumours of a Queen hologram show began circulating when the company which manages Mercury's back catalogue filed a trademark for his name in 3D and Virtual Reality (VR).
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which → circulate → 3D
At the time the band's representatives said there was 'nothing to say'.
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representatives → say → time
Queen had six UK number one singles and ten UK number one albums, with hits including Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are The Champions.
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We → have → Rhapsody
The ABBA Voyage concert has been running since 2022, with more than four million having seen the London show.
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million → run → show
The ABBA Voyage concert has been running since 2022, with more than four million having seen the London show
Earlier this year, Sir Brian revealed that Queen will never perform at Glastonbury due to the band's political differences with the organisers, the Eavis family.
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Queen → run → organisers
Sir Brian is a long-time animal rights activist and founded the Save Me Trust which campaigns for the rights of foxes and badgers.
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which → found → foxes
He previously resigned as the RSPCA's vice president over the 'appalling' animal welfare standards in farms certified under its 'assured' scheme.
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He → resign → scheme
Speaking to the Daily Mail in May, he said: 'I wouldn't do Glastonbury next year because of the politics of the people who run it, unless that changes, I won't do it.
'
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I → speak → it
They like killing badgers, and they think it's for sport and that's something I cannot support because we've been trying to save these badgers for years, and they are still being killed for years, so that's the reason we're missing out on it.
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we → like → it
May and Queen drummer Roger Taylor have been touring with American Idol alum Adam Lambert since 2012 under the Queen and Adam Lambert moniker.
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May → tour → moniker
He told the Daily Mail: 'I don't know when Queen will be back on stage, it's an unknown, we'll take it day by day.'
Hinting at new music, Sir Brian said: 'It was time to take a break and spend time with family, take stock.
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It → tell → stock
'But never say never about not coming back, the rebuild of Queen Two is coming back, and there are a couple of things you haven't heard.'
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you → say → things
Speaking on the red carpet of Cirque du Soleil, Sir Brian hit out at director Sam Mendes's upcoming Beatles biopic, saying he would 'dread' four films being made out of Queen, accusing the director of stirring resentment between the band.
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he → speak → band
The Aporia
