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.

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.

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.

Another friend, Gary Taylor, shared on Facebook: “RIP Barry Mitchell, Queen’s second bass player, who sadly passed away on August 17. He was a great guy, and a friend, and we had some very interesting chats over the years on the phone and in person.”.

He also shared an image of the bassist performing in Edinburgh in 2018, sharing that it was “one of the last photos I took of Barry playing live on stage”.

One person commented on Taylor’s post, writing: “Sad to hear this. We met him once at the UK Convention in 2009. He was an interesting speaker that day, and we closed the pub down that night.

Barry Mitchell, the second bassist in the history of Queen, passed away on 17 August 2026.

Between August 1970 and January 1971, he was a member of the band during its still early phase.

Before John Deacon joined, Queen had three bassists: Mike Grose, Barry Mitchell and Doug… pic.twitter.com/E0tgcFr2DV.

RIP Barry Mitchell, Bass PlayerQueen (1970-1971)–2nd Bass Player"Liar""Son And Daughter"Crushed Butler, Tiger#InMemoriam #RIP pic.twitter.com/4eiZCKzwfZ.

🖤 Lunedì scorso 17 agosto è morto Barry Mitchell.

Lo abbiamo appreso oggi pomeriggio da sua figlia.

Barry è stato il secondo dei 4 bassisti dei Queen tra agosto 1970 e gennaio 1971.

Ai suoi cari vanno le nostre sentite condoglianzehttps://t.co/o801nlwufM.

Born in London, Mitchell attended Claremont High School in Harrow in the mid 1960s, and went on to live in Northampton shortly before his death.

Details about Mitchell’s death have not been publicly disclosed at time of writing.

Grimes’ Hatsune Miku collaboration is filled with love: “I feel really in awe of her, but also protective of her”.

Madra Salach are remoulding traditional Irish folk to their own blistering tune.

Fontaines D.C.‘s ‘Marianne’ sets a bold new cinematic scene in their search for escape.

Akriila throws open the doors to her gloriously messy musical multiverse.

How ‘Diablo’ continues to provide the definitive dark-fantasy game soundtrack.

My Vitriol to celebrate ‘Finelines’ at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire with InMe and Yourcodenameis:milo.

Courtney Love praises Slayyyter’s cover of Hole’s ‘Violet’: “It’s a delight!”.

MTV VMAs 2026 have scrapped the ‘Best Rock’ category after 37 years.

Trevor Nelson reveals brain tumour diagnosis after undergoing “very serious surgery”.

Foo Fighters to step in as support act for AC/DC for “one night only”: “This is literally a dream come true. So if you.