JOHN RICHARD DEACON

As Composer

In spite of writing much less material than his band-mates, in his few compositions he demonstrated a very professional and very eclectic approach. Just compare If You Can't Beat Them with Who Needs You? or Friends Will Be Friends with Misfire. John was chiefly influenced by:

- Beatles: Notable in some progressions (e.g. vi > V/V > IV > I in Misfire) and melody ('oh I need your loving').

- Jazz

- Blues

- Rock

- Pop

- Latin Genres

- Funk

- Reggae

Most of the time, his songs haven't got modulations, although he sometimes applied the odd key-shift (e.g. Pain is So Close to Pleasure, Rain Must Fall) and twice he did a nice I > II trick (If You Can't Beat Them, My Life Has Been Saved). The vast majority of his pieces were composed in guitar-friendly keys.

Usually John wrote his material in piano, synthesiser or guitar.