Freddie Mercury’s piano and scribbled “Bohemian Rhapsody” lyrics sell for millions at auction

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

One other excessive ticket merchandise – handwritten lyrics for the Queen hit “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which the frontman autographed – bought for $1.7 million U.S. {dollars}. The pages include a little bit of little recognized historical past. The track was initially titled “Mongolian Rhapsody” however was altered to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the draft reveals. 

Whereas gadgets like a crown and cloak set (which went for $791,784 U.S. {dollars}), just a few guitars, and a number of other catsuits have already bought, there are some items nonetheless being bid on, together with diaries and notebooks with handwritten lyrics and a pair Mercury’s signature Adidas excessive high sneakers. 

Mercury’s MTV Video Music Award, which Queen gained in 1992 for greatest video from a movie, was additionally nonetheless being bid on Thursday. The award was given for “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which was featured in “Wayne’s World.”

The Sotheby’s multi-day public sale is damaged into classes: The “On Stage,” that includes costumes, devices, lyrics and different gadgets pertaining to performances; “At Residence,” with gadgets from Mercury’s Backyard Lodge; “In Love With Japan,” that includes the Japanese artwork Mercury collected; and “Loopy Little Issues,” with “oddments, curios and beloved objects from Freddie’s residence.”

Earlier than the public sale gadgets had been bought, the had been on show in New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and London.

Mercury sang with Queen for about 20 years and died in 1991 from problems from HIV. Throughout their a long time collectively, Queen wrote numerous hits and was nominated for 4 Grammys.

Extra