Queen: Whatever Happened To The Bassist John Deacon?

Queen: Whatever happened to bassist John Deacon

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Since the death of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury bassist John Deacon seemed to step back fro mthe spotlight.. Even during the release of the band’s hugely successful biopic 2018 Bohemian rhapsody, Deacon didn’t venture out to talk to the press or walk the read carpet. It seems like he dropped off the face of the earth. Today let’s explore whatever happened to Queens longtime bassist.

Deacon was born in 1951 in Lester, England. He wouldn’t be the original bassist for the band as it was estimated he was the eight bassist to audition for the band.Deacon auditioned for and joined Queen in 1971. His quiet demeanor offered a stark contrast to the band’s members with drummer Roger Taylor admitting We were so over-the-top, we thought that because he was quiet, he would fit in with us without too much upheaval," Guitarist Brian May would add "He's very solid and no-nonsense," "He's always got his feet firmly on the ground." Freddie and John’s opposite personalities resulting in the frontman taking the bassist under his wing. Freddie also took a lot of the spotlight, something deacon never wanted to deal with himself.

In addition to Deacon the classic lineup of queen was solidified with Freddie Mercury on vocals, Brain May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums. Deacon contributed songwriting ideas to the group including writing several of hte group’s big hits including You’re my best friend, another one bites the dust and I want to break free. He also co-wrote One Vision and Under Pressure. But it wasn’t just songwriting he contributed to the group as he also was good with electronics being an electronic engineer. He created the (deeky amplifier) which allowed guitarist Brian May to replicate orchesteral sounds on his guitar.

Between his technical prowess and quiet demeanor there was one other trait of Deacon which made him indispensable to his bandmates and that was his business acumen. Queen signed their first major contract with trident management in 1972. Even as the band started to see a lot of success throughout the decade they were earning next to nothing because the deal they signed was a bad one.
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Freddie mercury was quoted as once saying: "We had best-selling albums but we were still loving in crummy basement flats on fifty pounds a week."

Things turned sour with Trident management when Deacon requested an advance to buy his first house, but was denied by the management company.The band soon got out of their contract in 1975 ahead of the group releasing A Night at the Opera, the album which most famously featured bohemian rhaposdy.
Deacon soon became the main financial and business adviser to the band with Freddie recalling
"John Deacon kept a very close eye on all our business affairs. He knew everything that should and shouldn't be going on.
"If God had forsaken us, the rest of the group wouldn't do anything unless John said it was alright.

Throughout the 70’s and 80’s Queen would go on to dominate the musical landscape and influence countless bands who followed in their footsteps. By the early 80’s Queen began to record in Munich for several of their albums,. It was during this time Deacon became jaded with fame and soon took up smoking and during the recording of 1984’s the works he jetted off to Bali needing a break. One could speculate that as far back at 1983 Deacon’s plan one day was to leave the music industry. He would write the song I want to break free on the album- perhaps an insight into what he was feeling at the time.

Guitarist Brian May would look back at the band’s time in Munich in the early 80’s recalling We all lost our minds . . . we were all in a perilous place where our emotions were out of control.
'It manifested itself in way too much drinking, a certain amount of drugs, which I didn't share — but certainly an awful lot of vodka went through my body. We all fell to bits.
'We overreacted with each other at times. We all left the band at some point. The studio's a hard place for a band anyway, but in our case all four of us as writers had had worldwide hits. The lifestyle we led magnified that conflict.'
May would add about Deacon: 'He could be very outgoing and very funny, but I think some of the stuff that happened in Munich gave him a lot of damage.

[christophermerlot]

Becomes rock star, makes some serious coin, becomes a recluse. He has lived my perfect life.

[robswystun]

How is he "almost unrecognizable?" Yeah, he's aged and lost his hair, but it's not like he went out and got a face lift and a nose job. He just looks like an older version of himself because that's exactly what he is.

[bangslamwham]

John Deacon has a pretty good deal. He's living a quiet life away from the spotlight without the need to worry about money.

[Lou_Mavs]

The man is a no-nonsense solid bassist. A key element to Queen’s greatness, especially in his songwriting. Much respect. He deserves his quiet time away from the spotlight; he owes us nothing.

[tonymcnamara]

Where's John Deacon?
It's called retirement.
He publicly said after the Freddie Mercury tribute concert, that he had no wish to carry on without Freddie.

[gregoryh]

Some talk about his incredible bass playing is in order

[toybarons]

I say John Deacon has been blessed to have been able to enjoy the best of both worlds. He was in one of Rock's greatest bands whose music of which he helped create will live on indefinitely. Now he lives the quiet life not having to worry financially for the rest of his days. As for the shock that he looks old? It's because he isn't 20 years old anymore gang. It's called age. If he is healthy and happy and doesn't want to dye his hair, who cares.

[zacharymcmillan]

He made his mark, was a member of one of the most wildly successful and popular rock bands in history,
helped them all become filthy rich and lost one of his best friends to tragedy;I'd say he's more than earned the right to enjoy a quiet retirement away from the public eye.

[optimisticoutreach]

MVP bass player. Played great but came up with the most recognizable bass lines in music history. That alone puts him top 20...

[radiomindchatter]

John meant what he said...no Freddie, no Queen. I respect that.

[archer]

Sounds like an ordinary, introverted dude who doesn’t have to put up with a lot of tiresome social crap because he has enough money.

[sarahdee]

He looks like an attractive older man to me. No need to say he's unrecognizable. As a fellow introvert, I can understand some of his choices. I wish him much satisfaction and happiness. His music has brought much of the same to many. Thanks John.

[bluebonnetbunny]

There’s a sad/touching video clip of a few fans surrounding a long-since retired Deaky on the street asking him for autographs. He throws both of his hands up as if to hide his face. John Deacon has truly left the limelight behind. Blessings to him and his family. I will remember him by listening to one of his best songs; “You’re My Best Friend”.

[burtbackattack]

I like the fact that Deacon realised there was no Queen without Freddie so just went off and lived his life.

[Leo-jwex]

John Deacon is a quiet and humble man...He left his mark in music that will last forever!

[rideronthestorm]

John Deacon has always been my icon and forever will be..

[thetrper]

He sounds like a very intelligent and introspective man who does exactly what he wants. I pray all of us have such clarity and drive. This makes me like him more lol, Cheers Deac!! you do you brother

[jeffallinson]

We as fans have to respect John's want of privacy and solitude. He has given us a wealth of timeless masterpieces of songwriting; his legacy is assured and he will never, ever be forgotten.

[sethkaicer]

What happened is simply one sentence he could not continue without Freddie Mercury

[dazuk]

Here is an interesting fact i read. Apart from the Beatles, Queen are the only other band that all members have written a number 1 hit.