I've just gained a new idol: John Deacon.

Fassa Albrecht · #1 07-16-2009, 05:33 PM

I know this guy gets a lot of press here for various reasons, but I used to hate Queen, and so I pretty much ignored anything to do with the instrumentals.

But when I began to play bass, I began a binge of listening to any rock I could find (which is why I now love prog) and I really now enjoy listening to Queen, and John Deacon.

His playing is clean and funky, he holds a good rhythm and his basslines fit the songs perfectly. Amazing stuff!

nortonrider · #2 07-16-2009, 06:48 PM

I've always like his playing, it's the rest of the band I don't care for.

UncleBalsamic · #3 07-16-2009, 06:52 PM

He is fantastic.

Foamy · #4 07-16-2009, 06:59 PM

Listen to the lighter stuff on the first couple albums. he does a lot of very nice, tastefully sweet runs and fills that are "just right".

Foamy · #5 07-16-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nortonrider

I've always like his playing, it's the rest of the band I don't care for.

A WITCH!!!! A WITCH!!! How dare you??!!!

rodl2005 · #6 07-16-2009, 07:00 PM

Ist serious band I joined-I was 13, the other guys were 16 y.o. & we had 2 gigs a week all thru my high school yrs, & these 2 guys elightened me to Queen, Led Zep amongst others- I'd been listening to Stones, Creedence, country, et al.. But once I heard Queen I, II, sheer heart attack, day at races etc... I was a J.Deacon fan for life(his bass playing NOT his fashion sense ;-) He wrote 'You're my Best Friend' & the bass on THAT particularly is SUPERB IMO. ULTIMATE bass playing for that song!! aint bad on Bohem. Rhaps. too ;-) Not much-if any- cut & paste back then...

becker4567 · #7 07-16-2009, 07:40 PM

It's really too bad John has chosen to stay out of the limelight. He is a really nice, intelligent, guy that has a crazy sense of humor. Freddy might have been the musical spark in Queen, but John was the brains, expecially in the finance dept.

EagleMoon · #8 07-16-2009, 08:09 PM

Queen was one of those lucky bands to have the wonderful combination of great musicians, performers and businessmen. One of the few bands of the past few decades that were fresh and original. As a package they were great, and individually they could all stand on their own. I always admired John for being the glue that held everything together. He and Roger Taylor were a very tight musical machine.

lunarpollen · #9 07-17-2009, 01:23 AM

The bass part to "The Millionaire Waltz" is one of his finest moments

iridiumrocks · #10 07-17-2009, 01:39 AM

Deacon is a great bassist who was not a flashy or aggressive player but found a perfect groove to fit the song. Queen's music went through a wide range of styles over the years, and he was able to flow with all of them. I really like the funky bass lines in songs like "Dragon Attack" and "Another One Bites The Dust". He could also do some kick-ass rock on songs like "Stone Cold Crazy".

Fassa Albrecht · #11 07-29-2009, 03:20 PM

The way a bassist should be! I'm learning Someone To Love right now...

fretlessguy · #12 07-30-2009, 05:51 AM

John is a bass player's bassist. Tasteful playing without having to put on a show, and did what was best for the song at hand. "Solid" would be the best way I could describe his perfomance.

Lady Kayri · #13 08-01-2009, 05:14 AM

I was rather pleased to see BASS PLAYER MAGAZINE do the bit on Somebody to Love; I just wish they'd chosed one of the songs that hasn't been transcribed elsewhere, perhaps one of the favorites here - Millionaire's Waltz or Dragon Attack, for example. If you're interested, there are several books of Queen songs that include the bass lines: Queen Bass Guitar Collection, and the 2 volume boxed set, Queen Greatest Hits of the Record (includes ALL instruments, including drums!). Those including the normal vocal, piano and guitar are Queen: Greatest Hits, Queen: Best of Queen, and Queen Deluxe Anthology. Some of them are available from the queenonline.com store, and you should be able to order others thru music stores and/or book stores...

Fassa Albrecht · #14 08-01-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Kayri

I was rather pleased to see BASS PLAYER MAGAZINE do the bit on Somebody to Love; I just wish they'd chosed one of the songs that hasn't been transcribed elsewhere, perhaps one of the favorites here - Millionaire's Waltz or Dragon Attack, for example. If you're interested, there are several books of Queen songs that include the bass lines: Queen Bass Guitar Collection, and the 2 volume boxed set, Queen Greatest Hits of the Record (includes ALL instruments, including drums!). Those including the normal vocal, piano and guitar are Queen: Greatest Hits, Queen: Best of Queen, and Queen Deluxe Anthology. Some of them are available from the queenonline.com store, and you should be able to order others thru music stores and/or book stores...

Ooh...drum tab AND bass tab.

I think I'm going to look for some books now, I'm now intrigued...

Lady Kayri · #15 08-01-2009, 05:59 PM

Spine of the box (dark red color, gold type) says "Queen: Greatest Hits I & II" and EMI Music Publishing Ltd; Order Ref 18726. Front of box says Queen: Greatest Hits I & II: Off the Record. 1st vol spine says "Queen: Greatest Hits Off the Record" and ISBN on back says "0-86359-950-8". Vol 2 says on spine "Queen: Greatest Hits II" and ISBN on back says "0-86359-848-X" Publisher on back sas "An EMI Music Publishing Limited Publication; IMP: International Music Publications Limited, southend Rd., Woodford Green Essex IG8 8HN, England." I got my copy on sale from the official Queen website store; I don't they have it currently in stock but you can check; might also be able to find it via Amazon.com UK, or used probably available too. Yeah, love the drum tab; and the bassline is as a score as well as tab. Both bass & guitar tabs show note time value as well...wish more commerical tabs did that! In the meantime, until you find a copy, if you want copies of any particular songs, PM me and I'll send along xeroxes. Because you have scores for ALL the instruments including piano, sometimes up to three guitars, etc. the transcriptions do go on for a fair number of pages.

Fassa Albrecht · #16 08-02-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Kayri

Spine of the box (dark red color, gold type) says "Queen: Greatest Hits I & II" and EMI Music Publishing Ltd; Order Ref 18726. Front of box says Queen: Greatest Hits I & II: Off the Record. 1st vol spine says "Queen: Greatest Hits Off the Record" and ISBN on back says "0-86359-950-8". Vol 2 says on spine "Queen: Greatest Hits II" and ISBN on back says "0-86359-848-X" Publisher on back sas "An EMI Music Publishing Limited Publication; IMP: International Music Publications Limited, southend Rd., Woodford Green Essex IG8 8HN, England." I got my copy on sale from the official Queen website store; I don't they have it currently in stock but you can check; might also be able to find it via Amazon.com UK, or used probably available too. Yeah, love the drum tab; and the bassline is as a score as well as tab. Both bass & guitar tabs show note time value as well...wish more commerical tabs did that! In the meantime, until you find a copy, if you want copies of any particular songs, PM me and I'll send along xeroxes. Because you have scores for ALL the instruments including piano, sometimes up to three guitars, etc. the transcriptions do go on for a fair number of pages.

Thanks for that, will take a look. I'm sure I'll find it somewhere.

Will let you know.