Queen guitarist Brian May said in an Questions and Answers live in the band’s official Youtube channel that they also lost bassist John Deacon when Freddie Mercury died. Recently drummer Roger Taylor said that the last time he talked to the recluse Deacon was back in 2004.
Brian May said they also lost John Deacon when Freddie Mercury died:
“There is one song that I sing together with Freddie. I can’t see ever not wanting to do that. Of course, the audience do it all and its all about the audience and sharing that moment. The memories and the fact that were still here… The legacy lives on. I think Freddie would be so happy about that.”
“Obviously we so often wish Freddie was here to share it with us and John too. Because we kind of lost John as well. It’s very hard.”
Bassist John Deacon quit Queen and the music business back in 1997 and ever since remains recluse.
Asked if he kept in touch with Deacon, Roger said:
“No we don’t actually. John has sort of consciously excluded himself from the world. He doesn’t like engaging in contact with anybody I think. I think he’s very fragile and we respect that. Although he’s still obviously our sort of business partner in a way; our silent business partner.
“He enjoys the financial rewards, but he really doesn’t want anything to do with the music industry anymore. I don’t think he feels he wants to handle it and all the stuff that goes with it. So no we don’t keep in touch actually.”
“I last saw John, I think… We Will Rock You had opened six months before. I saw him there one night, in the bar, he strolled in. And that’s the last time I saw him. Probably 2004.”