Today is the birthday of Queen bassist, John Deacon.
John has always been the least well known member of the band – despite writing such mega hits as Another One Bites The Dust and I Want To Break Free – and he likes it that way.
John turns 70 today and while Roger Taylor and Brian May are continuing to fly a version of the Queen flag … John stepped down the moment Freddie died.
In many ways he has become somewhat of a recluse – occasionally popping up in a newspaper when someone has taken a photograph of him and then sold it to a tabloid who then runs a headline about how much he has changed since his rockstar days, as if it’s a piece of investigative journalism.
Pricks.
However the reality is John has always been a reluctant rockstar.
He has a degree in electronics.
He got married very young.
He had kids very early.
He rarely did interviews.
He never dressed up for concerts.
He even took 5 years to believe the band would be successful, despite global tours and worldwide number 1 singles.
And while it has been well documented he has suffered depression for a long time – made worse by the passing of his best friend, Freddie – he was no shirking violet.
John was – and arguably still is – the businessman of the band, ensuring they always receive the monies owed to them while structing deals to ensure they benefited the most.
He also once left a note on his bass during a Queen recording session that simply said, “gone to Bali” after getting pissed off with the band.
With all this, it’s safe to say Mr Deacon is a complex individual and yet he was loved by the band. On one level they protected him – accepting he was who he was and not asking him to change – while on the other, they constantly encouraged him to express himself … whether that was in terms of music or, after a glass or 2 or vodka, taking the piss out the band or the music business in general, of which you can see a glimpse of it at 2 mins 40 seconds here.
When I lived in London I saw him in a little Toyota with his daughter … laughing away and smiling and for me, that was a wonderful way to see him.
Because despite being worth $170 million and having lived, seen and helped create some of the biggest musical moments in life, his place of comfort and happiness is living small.
Out the spotlight.
Out of the conversation.
Out of the drama and noise.
While many may never understand that, no one can begrudge him it.
Happy birthday Mr Deacon. You’re a quiet inspiration.