John Deacon Seventh and final bassist of Queen Date of Birth: 19.08.1951 Country: USA

Biography of John Deacon

John Richard Deacon was born on August 19, 1951, in the city of Leicester, England. His parents, Lillian Molly and Arthur Henry Deacon, were a working-class couple. Deacon's father worked for the insurance company Norwich Union.

At the age of seven, Deacon received his first guitar as a gift from his father. It was a red plastic guitar, and it sparked his love for music. From a young age, Deacon had a fascination with electronics and often tinkered with his equipment. His father encouraged this interest, as it was also his own hobby.

Inspired by the music of The Beatles, Deacon formed his first band called The Opposition at the age of 14. Despite lineup changes, the group gained a significant following in their hometown of Leicester. Initially, Deacon did not play bass in the band, but when their bassist, Clive Castledine, left, Deacon took on the role. The band changed their name to The New Opposition and then to The Art.

In August 1969, The Art played their final concert, and Deacon decided to pursue further education in electronic engineering at Chelsea College in London. Although he was no longer actively playing in a band, Deacon never parted ways with his guitar. He completed his first year of college with distinction but found his second year to be dull. Consequently, he sought to join a new band.

Deacon responded to advertisements in local newspapers and attended several auditions. In 1971, he was introduced to Brian May and Roger Taylor by a friend at a disco. They were in need of a bassist, and Deacon showed up to their rehearsal with his bass guitar just two days later. This marked the beginning of Deacon's journey as the fourth and final member of the band Queen.

Deacon's contributions to Queen were characterized by his quiet demeanor, but his compositions consistently became major hits. His first notable song, "Stone Cold Crazy," appeared on Queen's third album, "Sheer Heart Attack." Some of his best-known compositions include "You're My Best Friend," "Spread Your Wings," "Another One Bites the Dust," and "I Want to Break Free."

Despite his success in the music industry, Deacon enjoyed a private and laid-back lifestyle. However, he shocked many when he admitted in an interview after a Wembley concert that he enjoyed drinking heavily for weeks at a time.

Following the tragic death of Freddie Mercury, Deacon made the decision to retire from the music industry and dedicate himself to his family. He firmly believed that Queen could not exist without Mercury and refused to participate in projects that aimed to replace him.

Today, very little is known about John Deacon's current whereabouts and activities. He has chosen to lead a private life away from the public eye, with only occasional appearances or statements regarding his former band.