John Deacon admittedly said he did not sing but I've seen him share the mic with Freddie in Liar (Live at the Rainbow) or had his own mic in Somebody to Love (Earl's Court), Radio Gaga (Live Aid), One Vision (Wembley). Does anyone know other songs he sang?
I think I heard Brian saying somewhere that even before a demo was recorded John was already working with Frederick.
David Richards confirmed that during his time, John would often record home demos on his own, but they'd only have melody lines played on piano or synth, not sung.
All hope is lost. I will just have to imagine his dulcet tones lulling me to sleep at night ...
'Your gun is loaded
And pointing my way
There's only one bullet
So don't delay
Got to time it right
Fire me through the night'
Oh John, you old romantic...
I do remember in the very early days and fast internet and my burning desire to soak in as much as I could about Queen.
My deep research into the mystery of John singing, I came across an article from an manager, someone who was working on their albums or a roadie. It went something like this
"John" "in the early years definitely laid backing vocals during the multilayered vocals in the early years on songs with simple choruses such as Lap of the gods rev just to get the basis and the thickness of the chorus but then slowly editing them out with extensive layering of vocals from the three, also mentioning that he definitely sang live on those key songs to get that extra thickness but the roadie knew to turn his mic down a few notches"
fras444 wrote:
I do remember in the very early days and fast internet and my burning desire to soak in as much as I could about Queen.
My deep research into the mystery of John singing, I came across an article from an manager, someone who was working on their albums or a roadie. It went something like this
"John" "in the early years definitely laid backing vocals during the multilayered vocals in the early years on songs with simple choruses such as Lap of the gods rev just to get the basis and the thickness of the chorus but then slowly editing them out with extensive layering of vocals from the three, also mentioning that he definitely sang live on those key songs to get that extra thickness but the roadie knew to turn his mic down a few notches"
So John "singing" in the Queen film have been the case with recording Bohemian Rhapsody early in the process.
fras444 wrote:
I do remember in the very early days and fast internet and my burning desire to soak in as much as I could about Queen.
My deep research into the mystery of John singing, I came across an article from an manager, someone who was working on their albums or a roadie. It went something like this
"John" "in the early years definitely laid backing vocals during the multilayered vocals in the early years on songs with simple choruses such as Lap of the gods rev just to get the basis and the thickness of the chorus but then slowly editing them out with extensive layering of vocals from the three, also mentioning that he definitely sang live on those key songs to get that extra thickness but the roadie knew to turn his mic down a few notches"
The person that came up with this quote knows their stuff don’t they....whilst the “roadie” was fine tuning live vocal levels, the front of house sound engineer was presumably lugging flightcases around and setting down towels and bottles of water on the stage?!!
Other songs where John added vocals were Keep Yourself Alive, Killer Queen, Lap of the Gods Revisited, Flick of the Wrist, Tie Your Mother Down, We Will Rock You (slow and fast) We are the champions (early shows) Hammer to Fall, Friends will be friends. I know he’s seen singing on Now I’m here but that was set up for the filming. On all live recordings I can recall at best Brian might come in on “ just a new man” but that was it.
Doing his best Mike Stone and Joan Armatrading impressions.
Did anyone manage to track down the vocalist on the legendary "Radio Gew Gew" chorus? Is it indeed John? Perhaps Spike?
I can almost hear John's home demo of Misfire. Whispered vocal and lots of tape hiss. Would be fascinating to hear. And I should imagine lots of other discarded songs... each hinting at or containing elements that went on to feature in material that ended up on record.
In the studio it made sense for hi not to feature - after all he's in a band with 3 outstanding vocalists who had their natural harmony sorted out before he joined. Live, him having a mic made sense for the symmetry of the stage and theatrically the impression of him added to the choral bits gives the illusion of more power and sonically generally got lost in the cacophony.
John Deacon = absolute dude.
That ain’t Spike on Radio Ga Ga. You can hear him singing at some 90s The Cross shows(Strange Frontier at Geneva, I’m A Man at Gosport) as well as during the bridge of Life Changes. It doesn’t sound like him on the Radio Ga Ga clip to me.
On the topic of John’s vocals, you can hear him in some versions of Revisited. Boston 1976 and the Earls Court shows are good examples
Thanks for all the feedback. I’ll have to listen to those other songs you guys mentioned to hear John singing.
I was listening to this interview of John in Detroit in January 1977. Have any of you heard it!? It’s very interesting as John gives a lot of his perspective on things. He’s very honest and authentic. He seems like quite a nice person. It’s half an hour. That's the most I've heard speak!! LOL link