When we asked Sir Brian if he and Queen drummer Roger Taylor are still in touch with Deacon, he replied: “We’re not, it’s John’s choice. He doesn’t want to be, he wants to be left alone. That’s his choice and I think he needs that. The 77-year-old guitarist said how Deacon hasn’t withdrawn out of spite or anything, as they never fell out. Sir Brian continued: “It’s just that he needs to have his privacy; you have to respect that.”

Of course, Deacon remains a Queen business partner with the two remaining active members of the band. He added: “All I know is, he’s okay about it. If he wasn’t okay, we would know. That’s the arrangement we have.”

Meanwhile, Roger said of Deacon: “He’s still obviously our sort of business partner in a way; our silent business partner. He enjoys the financial rewards, but he really doesn’t want anything to do with the music industry anymore.”

Asked why, the drummer said: “I don’t think he feels he wants to handle it and all the stuff that goes with it. So no we don’t keep in touch actually. John has sort of consciously excluded himself from the world. He doesn’t like engaging in contact with anybody I think. I think he’s very fragile and we respect that.”