JOHN DEACON
John Deacon is the legendary retired bassist of the rock band Queen, celebrated for his technical brilliance and for penning global hits such as 'Another One Bites the Dust'. A trained electronics engineer, he remained the 'quiet' heart of the band until his retirement in 1997, though he continues to oversee Queen's massive legacy behind the scenes.
Cronologia
Biografia
John Richard Deacon, born on August 19, 1951, in Leicester, is best known as the bassist and one of the primary songwriters for the rock band Queen. Often described as the 'quiet' member of the group, Deacon provided a grounded presence and technical expertise that was vital to the band's international success.
Unlike his bandmates, he rarely sang on records, focusing instead on his melodic bass lines and occasional keyboards, famously playing the Wurlitzer electric piano on 'You're My Best Friend'. Beyond his musical contributions, Deacon was the band's technical architect.
He earned a First Class Honours degree in Electronics from Chelsea College, which allowed him to build custom equipment, including the iconic 'Deacy Amp'. Since the death of Freddie Mercury in 1991, Deacon has largely withdrawn from public life, officially retiring in 1997. He currently lives a private life in Putney, Southwest London, with his wife Veronica Tetzlaff, with whom he has six children.
Storia
Deacon's musical journey began at age 14 when he formed his first band, The Opposition, in 1965. Initially a rhythm guitarist, he switched to bass in 1966, a move that would define his career.
After moving to London to study electronics in 1970, he briefly formed a band called 'Deacon' before being introduced to Brian May and Roger Taylor at a disco in early 1971.
Queen had already seen three bassists pass through their ranks (Mike Grose, Barry Mitchell, and Doug Bogie), but Deacon's quiet demeanor and immense talent made him the perfect final piece of the puzzle. He joined the band in February 1971 and played his first show with them in June of that year at the College of Estate Management in Kensington.
Evoluzione
John Deacon's role in Queen evolved from being the 'new guy' credited as 'Deacon John' to becoming the band's secret weapon in the late 70s and 80s. His musical evolution saw him move from traditional rock bass to introducing funk and disco elements, which resulted in the band's biggest commercial hits.
After the tragic loss of Freddie Mercury, Deacon's evolution took a turn toward reclusion; he found the idea of continuing without Mercury impossible. In his current state, he has evolved into the 'Silent Guardian' of the Queen legacy, maintaining full veto power over all financial and technical releases, including the recent 2026 'Queen II' anniversary project.
Da Collezione
For collectors, John Deacon figures are highly prized, particularly those produced by brands like Funko (Pop! Rocks) and NECA, which focus on his iconic Live Aid 1985 and 1986 Magic Tour looks. A unique grail for fans is his playable Lego minifigure from the 2009 'Lego Rock Band' game.
In 2021, Z2 Comics released an official graphic novel featuring his likeness, while the 2026 'Queen II' 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition has become a modern grail for music collectors due to the rare Deacon-authorized track 'Polar Bear'. His signature Fender Precision Bass remains a staple for instrument collectors looking to emulate the 'Deacon sound'.
Retains a unique veto power over all Queen archival releases and financial decisions.
