A Sotheby’s auction saw a baby grand piano previously owned by Freddie Mercury fetch a staggering £1.74 million, or $2.2 million.
Originally purchased in 1975 and brought over from Japan, this Yamaha G2 served as the instrument on which the Queen lead singer crafted the groundbreaking song “Bohemian Rhapsody” during that same year.
The sale included this notable piano among a plethora of items that were part of the first in a series of six auctions focusing on Mercury’s extensive private collection, which comprises around 1,400 items. Another major sale was an early draft of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” annotated to suggest its original title might have been “Mongolian Rhapsody,” which sold for £1.38 million ($1.74 million).
Collectively, the 59 items that were sold during the auction amassed a sum of £12.2 million ($15.4 million). These ranged from stage attire and art pieces from Mercury’s collection to everyday belongings like a set of chopsticks and a Sony D-50 CD player. One particular highlight was a silver sequined catsuit Mercury wore during the “News of the World” tour in the late 1970s.
Though the piano was the star of the auction, it didn’t meet Sotheby’s original estimation, which had ranged from £2 million to £3 million ($2.5 million to $3.8 million).
Mary Austin, a close friend of Mercury who inherited the majority of his estate, was responsible for putting these items up for auction. According to a pre-auction statement from Sotheby’s, Austin mentioned that Mercury treasured the piano as though it were an extension of himself, maintaining it in pristine condition. “He never smoked near it or placed a glass on it, and ensured that no one else did either,” she was cited as saying.
The piano wasn’t just instrumental in composing “Bohemian Rhapsody”; it was also used in the creation of other Queen hits like “Don’t Stop Me Now” and “Somebody to Love,” as per Sotheby’s information.
Prior to the auction, Sotheby’s hosted an exhibition in London featuring around 1,200 items from various phases of Mercury’s life. The exhibition, which lasted a month, was attended by over 140,000 visitors.
The auction and preceding exhibition have served not only as a tribute to Freddie Mercury’s extraordinary life and talent but also as a vivid reminder of his enduring impact on music and popular culture. With over 140,000 visitors attending the month-long exhibition and a wide array of items fetching millions, it’s clear that the legacy of this iconic musician continues to resonate with fans and collectors alike.
