08/11/2025
An inspirational read on Life choices.....
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John Deacon—Queen's bassist, the quiet one, the youngest member—simply walked away from public life at age 46 and never came back.
He's still out there. Still alive. Living in the same South London house. Raising his six kids. Playing golf.
Just finished with all of it.
John Deacon was 19—a serious, introverted electronics student at Chelsea College in London. He played bass in amateur bands but was more focused on finishing his degree than chasing rock stardom.
Then he auditioned for Queen.
Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor had been searching for a bassist for months. They'd tried several people. No one fit.
Then John showed up. Quiet. Reserved. Technically excellent. He played one song and barely spoke.
Freddie, Brian, and Roger looked at each other. This was their guy.
Not because he had the biggest personality—quite the opposite. John was calm, grounded, practical. He balanced three massive egos. He was the stabilizer in a group of volatile creative geniuses.
John joined Queen in 1971. But here's what's remarkable: he insisted on finishing his university degree first before fully committing. While Queen was playing bigger shows and recording their first album, John was still attending classes and taking exams.
He graduated with First Class Honours in Electronics in 1971. Only then did he fully commit to Queen.
That tells you everything about John Deacon. Pragmatic. Thoughtful. Not swept away by rock and roll fantasy.
Over the next twenty years, John became essential to Queen's sound. Not in flashy, obvious ways—he wasn't Freddie commanding stages or Brian creating guitar symphonies. John was the foundation. The groove. The pocket that held everything together.
But here's what casual fans don't know: John Deacon wrote some of Queen's biggest hits.
"Another One Bites the Dust" (1980)—Queen's best-selling single ever, over 7 million copies. Number one in the U.S. That funky bass line that defined the song? That was John. He wrote it.
"I Want to Break Free" (1984)—another massive hit. John wrote it.
"You're My Best Friend" (1975)—John wrote it, inspired by his wife Veronica.
"Spread Your Wings" (1977)—John's composition.
He wasn't prolific like Freddie or Brian, but when John wrote a song, it was often a hit.
And he did it all while being the quietest person in every room.
While Freddie partied and lived extravagantly, John went home to his wife and kids. While Roger and Brian engaged with press and media, John gave minimal interviews and said as little as possible.
He married Veronica Tetzlaff in 1975—before Queen became massive—and stayed married. No rock star divorces. No scandals. No tabloid drama.
They bought a house in Putney, South London, and had six children. John lived there throughout Queen's entire peak—through stadium tours, worldwide fame, millions in royalties.
He just... didn't participate in the lifestyle. He was a rock star who lived like a suburban accountant.
Brian May once said: "John was always the sensible one. While we were being rock stars, John was worried about mortgages and school fees."
Roger Taylor called him "quiet but lethal" musically—you wouldn't notice John during interviews, but in the studio, his contributions were devastating.
Freddie Mercury relied on John's stability. They had a special relationship—Freddie, the ultimate extrovert, and John, the ultimate introvert, somehow understanding each other perfectly.
Then, November 24, 1991. Freddie Mercury died.
John Deacon's world ended that day.
The remaining members tried to continue. They held the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in April 1992—a massive event at Wembley Stadium celebrating Freddie's life.
John participated. He played. But he was clearly broken.
After that, Queen attempted some projects. They released Made in Heaven in 1995 using Freddie's final vocal recordings. John played on it, reluctantly.
In 1997, Queen did a few one-off performances. John participated minimally.
And then he just stopped.
His statement was simple and devastating: "As far as we are concerned, this is it. There is no point carrying on. It is impossible to replace Freddie."
Brian and Roger wanted to continue in some form. They eventually toured with Paul Rodgers, then Adam Lambert, under the "Queen +" banner.
John wanted no part of it. He said no. And walked away.
That was 1997. He was 46 years old. Still young. Still healthy. Still financially secure from Queen's massive royalty streams.
And he just... disappeared.
No farewell tour. No final interview. No dramatic announcement. He simply stopped being a public figure.
People thought it was temporary. That he'd come back eventually. Do a reunion. Accept an award. Something.
But years passed. A decade. Two decades. Nearly three decades.
Nothing. Complete silence.
John Deacon hasn't given a public interview since 1997. He hasn't appeared on stage. He attended Queen's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2001 but didn't speak. He skipped most public events after that entirely.
When Queen + Adam Lambert toured to massive success, John declined all involvement. He's still entitled to his share of royalties and revenues, but he wants nothing to do with performances or publicity.
Brian May has said: "We stay in touch. He's fine. He's happy. He just doesn't want any part of this anymore. And we respect that."
Roger Taylor has been more blunt: "John wants to be left alone. He's not coming back. Ever."
So where is John Deacon now?
Still in Putney, South London. Same house he bought in the 1970s. Now in his 70s. Married to the same woman for nearly 50 years. Six adult children, grandchildren.
He plays golf. He manages his personal finances (apparently quite well—his electronics degree paid off). He lives a completely ordinary suburban life.
Occasionally, very rarely, a photo surfaces. Someone spots him at a grocery store or golf course. But he doesn't engage. Doesn't do autographs or photos. Just politely declines and walks away.
He's worth an estimated $200 million from Queen royalties. "Bohemian Rhapsody" alone generates millions annually. He could live anywhere, do anything.
He chooses to live quietly in the same neighborhood where he raised his kids.
This is what makes John Deacon fascinating: he achieved everything a musician could dream of. Worldwide fame. Historic success. Financial security for life. He wrote songs billions of people have heard.
And then he just... stopped. And never looked back.
No memoir. No documentary. No "Behind the Music" special. No reunion tour for one last payday.
Just silence. For 27 years and counting.
In an industry built on ego, attention, and never knowing when to quit—John Deacon quit at the exact right moment. When it stopped being meaningful to him.
He kept his promise to Freddie: "You can't replace Freddie." So he didn't try.
While Brian and Roger continue touring with Adam Lambert—which is fine, their choice—John remains firm. For him, Queen died with Freddie.
There's something almost monastic about it. A complete renunciation of fame. He could be on stages earning millions. He could be celebrated and interviewed and honored.
Instead, he's playing golf in South London. And apparently, that's exactly where he wants to be.
The last public quote attributed to John Deacon, from around 1997: "I have no wish to be on a stage again. My life is about my family now."
And he meant it. For 27 years, through temptation and offers and pressure, he's never wavered.
John Deacon: Born 1951. Joined Queen at 19. Wrote some of their biggest hits. Played on every Queen album from 1971-1995.
Then Freddie died. John said "It's over."
And disappeared.
Still alive. Still out there. Just done.
That's not retirement. That's something rarer: complete contentment with silence.
In a world that demands everyone seek attention, John Deacon chose invisibility.
And found peace.
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