Former Queen bassist Barry Mitchell dies as fans pay tribute: “Terribly sad news”

Fans have paid tribute following news that former Queen bassist Barry Mitchell has died.

The news was shared on Facebook earlier this week by Greg Brooks, the band’s official archivist.

“Terribly sad news just received that early Queen bass player (circa 1970), Barry Mitchell, has passed away,” the post read.

“His anecdotes at the convention were fascinating and offered rare insight.

He will be greatly missed.” Mitchell was the second bassist in the band, joining after the departure of founding member Mike Grose.

He stayed in the band between August 1970 and January 1971 – two years before their breakthrough 1973 self-titled debut album – and reportedly played the original bass lines on songs ‘Liar’ and ‘Son And Daughter’.

He left the line-up as he “wasn’t enthusiastic enough about their music”, he revealed in a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone , looking back at his time playing live with Freddie Mercury and co.

“We played quite a few concerts in England, notably in Liverpool,” he said in that interview.

“At the time, they weren’t at all the cult band you all know… I didn’t see the potential.

It’s crazy to say this now but it’s the truth.” He was briefly replaced by Doug Bogie, who played just two gigs with the band, before Queen ultimately found long-time member John Deacon.

After leaving Queen, Mitchell went on to join the proto-punk band Tiger, who formed in the late ‘60s under the original name Crushed Butler.

He then made a comeback in the early ’90s, playing as part of Jayne Raydio.

Friends and fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to Mitchell following news of his death.

View this post on Instagram “Farewell to a genuinely lovely man,” wrote friend Mark Cotterill (as per Metro ).