Brian May: Stroke, PhD, and Freddie Mercury Relationship

Brian May has spent decades doing things that seem impossible: writing anthems that fill stadiums, then turning around to study interplanetary dust. He is, quite simply, a man who never chose just one path.

Age: 76 (born 19 July 1947) ·
Number of PhDs: 1 (PhD in Astrophysics, 2007) ·
Stroke: Yes (minor stroke in September 2024) ·
Queen Studio Albums: 15 ·
Estimated Net Worth: ~$210 million ·
Knighthood: 2023

Six quick facts, one pattern: Brian May’s life is a mix of rock stardom, serious science, and a surprising number of health battles.

The table below lays out his biographical anchors.

What has happened to Brian May?

Brian May’s recent health scare

On 4 September 2024, Brian May revealed in a video message that he had suffered a minor stroke about a week earlier. He described losing control of his left arm temporarily, calling it “a little scary” (Brian May video message (YouTube)). At the time, he was promoting his documentary on badger culling, not his own health — the admission came almost as an aside.

This wasn’t May’s first serious health event. In May 2020 he suffered a heart attack that required three stents to clear blocked arteries (ABC News). The heart attack itself followed a gardening accident where he tore his gluteus maximus muscles (People magazine).

• 2020 heart attack – three stents (ABC News)
• 2024 minor stroke – loss of left arm control (People magazine)

The pattern: two major cardiac/cerebral events in four years, each preceded by an unusual incident. May himself called the 2024 episode a “wake-up call” (People magazine).

Brian May’s current activities

Despite the health setbacks, May remains active. He continues to perform with Queen + Adam Lambert, and in 2024 he was involved in the documentary Brian May: The Badgers, The Farmers and Me, which aired on BBC (People magazine). His animal welfare foundation, Save Me, still campaigns against badger culling and fox hunting.

The implication: May’s health scares have not stopped his activism or music — but they have forced him to pace himself. His doctors’ orders (no flying, no high heart rate) mean touring may look different going forward.

Did Freddie Mercury get along with Brian May?

Freddie and Brian’s friendship

Freddie Mercury and Brian May were more than bandmates — Mercury once called May “the brother I never had” (Wikipedia (biographical reference)). The two co-founded Queen in 1970 alongside drummer Roger Taylor, and May has repeatedly described Freddie as a soulmate in interviews.

Their relationship endured the pressures of fame, creative clashes, and Mercury’s private life. When Mercury died in 1991, May was deeply affected and largely withdrew from public performance for years.

• May and Mercury co-wrote “We Will Rock You”, “We Are the Champions”, “The Show Must Go On” and others (Wikipedia (Queen discography))
• May has stated Mercury was “the soul of Queen” (BBC News (entertainment coverage))

The catch: their creative tension was productive. May preferred structured rock, Mercury favoured theatrical experimentation. Together they produced a genre-defying catalog that still sells millions annually.

Musical collaboration

May and Mercury wrote separately and together. May’s signature anthem “We Will Rock You” (1977) and Mercury’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975) represent two sides of the same powerhouse. They shared lead vocal duties, with May occasionally singing lead (e.g., “39”, “Too Much Love Will Kill You”).

How many PhDs does Brian May have?

Brian May’s PhD in astrophysics

Brian May earned a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College London in 2007 — more than 30 years after he began the research. His thesis, titled A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud, examined the motion of interplanetary dust (Wikipedia (academic career)).

He completed the work while on tour breaks and after Queen went on hiatus following Mercury’s death. The university awarded the degree based on his published papers and a revised thesis.

May also holds honorary doctorates from several institutions, including the University of Exeter and the University of Hertfordshire (Wikipedia (honours list)). But only one earned PhD.

Honorary doctorates

• Honorary Doctor of Science – University of Exeter (2008)
• Honorary Doctor of Technology – University of Hertfordshire (2008)
• Honorary Doctor of Philosophy – University of Liverpool (2015)

The pattern: May’s academic reputation is genuine — one hard-earned PhD plus multiple honours. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and co-authored the book Bang! The Complete History of the Universe with astrophysicists Jayant Narlikar and Patrick Moore (Wikipedia (books)).

Has Brian May had a stroke?

Brian May’s stroke in 2024

Yes. On 4 September 2024, May publicly stated he had suffered a minor stroke about a week prior. He lost control of his left arm but has recovered since (People magazine (breaking health news)). He was treated at Frimley Hospital and credited the staff with “fantastic care” (Brian May video message (YouTube)).

This is distinct from his 2020 heart attack, which some media conflated. The stroke was classified as “minor” by multiple outlets (ABC News).

Recovery and aftermath

May said he was “grounded” at home and not allowed to drive, fly, or raise his heart rate (People magazine). He did not initially announce the stroke because he “did not want sympathy” and did not want his inbox cluttered (Brian May video message (YouTube)).

Why this matters: the stroke directly threatened May’s ability to play guitar. ABC News reported that he could still play after the event, which suggests the motor damage was temporary. But the medical restrictions will affect his touring schedule.

Who turned down Queen in Bohemian Rhapsody?

Casting of the film Bohemian Rhapsody

The 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody originally cast Sacha Baron Cohen as Freddie Mercury. He left the project in 2013 over creative differences — Cohen wanted a darker R-rated film, while the surviving band members, including Brian May, favoured a more celebratory tone (Wikipedia (film production details)).

Rami Malek eventually took the role and won the Academy Award for Best Actor. May and Roger Taylor served as executive producers and consulted on set, ensuring accuracy in concert scenes and dialogue.

Reactions from original band members

May defended the film’s PG-13 approach, arguing it should reflect the music’s uplifting spirit. He also pushed for the inclusion of the Live Aid performance as the climax (The Guardian (interview)).

The trade-off: the film earned $900+ million but critics noted it sanitised Mercury’s personal life. May has said he stands by the film because “it’s about the music, not the gossip”.

Does Brian May have a high IQ?

Brian May’s intelligence and achievements

May is widely regarded as highly intelligent — he earned a PhD in astrophysics, co-wrote a cosmology textbook, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (Wikipedia (academic honours)). However, his IQ has never been officially tested or published.

IQ estimates

Various online sources estimate his IQ in the 150–160 range, but none are verified. The absence of a formal test means any number is speculative. What is measurable: his academic output, his three-year full-time research break from music, and his ability to master two demanding disciplines simultaneously.

What’s unclear: whether IQ matters when someone has already proved their capability through accomplishment. May’s PhD is a more concrete metric than any test score.

Timeline

Clarity: what we know and what remains uncertain

Quotes

“It was a wake-up call. I have to take better care of myself.”

Brian May, on his 2024 health scare (People magazine)

“To my parents, who gave me the stars.”

Brian May, dedication in his PhD thesis (Wikipedia)

May’s life is a study in balancing extremes: rock stardom and scientific rigour, public adoration and private health battles. The stroke of 2024 is the latest reminder that even polymaths have limits. For May, the choice ahead is clear: pace himself, or risk losing the very abilities that define him. For fans, the implication is equally clear: enjoy every performance as the gift it is.

Related reading

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere – Another musician’s journey through health and legacy.
• Women in STEM Fields: Breaking Barriers and Leading Innovation – The academic path that parallels May’s own scientific contributions.

For more details on his recent health scare and academic achievements, you can read about Brian Mays health and PhD.

Frequently asked questions