Brian May's butt bites the dust, Queen guitarist hospitalised for buttock injury

Brian May, 72, who has been active on Instagram during Covid-19 quarantine in Britain, says he will not post so much anymore as he needs to concentrate on getting better after the gardening accident. Photo: AFP

Queen guitarist Brian May recently took a trip to the hospital after severely injuring his buttocks in a gardening accident.

"I managed to rip my Gluteus Maximus to shreds in a moment of over-enthusiastic gardening," the musician shared last week on Instagram, along with a masked selfie.

"So suddenly I find myself in a hospital getting scanned to find out exactly how much I've actually damaged myself. Turns out I did a thorough job."

In a time where hospitalisation announcements are all too common, May, 72, also made sure to clarify he does not have Covid-19 – "thank God" – and advised his 2.4 million followers to be "extra-safe out there".

"A decision to relax controls doesn't suddenly make the danger go away," he added, possibly referring to the gradual reopenings of several territories amid the coronavirus crisis.

As for the "reality check" of a gardening incident, May offered few details, but noted that he is in a lot of pain.

"I won't be able to walk for a while... or sleep, without a lot of assistance, because the pain is relentless," he wrote.

"So, folks... I need to go dark for a while, getting some complete rest, at home."

Also read: Queen sings 'You Are The Champions' for Covid-19 healthcare workers

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Reality check ! For me. No - the Virus didn’t get me yet - thank God. Hope you’re all keeping extra-safe out there. A decision to relax controls doesn’t suddenly make the danger go away. But me ?? Yes, I’ve been quiet. Reason ? As well as getting over-stretched and harassed by too many demands ... I managed to rip my Gluteus Maximus to shreds in a moment of over-enthusiastic gardening. So suddenly I find myself in a hospital getting scanned to find out exactly how much I’ve actually damaged myself. Turns out I did a thorough job - this is a couple of days ago - and I won’t be able to walk for a while ... or sleep, without a lot of assistance, because the pain is relentless. So, folks ... I need to go dark for a while, getting some complete rest, at home. Please, please don’t send me sympathy - I just need some healing silence for a while. I’ll be back - but I need the complete break. OK ? Thanks. Take care out there. Bri A post shared by Brian Harold May (@brianmayforreal) on May 6, 2020 at 6:44pm PDT

The rock star posted a follow-up "micro-rant" about the pandemic hours later – as opposed to his usual #JamWithBri "MicroConcert" videos that he has been filming from home to lift spirits during the lockdown.

"Not very coherent, I'm sure – I'm tired and in pain – but an attempt to say – before it's too late – 'Wake up Britain' – and 'Rise to the occasion, Boris (Johnson), '" he wrote, taking aim at the Britain's prime minister. "The world we had before this CoronaVirus was not good enough. We need a radical rethink."

"I believe this country wants a better world," he continued in a video message, which touched on the health care system, animal cruelty and pollution, among other issues.

"The world before is the one that got us into this mess. It needs to be changed. And you, Mr. Boris Johnson, I believe you can do that.... But some terrible mistakes have been made under your watch."

May has been busy in quarantine, staging frequent Instagram Live performances; uniting with drummer Roger Taylor and singer Adam Lambert to release a You Are The Champions anthem celebrating health care heroes; hosting a music marathon on the Britain's Planet Radio; and, apparently, going a bit too hard in the garden.

"Please, please don't send me sympathy – I just need some healing silence for a while," he concluded. "I'll be back – but I need the complete break. OK Thanks. Take care out there." – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service