The Yamaha baby grand piano that Freddie Mercury used to compose and develop some of Queen’s most renowned songs, including Bohemian Rhapsody, will be auctioned next month.
For the next month, the black lacquered piano will be on display at Sotheby’s auction house in central London, alongside nearly 30,000 other objects, artworks, clothing and furniture, photographs, handwritten lyrics, and numerous other objects that belonged to the singer and reflected his eclectic tastes and interests.
From his gold and platinum discs and extravagant stage outfits to his personal Polaroid photos, hip flasks and a travel Scrabble board that he brought with him on tour, Mercury’s private and public worlds are displayed in this free exhibition showcases.
Mercury’s crown and regal cloak, worn for the “God Save The Queen” finale during the singer’s final tour with Queen in 1986, are believed to be worth 60,000-80,000 pounds, as is a Tiffany & Co silver moustache comb (400-600 pounds).
The original lyrics for “We Are The Champions” are estimated to be worth 200,000-300,000 pounds, while those for “Killer Queen” are worth 50,000-70,000 pounds.