He was a wonderful friend more full of love and life than anyone I've ever met, as well as a brilliant performer whose music has inspired and thrilled millions," he said. In a message read out by Barker before the auction began, John paid tribute to his friend. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John Aids Foundation, two organisations involved in the fight against AIDS. The manuscript also reveals that the title was originally going to be "Mongolian Rhapsody".īarker said Mercury's cherished baby grand was purchased by the charismatic star in 1975 after an exhaustive six-month search for "the ideal instrument to bring to life" his compositions.Ī record 2,000 bidders from 61 countries registered to take part in the sale.
The items were among over 1,400 lots of Mercury memorabilia up for grabs at Sotheby's, with the famous auction house's facade decorated with a huge moustache for the occasion.Īuctioneer Oliver Barker called the "Bohemian Rhapsody" lyrics - contained in 15-pages of pencil and ballpoint pen remarks - a "modern cultural icon". The Yamaha quarter-tail piano went for £1,742,000 ($2,198,927), including buyer's premium and fees, while the manuscript for the hit song "Bohemian Rhapsody" fetched £1,379,000 ($1,740,712). The baby grand piano Queen frontman Freddie Mercury used to compose almost all of his greatest songs and the original manuscript for "Bohemian Rhapsody" were snapped up Wednesday at auction in London.
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