Freddie Mercury’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Piano Nabs $2.2 Million at London Auction

Freddie Mercury may have died in 1991, but the world is still fascinated by the former Queen frontman.

On Wednesday, many of the legendary musician’s belongings went up for auction at Sotheby’s in London. The top seller of the night was the Yamaha baby piano used to compose many of the band’s biggest hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The piano sold for $2.2 million, while the handwritten lyrics of the song fetched $1.7 million, Sotheby’s said after the sale.

The liner notes for “Bohemian Rhapsody” included the working title of the song “Mongolian Rhapsody”.

Freddie Mercury’s personal notes reveal iconic Queen song was first titled ‘Mongolian Rhapsody’

‘Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own’ Evening Sale at Sotheby’s on 6 September 2023 in London.

Tristan Fewings/Getty

As CNN reported, despite attracting the highest bid of the night, the Mercury piano actually fell short of pre-auction estimates. Sotheby’s originally predicted it would fetch between $2.5 million and $3.8 million.

Another particularly interesting sale of the evening was the Cartier onyx and diamond ring given to Mercury by Elton John. The ring fetched $339,000, nearly 70 times its estimate. John, 76, actually sent a letter which was read out on the night by head auctioneer Oliver Barker.

“I miss Freddie to this day,” John wrote. “He was a wonderful friend, full of love and life more than anyone I have ever met,” the tribute reads The Independent.

The biggest attraction of the evening was the piano on which Freddie Mercury composed many of the band’s greatest hits.

Philip Dethlefs/image alliance via Getty

Mercury’s distinctive crown and red watch set sold for $791,000, while the snake bracelet, which the singer wore in the video for “Bohemian Rhapsody”,” it exceeded its estimate 100 times when it sold for $870,000, the Associated Press reported.

Elton John ‘Home and in good health’ after hospitalization after fall: Rep

The event was the first of six planned auctions of the late musician’s never-before-seen private property. The black-tie evening began when the assembled bidders sang Queen’s hit “We Will Rock You” while sipping champagne, according to a Sotheby’s press release.

Mercury left all his possessions to Mary Austin, his close friend and first love. More than 32 years after the singer’s death, Austin began selling them, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Freddie Mercury and Elton John perform together in 1984.

Philip Ollerenshaw/Shutterstock

Ahead of the auction, Austin – who kept the items for more than 30 years at Mercury’s former home, Garden Lodge in London’s Kensington – explained in a statement to Sotheby’s why she decided the time had come to part with them.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“For many years I have had the joy and privilege of living surrounded by all the wonderful things that Freddie sought and loved so much. But the years have passed and the time has come for me to make the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life,” said Austin.

“It was important to me to do this in a way that I felt Freddie would enjoy, and there was nothing he loved more than an auction. Freddie was an amazing and intelligent collector who showed us that there is beauty and fun and conversation to be found in everything.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education