Queen is, without question, one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. They dominated the music scene. However, the passing of iconic frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991 undoubtedly shook the group to the core. Bassist John Deacon made his last public appearance with Queen in 1997 and officially retired that year, leaving only guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor as the band’s original members.
In the decades since Mercury’s death and Deacon’s departure, Taylor and May have continued as “Queen +,” touring with Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers as lead vocalist and later Adam Lambert in the same role.
Roger Taylor Doesn’t Speak to John Deacon
Now, Taylor is promoting his seventh studio album, Violence Insane in a Beautiful World, which was released on Sept. 18. Taylor recently spoke with Classic Rock about the album and his prolific career, both with Queen and as a solo artist. Naturally, the conversation turned to Deacon, who, while he no longer performs with the band, is still involved in their finances. Taylor revealed that he and Deacon “no longer communicate.” He insisted their estrangement wasn’t personal.
“John is a real recluse. I think he speaks to our lawyers and our accountant and that’s it. I really don’t know what John is doing now. He’s probably sitting in a room somewhere, counting his money,” Taylor said.
Ultimate Classic Rock notes that Deacon, who was devastated in the wake of Mercury’s passing, has steered clear of public appearances, even missing Queen’s inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. He also wasn’t involved in any promotion for the 2018 mega-hit Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Deacon proved himself a skilled songwriter during his career, penning Top 10 hits “You’re My Best Friend,” “I Want to Break Free,” and “Another One Bites the Dust.” The latter went on to become one of Queen’s best-selling singles and one of their only No. 1 songs.
