The bassist and songwriter John Deacon joined Queen in 1971 and decided to leave the band in 1997. Since then he lives away from the spotlight. He never performed with the band again or recorded something on studio.
But as Brian May said many times over the years and also in an new interview with Mojo, he is still involved in business decisions.
Brian May says John Deacon still is involved in businaess decisions
Queen released a new version of their debut album “Queen I”, which was remixed and also has new demos and live tracks, which are part of a six-disc box set.
About the reissue, the band’s guitarist said: “It felt great! I’m not saying the original version was bad – it just wasn’t what we dreamed of. Freddie and John, too, were always conscious of this thing in our past which seemed like it couldn’t be fixed.”
Then he was asked if the classic bassist John Deacon was still involved in decisions like this one. He said: “John still has a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ say. We get messages that he’s happy with what we’re doing, but he doesn’t want the stress of being involved creatively, and we respect that.”
“Freddie we can’t talk to, sadly. But the four of us worked as a team for so long that Roger and I have a pretty good idea what our fellow Queen members would be saying. This thing is longer that anybody’s marriage.” Brian May said.
During the same conversation, the artist noted that nothing that he and Roger Taylor (Drummer) do with the band are for the money, it’s because they like and want to keep the group’s legacy alive.
Deacon
May and Taylor tried to invite Deacon to join the group on stage many times during the past two decades. But he obviously refused the invitation. The musician lives a normal life and is the father of six children. He was spotted by paparazzi over the past years walking in the streets, going to the grocery store and buying newspapers. Since he retired he also Deacon never gave an interview. But when spotted by fans he stops and talks with them and gives autographs.