Topline
Freddie Mercury’s Yamaha G-2 baby grand piano sold for $2.1 million at an auction for the Queen frontman’s possessions, which raked in millions of dollars worth of bids for items sold by Mary Austin, Mercury’s close friend and former partner.
Freddie Mercury’s Yamaha G-2 baby grand piano, is pictured during a press preview ahead of the … [+]
Key Facts
The baby grand piano, which was used to complete the legendary rock ballad “Bohemian Rhapsody,” was the auction’s highest-selling item and was bought by Mercury for about $1,200, according to Austin.
A handwritten draft of “Bohemian Rhapsody” that showed Mercury initially titled the song “Mongolian Rhapsody” was sold for $1.7 million.
Other draft lyric documents were sold as well, including one with lyrics for an early version of “We Are The Champions,” an arena rock song dubbed as the catchiest song ever by scientists in 2011.
The silver snake bracelet worn by Mercury in the “Bohemian Rhapsody” music video was sold for $881,000, breaking the record for the highest price ever paid for a piece of jewelry owned by a rock star—a title once held by John Lennon’s leather and bead talisman sold for $368,000 in 2008.
The garden door of Mercury’s Kensington home was sold for $521,000—it was covered in graffiti from fans expressing their love for the singer-songwriter in different languages.
Other possessions including stage-worn outfits, artwork and furniture were sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Key Background
The auction comes 32 years after Mercury died of AIDS-related pneumonia. Mercury left his home and its contents to Austin, who met Mercury while she was out on a date with Queen’s guitarist Brian May. After becoming partners, Austin and Mercury eventually moved in together and stayed close even after Mercury told her he was gay, according to a BBC interview with Austin. Mercury left most of his possessions to Austin, who decided to auction them now because she needed to put her affairs in order, she said. “The time has come for me to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life,” she told BBC News in April. Austin kept a few “personal gifts” and photographs of her and Mercury.
Crucial Quote
Brian May, the lead guitarist of Queen, wrote in a begrudging Instagram post Tuesday Mercury’s “most intimate personal effects” would “go under the hammer, to be knocked down to the highest bidder and dispersed forever.” Referencing the auction, May said he couldn’t look and that to Mercury’s closest friends and family, the sale of the items was “too sad.”
What To Watch For
The auction will last six days in total, with some proceeds going to various charities. One of the items, a Cartier onyx and diamond ring given to Mercury by Elton John, will have all the proceeds from its $344,000 sale given to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Further Reading
Freddie Mercury: Queen star’s friend Mary Austin to auction his personal treasures (BBC News)
Freddie Mercury bangle sets record for rock star jewelry in auction of his prized possessions (Associated Press)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/09/06/freddie-mercurys-grand-piano-sells-for-21-million-at-record-breaking-auction-for-rock-legends-possessions/