Rock icon and astrophysicist Sir Brian May has delivered a poignant New Year's message to his followers, stating that without good health, it is 'hard to enjoy anything'. The Queen guitarist, aged 78, reflected on the value of wellbeing following a series of personal health battles, including a significant stroke he suffered in August 2024.
A Heartfelt Reflection on Health and Happiness
Addressing his 3.6 million Instagram followers, Sir Brian shared an animated video of himself playing guitar alongside his track 'New Horizons'. In the accompanying text, he wished everyone 'new opportunities, new dreams, and new challenges' for the coming year. He crucially added, 'And Good Health. Without which it's hard to enjoy anything...'.
While he did not directly reference his own recent medical issues in the post, the sentiment was clearly informed by his experiences. The artwork he shared paid tribute to his collaboration with NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto, a period he described as one of 'the most inspiring times of my life'. He concluded with an optimistic call to action: 'But the FUTURE is still out there ! ! Let's go find it ! ! !'.
Fan Support and a History of Health Scares
The comments section was quickly flooded with messages of love and support from fans worldwide. Followers expressed their hopes for his continued health and thanked him for his inspirational words. One supporter wrote, 'May you always be healthy and free from worry!', while another urged him to 'take good care of yourself during this cold season'.
Brian May's health struggles have been well-documented. In a November 2025 appearance on Alan Titchmarsh's Love Your Weekend, he referred to his stroke and other ailments as a 'wake-up call'. Remarkably, just one week after the 'scary' stroke in 2024, which he initially called a 'health hiccup', he confirmed he had regained the ability to play guitar despite temporarily losing control of one arm.
A Wake-Up Call and Recovery
This was not the guitarist's first major health crisis. In 2020, Brian May suffered a heart attack, which he first mistook for a gardening injury. He has since acknowledged that he 'could have died'. Following that incident, he underwent a procedure to have three stents fitted to keep his arteries open, aiding his recovery.
His recent New Year message underscores a profound personal truth learned through these ordeals: that all of life's joys and new horizons are fundamentally dependent on one's health. The post serves as both a grateful reflection on his own recovery and a sincere wish for his fans' wellbeing in 2026.
