Record Realm

Freddie Mercury refused to touch the piano John Deacon brought to the studio — calling it "tinny and horrible." So John took it home, taught himself to play it, and wrote one of Queen's most beloved songs in his living room — for his wife — to earn enough money to buy their first family home. It reached Number 7 in the UK. They got the house. Fifty years later — they're still together.

John Deacon had just married Veronica.

They had almost no money. No family home. And a quiet life they desperately wanted to build together.

He had an idea for a song.

He wanted to use a Wurlitzer EP-200 electric piano — a small, slightly rough-edged instrument that gave music a warm, slightly battered quality. Perfect for what he had in mind.

Freddie Mercury took one look at it.

Mercury said — "I refused to play the damn thing. It's tinny and horrible and I don't like them. Why play those things when you've got a lovely superb grand piano?"

John Deacon said nothing.

He took the Wurlitzer home. And in his own words — "Freddie didn't like the electric piano — so I took it home and I started to learn on the electric piano — and basically that's the song that came out when I was learning to play piano."

He was teaching himself a new instrument.

In his living room.

For his wife.

Brian May said of the song — "You're My Best Friend" was about his lovely lady wife. John was a dark horse — generally the quiet guy in Queen. We would ask him sometimes, 'Have you got anything John?' and he was very self-effacing about what he had written."

Deacon had also written the song with a very specific goal — to earn enough money for him and Veronica to buy their first family home. The song's success did exactly that.

Released in 1975 — it reached Number 7 in the UK Singles Chart and Number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It is certified platinum in the United States with over one million copies sold.

The most private man in Queen.

Taught himself a piano his bandmate refused to touch.

Wrote a love letter to his wife in his living room.

And bought them a home with it.

Fifty years later — they are still together.