If you’ve ever wondered where John Deacon is now, you’re not alone. For someone who helped shape one of the biggest bands in music history, Deacon has managed to disappear almost completely from public life. And unlike most rock legends, that silence isn’t mysterious or messy. It’s intentional.
Now 74, John Deacon lives a low-key life in South-West London, far removed from stadium tours, interviews, and nostalgia circuits. He’s been doing it this way for more than two decades.
John Deacon’s Life After Queen
Deacon officially stepped away from the music industry in 1997. Since then, he has remained out of sight, choosing privacy over legacy-building or public appearances.
He still lives with his wife, Veronica Tetzlaff, in the same house they bought back in the 1970s. That detail alone says a lot. The home itself has remained largely unchanged over the years, reflecting the same low-profile lifestyle Deacon has maintained since leaving the spotlight, as seen in this closer look at John Deacon’s house. No relocations to luxury estates. No celebrity reinventions. Just consistency.
Locals occasionally spot him doing ordinary things like shopping, walking near his home, or playing golf. Fans who’ve crossed paths with him often describe him as polite, quiet, and clearly uninterested in revisiting fame.
The Impact of Freddie Mercury’s Death
One reason John Deacon disappeared so completely ties directly to Freddie Mercury.
Mercury’s death in 1991 hit Deacon hard. He publicly stated that there was “no point carrying on” without Freddie and made it clear he didn’t believe the band could ever be the same again. While Queen continued in different forms, Deacon’s heart was no longer in it.
After a handful of tribute performances in the early 1990s, he gradually withdrew. His final public appearance came in January 1997 at the opening of the Béjart Ballet in Paris. Shortly after, Queen released No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young) — the last recording Deacon ever worked on.
That was it.
A Silent Partner in Queen’s Business
Although he has no public relationship with Brian May or Roger Taylor, John Deacon is not cut off from Queen entirely.
He remains a silent partner in the band’s business affairs. That means:
- He is consulted on major financial decisions
- He earns from Queen’s ongoing success
- Projects like the film Bohemian Rhapsody were approved through management and legal channels
He doesn’t attend premieres. He doesn’t promote releases. But he still has a say where it matters.
Family Comes First
More than anything, Deacon chose family over fame.
He and Veronica raised six children together and now have several grandchildren. Friends and observers suggest that his daily life revolves around family routines, not rock history. That decision feels consistent with who he always was the most reserved member of Queen, uncomfortable with attention even at the band’s peak.
So, Where Is John Deacon Now?
He’s exactly where he wants to be. Living quietly. Staying private. Letting the music speak for itself.
In a world where most legends eventually return to the spotlight, John Deacon’s absence feels deliberate and, in its own way, admirable. He didn’t disappear because he was forgotten. He stepped away because he was done.
