Queen’s Eric Clapton’s Brian May Zings on COVID-19 Vaccine Position

Brian May has long admired Eric Clapton’s musical talents, but he draws the line when it comes to the “Tears in Heaven” singer’s take on COVID-19 vaccines.

In an interview with The Independent published on Saturday, the Queen guitarist criticized Clapton, who vowed in July not to perform where proof of vaccination is required.

“I love Eric Clapton, he’s my hero, but he’s got very different views from me in a lot of ways,” May said. “He’s a person who thinks it’s okay to shoot animals for fun, so we have our disagreements, but I would never stop respecting the man.”

Regarding those who generally oppose the vaccine, May said, “Anti-vaccines, I’m sorry, I think these are fruit cakes. There is a lot of evidence to show that vaccination helps.

“Overall they have been very safe,” he added. “There will always be side effects in any medicine you take, but to say that the vaccines are a plot to kill you, I’m sorry, that goes in the jar of fruit cake for me.”

Elsewhere in the Independent interview, May argued that it “would have been impossible for anyone to make worse decisions” about COVID-19 than British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“At every moment, he has done too little, too late,” he said.

Clapton has actively opposed vaccines and other COVID-19 safety protocols in recent months. Last year he appeared on Van Morrison’s anti-lockout song “Stand and Deliver”, which features the lyrics: “Do you want to be a free man or do you want to be a slave?”

In May, the 17-time Grammy winner detailed his “disastrous” health experience after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, and criticized “the propaganda” for overstating his safety. And last month, he announced plans to cancel his upcoming performances at venues that require attendees to provide proof of vaccination to enter.

“I want to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminating audience,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “Unless there are arrangements for all to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show.”

Fans have lambasted the former Cream guitarist’s vaccination position on social media, with many reminding him of the racist and xenophobic comments he has made in the past.

Clapton is set to embark on an American tour next month, with concerts planned in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.