Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust' Ranked Greatest Bass Line in Rock Music

Bassists don't usually get as much love as guitarists, which is, well, silly. After all, they, along with the drummers, drive a rock song's tempo. They add richness to a band's overall sound.

Recently, the site Classical-Music.com, the home of BBC Music Magazine, presented its ranking of rock music's 25 greatest bass lines to give bassists their due. While there are some expected entries like Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" and Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer," the song taking the top spot might surprise you (or make you roll your eyes): Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust."

To be fair, "Another One Bites the Dust" boasts one of the most recognizable bass lines in the game (which is also the name of the album bearing the tune). Queen's iconic 1980 funk-rock hit was penned by bassist John Deacon for the four-piece rock outfit's eighth studio album, The Game. It was released as a single on Aug. 16, 1980, almost two months after the record's debut on June 30.

Commercially, the tune was immensely successful, spending 15 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 1 on the chart and remained there for three consecutive weeks. It achieved Platinum certification in seven countries and Gold in two. "Another One Bites the Dust" also went on to win a Grammy for "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal."

Deacon's bass line was inspired by the riff from Chic's 1979 No. 1 hit "Good Times," which also appears on the aforementioned ranking. At the time, the objective was to write a funk song for Queen. While it's not an overly complex or extravagant bass line, it has a catchy hook. The bass is the focal point. Deacon's powerhouse playing proves he can write a legendary melody and anchor a bona fide hit (and he's written a handful of Top 10 hits for the band).

How many folks can say that a song they wrote is used to train medical professionals while performing CPR? The recommended chest compression rate is 100-120 beats per minute, with "Another One Bites the Dust" sitting at 110 beats per minute, tempo-wise. Music saves lives, people.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 11:47 AM.