Brian May has urged Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to act against the expansion of AI data centres, calling them a “massive evil” that “have to be fought.” May’s warning is a personal judgment about AI’s effects on society and creative work—not proof that the harms he fears will occur.
What Brian May said about AI and data centres
In an interview covered by The Independent on 3 October 2026, the Queen guitarist described AI as a moral and societal threat. “We’re facing a moral dilemma: you can’t hide from this thing, but it’s turning us into a very different civilisation and personally I’m terrified,” he said. He also argued that tech billionaires do not have the public’s interests at heart.
May acknowledged that AI can be useful, saying it helps with emails and has “even saved a few lives,” but added: “the harm it is bringing to the world is immense.” His description of data centres as evil expresses his view of the technology and infrastructure; the reporting does not independently establish that AI will produce the outcomes he predicts.
Why May has tied his warning to creative work
May’s objection is not only about what AI might do in the future. He has linked it to decisions about his own creative projects, particularly the use of AI-generated material and the artists whose work it may draw on.
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He put a Queen immersive experience on hold
May had designed a Queen immersive experience but, according to The Independent, would not proceed until it could be made without AI. A related MusicRadar interview report discusses his reservations about an AI-dependent Queen avatar show.
He cancelled a music video after learning AI had been used
May also cancelled a video for his song “My Angels Are Calling” after its directors acknowledged using AI. The Independent reports his explanation: “AI would have stolen the angels from some artist, so they had to go.” The remark captures his concern about creative ownership and compensation, rather than establishing what specific artwork, if any, an AI system used to produce the video.
What May asked Andy Burnham to do—and what is known about Burnham’s role
MusicRadar reports that May called for a moratorium on data centres and directly urged Burnham to act. The Independent describes Burnham as wanting the UK to lead on rules to prevent rogue AI, while also recognizing potential uses in healthcare, education, defence and economic development.
Those positions reflect competing hopes and concerns, not a quantified assessment of costs and benefits. The available reporting does not establish that Burnham has the legal or planning power to block any particular data-centre proposal, so May’s appeal should not be read as evidence that the mayor can personally halt all such projects.
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What the reported data-centre figures do—and do not—show
The Independent reported that a Water UK submission to Parliament earlier in 2026 estimated data-centre water use equivalent to that of 20,000 average homes. That figure is attributed to Water UK as reported by The Independent; the underlying report, methodology and precise scope were not verified in the available coverage.
The same article reported more than 100 UK data centres at different stages of development and over 500 already established. Those counts were not tied to an independently verified dataset in the reporting reviewed here, so they should be treated as figures reported by The Independent, not as independently confirmed totals. They provide context for the debate but do not, on their own, measure the environmental impact of AI or establish May’s broader claims about social harm.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to understand May’s warning
May’s comments bring together three concerns: the effect of AI on creative work, the possibility of technology reshaping society in ways people cannot control, and the infrastructure needed to support it. His project decisions show how those concerns have affected his own work. They do not amount to a technical or policy analysis of AI’s overall risks, nor do the reports establish that the harms he fears are inevitable.
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