In what year did John Deacon retire from Queen?

John Deacon retired from Queen in 1997. His withdrawal followed Freddie Mercury’s death in 1991 and the band’s 1992 tribute concert, after which Deacon performed only occasionally with the surviving members.

Deacon’s final live appearance came in January 1997 in Paris, when Queen performed “The Show Must Go On” with Elton John at a Béjart Ballet event. He then briefly reunited with Brian May and Roger Taylor later that year to record “No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young),” released on the compilation Queen Rocks.

The date can cause confusion because Deacon’s last performance and his final recording activity occurred close together. He retired from the music industry in 1997, rather than immediately after Mercury’s death. Unlike May and Taylor, he declined later Queen-related touring projects, including Queen + Paul Rodgers and Queen + Adam Lambert.

Deacon remains a member of Queen in historical and business terms, and he was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. However, he has stayed away from performing and public musical activity since his retirement.