Freddie Mercury’s piano and scribbled “Bohemian Rhapsody” lyrics promote for tens of millions at public sale

Freddie Mercury’s possessions on show


“Queen” frontman Freddie Mercury’s handwritten lyrics, different possessions on show for first time ever

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A few of Freddie Mercury’s prized possessions went up for public sale in London this week – together with a grand piano that offered for $2.17 million U.S. greenbacks.

Any other prime price tag merchandise – handwritten lyrics for the Queen hit “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which the frontman autographed – offered for $1.7 million U.S. greenbacks. The pages comprise somewhat of little identified historical past. The track used to be at the start titled “Mongolian Rhapsody” however used to be altered to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the draft presentations. 

Sotheby's auctions Freddie Mercury's estate
A Yamaha grand piano on which Freddie Mercury composed many hits for Queen, together with “Bohemian Rhapsody. The exhibition “Freddie Mercury – A International Of His Personal” in London supplies insights into the personal existence and musical profession of the Queen frontman. 

Philip Dethlefs/image alliance by means of Getty Pictures


Whilst pieces like a crown and cloak set (which went for $791,784 U.S. greenbacks), a couple of guitars, and a number of other catsuits have already offered, there are some items nonetheless being bid on, together with diaries and notebooks with handwritten lyrics and a couple Mercury’s signature Adidas prime best shoes. 

Mercury’s MTV Video Track Award, which Queen gained in 1992 for absolute best video from a movie, used to be additionally nonetheless being bid on Thursday. The award used to be given for “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which used to be featured in “Wayne’s International.”

US-AUCTION-MUSIC-QUEEN
The manuscripts of operating lyrics for (L-R) ‘Do not Forestall Me Now’, ‘Anyone to Love’, and ‘We Are The Champions’, autographed by means of British singer-songwriter Freddie Mercury, are displayed throughout the media preview for “Freddie Mercury: A International of His Personal: The Night time Sale” at Sotheby’s in New York Town on June 1, 2023. 

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP by means of Getty Pictures


The Sotheby’s multi-day public sale is damaged into classes: The “On Degree,” that includes costumes, tools, lyrics and different pieces relating performances; “At House,” with pieces from Mercury’s Lawn Hotel; “In Love With Japan,” that includes the Eastern artwork Mercury gathered; and “Loopy Little Issues,” with “oddments, curios and liked gadgets from Freddie’s house.”

Sooner than the public sale pieces have been offered, the have been on show in New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and London.

Mercury sang with Queen for approximately twenty years and died in 1991 from headaches from HIV. All the way through their a long time in combination, Queen wrote numerous hits and used to be nominated for 4 Grammys.

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