Former Queen bassist Barry Mitchell, who 'didn't see the potential,' has passed away

Barry Mitchell, the second bassist of the band Queen, has passed away. The news was shared on Facebook by the band's official archivist, Greg Brooks, who posted a black-and-white photo of Mitchell from his early days with the group. Brooks noted that he received the sad news with great difficulty, adding that the stories Mitchell shared at conventions were fascinating and provided rare insights into that era. His age and the circumstances of his death have not been disclosed. Mitchell is survived by two daughters.

Mitchell's journey with Queen began in 1970, when he replaced the band's original bassist, Mike Grose. However, his tenure was short-lived. Between August 1970 and January 1971, he participated in only 13 performances alongside legendary members Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor. Before joining Queen, Mitchell played in a band called "Crushed Butler," which later changed its name to "Tiger."

After Mitchell left, the trio performed two shows with bassist Doug Bogie until John Deacon joined in February 1971, completing the iconic lineup that would go on to produce the band's greatest hits.

In a 2018 interview with "Rolling Stone" magazine, Mitchell was asked why he chose to leave a band that would eventually become a musical legend. He initially joked that he was fired for being "useless," but later admitted that he simply wasn't enthusiastic enough about their music at the time.

"The musical direction didn't necessarily match where I wanted to go. At that time, Queen was not at all the cult band that everyone knows today, and I simply didn't see the potential inherent in it. It sounds crazy to say it today, but it was the truth."