How good a bass player was John ?

Hello people hope all is well in the land of Queen. Whilst Brian and Roger have often been hailed as great musicians and have inspired others in the rock world. John never seems to get much recognition for his great bass work. In your opinion how good was John and when did he go from plucking the fat strings to using a plectrum ?Would be great to hear your opinions.

I think John was a very good bass player,  not an all time great though.  I don't think he had a distinctive style that sets him apart from other players, like a geddy lee or steve harris.  He was solid though...he gets points for his ability to play different styles.  Wasn't a great live player.  All in all he was good.

I'm no friend of "rating" musicians, as there is no good or bad once you have reached a certain level. 
What I always found amazing about John Deacon is his versatility. He could adopt any style and always found the right amount of notes to fill gaps on stage and give any song a great fundament on records. Be it some of Freddie's Vaudeville excursions or Brian's hard rock songs.
It's strange that he did not offer his talent to other musicians very often.

mike hunt wrote: "I don't think he had a distinctive style that sets him apart from other players, like a geddy lee or steve harris.
"

John Deacon was at least as unique as them.  Like Roger Taylor, he just wasn't flashy and in-your-face about it.

Deacon's bass lines have been described as little stories, and I couldn't agree more.  His playing on Sail Away Sweet Sister is amongst the most interesting ever in a rock song.  His sense of timing was exquisite, as was his ability to do exactly what was right for the song - nothing more, nothing less.  To me, that's what makes an excellent musician.  Nothing's worse than someone who overplays.

Try covering The Show Must Go On in a band without a bass player, and almost everything will be missing from that first verse.  Deacon was an absolute genius.

Sir GH wrote: mike hunt wrote: "I don't think he had a distinctive style that sets him apart from other players, like a geddy lee or steve harris.
"

John Deacon was at least as unique as them.  Like Roger Taylor, he just wasn't flashy and in-your-face about it.

Deacon's bass lines have been described as little stories, and I couldn't agree more.  His playing on Sail Away Sweet Sister is amongst the most interesting ever in a rock song.  His sense of timing was exquisite, as was his ability to do exactly what was right for the song - nothing more, nothing less.  To me, that's what makes an excellent musician.  Nothing's worse than someone who overplays.

Try covering The Show Must Go On in a band without a bass player, and almost everything will be missing from that first verse.  Deacon was an absolute genius.
Sounds like every member of queen "Playing for the song, nothing more, Nothing less."  My favorite bass songs are millionare waltz, fairy feller's masterstroke,  As mentioned "sail away sweet sister"  Breakthru....He was a good one for sure....Genius?....Not sure about that one. lol.  We use that word a little too often.

I'd rank John as "genius." You know why? Because he knew EXACTLY HOW to play the bass: He never "overplayed" and he knew what lines fit what songs best. He didn't pull a "Yngwie Malmsteen" and try to cram as many notes into a measure, etc.

Just listen to "The Millionaire Waltz" and then you´ll get the answer. John IS a wonderful bass player, musician and songwriter.

The fairy fellers...

Nuff said.

Yes, I say he's a genius.  Most rock musicians are half-decent players, some of whom can write great songs.  Deacon could do both, and always with class.  He wrote seldom, but always turned in a great song.  And as a bassist, he was far and beyond most rock players of his time.

Most guys just played octaves and fifths, which is essentially doubling the guitar line, adding little to the song.  Deacon's playing was always central to the final product.  He was a brilliant musician, but probably will never be appreciated as such, because:

a) he was in a band with Freddie Mercury, who got most of the attention
b) see a)

Sir GH wrote:"He was a brilliant musician, but probably will never be appreciated as such, because:

a) he was in a band with Freddie Mercury, who got most of the attention
b) see a)"

Could another reason he doesn't get the attention he deserves be because he's such a quiet personality?

Brian, especially in the years following Freddie's death, has been acknowledged as the brilliant guitarist he is, and he's been everywhere, whether it be on American Idol or working on Queen + Paul Rodgers or campaigning for animal rights. Roger has also received the attention he deserves, and he too hasn't been all that quiet.

Ultimately, while Freddie was always the most famous figure in Queen, I think the fact that John is kind of the 'forgotten one' (at least in the eyes of the general public) is due almost as much to his reclusive nature as to Freddie.

Great, great bassist. And very underrated too.

You can find a lot of drummers in Roger's class or even better.

You can find a lot of guitarists in Brian's class or slightly better.

You can even find vocalists with the range of Freddie Mercury (but you have to look real hard)

You can compare John Deacon to Geddy Lee and make me laugh pretty hard.  You're still going to have a tough time finding someone as solid and groovy as John.  He didn't need Taurus pedals either. 

Anybody ever try to learn the bass lines to Tom Sawyer?  I just did while writing this thread.  Done.

John Deacon had an enormous amount of talent, I believe he was the most talented in the group.

But, what do I know? I'm just a doctor.

I totally agree with you, Doctor.

He was also the gadget man.  If something wasn't working, they'd give it to John to fix or create.

He doesn't have a soapbox, his personal life wasn't always in the press, and if you wore a fur coat to a Seal clubbing party, John probably wouldn't give a damn. 

You didn't have to drive him around everywhere, like Freddie.

He didn't make us stock our CD shelves with half-ass songs calling it a "solo career".

The only thing I have against John are those damn shorts from the Wembley tour.  Any truth to the rumor that Freddie gave John his Wembley paycheck?

Micrówave wrote: You can find a lot of drummers in Roger's class or even better.

You can find a lot of guitarists in Brian's class or slightly better.

You can even find vocalists with the range of Freddie Mercury (but you have to look real hard)

You can compare John Deacon to Geddy Lee and make me laugh pretty hard.  You're still going to have a tough time finding someone as solid and groovy as John.  He didn't need Taurus pedals either. 

Anybody ever try to learn the bass lines to Tom Sawyer?  I just did while writing this thread.  Done.

It's evident you know nothing about Taurus pedals.