John Richard Deacon (born 19 August 1951) is an English retired musician who was the bass guitarist for the rock band Queen. He wrote several songs for the group, including Top 10 hits "You're My Best Friend", "Another One Bites the Dust" and "I Want to Break Free"; and co-wrote "Under Pressure", "Friends Will Be Friends" and "One Vision".
Deacon grew up in Oadby, Leicestershire, playing bass guitar in a local band, The Opposition, before moving to study electronics at Chelsea College, London. He joined Queen in 1971 on the strength of his musical and electronic skills, particularly the homemade Deacy Amp which guitarist Brian May used to create guitar orchestras throughout Queen's career. From the third album, Sheer Heart Attack, onwards, he wrote at least one song per album, several of which became hits. As well as bass guitar, Deacon played some guitar, keyboards and piano on Queen's studio work.
After the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury in 1991 and the following year's Tribute Concert, Deacon performed only sporadically with the remaining members of Queen before retiring from the music industry in 1997 after recording "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)". He has not performed on any of the other projects that the two remaining members, Brian May and Roger Taylor, have put together. He remains involved in the financial aspects of the band.
Deacon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Queen in 2001 and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003.
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Newly released footage shows Joe Cocker with John Deacon, Brian May and Phil Collins performing a fiery version of The Letter in 1988.
We are back with the rock classic - and an isolated bass and drums track. Roger Taylor locks in the rhythm tracks and John Deacon lays it down with the Musicman Bass on “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen.
Queen’s classical influence really shines on the intro to this song in a duet between Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon. Originally recorded for “A Day at the Races,” this clip of “The Millionaire Waltz” comes from a live performance at the Summit in Houston, Texas in 1977.
Vinyl-loving Queen fans can now get their hands on a 4-LP version of last year’s Queen Forever compilation, which included a “lost” ballad version of late singer Freddie Mercury’s “Love Kills.” Queen Forever focuses on the band’s love songs and includes work from its now-retired bassist John Deacon. Deacon’s work is not only present throughout the album, but it also...
Here’s a clip from Queen’s 1982 performance in Canada, released on the 2007 DVD Queen Rock Montreal. Bassist John Deacon holds down catchy riff on his Fender P-bass while the band jams out a heavy groove.
