Coming in to work today I heard “You’re My Best Friend,” by Queen, on the radio. At one point I was a big fan of their work (up through News of the World"). John Deacon, the band’s bassist, could always be counted on to produce a good, solid pop tune - nothing too bombastic, with a great melody and hook.
I understand from a few things I’ve read that he took Freddie Mercury’s death very hard, was extremely disillusioned with the music business (with which he was very familiar in that he managed the band’s finances), and was quoted as saying at the end “I’m glad all that’s over with.”
Any word on what he’s been doing since retiring? I heard Roger Taylor, the band’s drummer, once say in an interview, “I don’t know what he’s up to, but you can bet it doesn’t involve spending money.” Apparently, Deacy is a little frugal.
I know that Roger Taylor and Brian May PhD teamed up with Paul Rodgers to do some touring … and then some more touring. I went to see them too, hell, I was four when Queen last took to the stage, so no way I was going to miss out on this. Anyway, I remember that John Deacon absolutely did not want to have anything to do with any of it and that as far as he was concerned Queen ended on November 24, 1991. So I know what he’s not doing, but that’s it.
Here is a Deacon fan site that notes what he’s been doing, or rather, mostly what he hasn’t been doing. It appears that the only Queen-related stuff he’s done since Freddie’s death has been for charity.
I always thought the most-interesting post-Queen story was that of Brian May, who resumed the astrophysics program that he had left behind for Queen in 1973 by submitting his doctoral thesis last year. Dr. May finished the education he started forty years ago by graduating just last week. Way to go, Brian!
He has been awful quiet,I saw an interview with Brian and he said something along the lines of " You’d have to ask John that…and i don’t think he feels like talking".
Too bad,I’d love to see the 3 of them together again.
Also recently appointed as Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, taking over from Cherie Blair(Booth), wife of British prime minister Tony Blair.
I caught an interview with Roger from the Fan Club in which he answered questions from fans.
One of them was:
“What has John been doing?”
“Not much.”
Frankly, I can respect a man who so completely decides ‘that’s enough’ and goes and enjoys the fruits of his hard work. He knew when to turn the page and move on and that is rare, rare, rare, my friends.