Queen guitarist Sir Brian May has questioned whether the band could ever return with a virtual version of Freddie Mercury, as he voiced growing concerns about artificial intelligence.

The 79-year-old musician has cooled on the idea of an ABBA Voyage-style Queen show, warning that such a production would depend heavily on AI and the “massive evil” created by data centres.

Sir Brian and drummer Roger Taylor are nevertheless continuing to consider ways to recreate Queen’s original line-up with Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991. Any project, however, would depend on finding an ethical solution to the technology involved.

The pair had hoped to develop a “revolutionary” immersive spectacular that could transport fans back in time and offer the chance to experience Queen’s original line-up.  

They had explored an experience inspired by the ABBA Voyage show, which features digital avatars of the Swedish group during their late-1970s heyday, as well as the Eagles’ Las Vegas Sphere production. In that show, the band performed before vast LED screens surrounding the 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.”

“I spent a lot of time planning what I thought could be a Queen show. I’ve kind of backed off now because you can’t do it without massive use of AI, with all the consequences of that.”  

The Queen guitarist said he now has serious reservations about artificial intelligence, acknowledging that he is “not so keen as I was” on the proposed technology-driven show.

“I’m not quite sure where I stand on it, because we’d be stealing from the Queen oeuvre,” he said.

“At the same time, you’re adding to the stresses that AI is adding to the world. So I don’t know, I’m not so keen as I was.”

He added: “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. The doors are open, but I don’t know if we’re going to walk through.”

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Sir Brian described AI data centres as a “massive evil” that “have to be fought”.  

“We all like AI. It helps us write emails. It’s even saved a few lives. But the harm it is bringing to the world is immense,” he said.

Sir Brian continued: “It’s turning us into a very different civilisation and, personally, I’m terrified. These tech billionaires do not have our best interests at heart.”

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He also highlighted the environmental impact of AI infrastructure. Large quantities of water are required to cool data centres, with between 50 million and 150 million litres needed each year for a 100MW facility.

Speculation about a Queen hologram show emerged after the company overseeing Freddie Mercury’s back catalogue filed a trademark for his name covering 3D and virtual reality (VR) uses. At the time, representatives for the band said there was “nothing to say”.    

Queen have scored six UK number one singles and 10 UK number one albums, with global hits including Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are The Champions.

The ABBA Voyage concert has been running since 2022, and more than four million people have attended 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.

Sir Brian is a long-time animal rights activist and founded the Save Me Trust which campaigns for the rights of foxes and badgers.

He previously resigned as the RSPCA’s vice president over the ‘appalling’ animal welfare standards in farms certified under its ‘assured’ scheme.

Speaking to Our News Outlet 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.

‘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.’

May and Queen drummer Roger Taylor have been touring with American Idol alum Adam Lambert since 2012 under the Queen and Adam Lambert moniker.

He told Our News Outlet: ‘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.

‘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.’

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.