Current:Home > Contact-usFreddie Mercury memorabilia on display ahead of auction – including scribbled song lyrics expected to fetch more than $1 million-LoTradeCoin
Freddie Mercury memorabilia on display ahead of auction – including scribbled song lyrics expected to fetch more than $1 million
View Date:2024-12-24 07:48:10
Some of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury's most prized possessions will be available for auction at Sotheby's in September. Before they are sold, the items are on display in New York and then will be displayed in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and London. Some of the iconic pieces include a crown, scribbled song lyrics and a jacket.
Senior Vice President of Sotheby's Cassandra Hatton brought some of the items to "CBS Mornings" on Monday, including a crown Mercury designed with Dana Mosely, a costume designer and close friend of his.
"It was worn during his last live performance with Queen in 1986. I mean, this is indelibly linked with Freddie," Hatton said, adding that Mercury came up with the concept for the crown. It is expected to sell for between $49,500 and $74,000.
Hatton also showed off pages where Mercury wrote the lyrics to Queen hits "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Are the Champions." The page is scribbled with words, including "Mongolian Rhapsody," the original title idea for "Bohemian Rhapsody."
"You can see he scratched that out," Hatton said. "The most important line to him, you can see, he starts off with 'nothing really matters to me.'" Mercury croons this lyric at the end of the song.
"What you're seeing here essentially is his idea coming to fruition," CBS Mornings' Vlad Duthiers said.
The lyrics are scribbled on 15 pages – some of them old airline schedules Mercury used to jot down his ideas. The "Bohemian Rhapsody" lyrics are expected to go for about $990,000 to nearly $1.5 million at the auction.
Another item on display is his form-fitting leather jacket, which Hatton called "iconic." Mercury wore the jacket for many live performances, including on "Saturday Night Live" in 1982, his last live performance in the U.S. It is expected to sell for about $24,000 to $37,000.
Other items of Mercury's up for auction: His Adidas high-top sneakers, estimated to go for about $3,700 to $6,100, and a silver bangle that looks like a snake, estimated to go for about $8,600 to $11,000.
Mercury sang with Queen for about two decades and died in 1991 from complications from HIV. During their decades together, Queen wrote countless hits and was nominated for four Grammys but never won.
Caitlin O'KaneCaitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift.
veryGood! (65)
Related
- Investigators believe Wisconsin kayaker faked his own death before fleeing to eastern Europe
- Democratic New York state Sen. Tim Kennedy wins seat in Congress in special election
- Bucks defeat Pacers in Game 5 without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard
- Employer of visiting nurse who was killed didn’t protect her and should be fined, safety agency says
- Trump breaks GOP losing streak in nation’s largest majority-Arab city with a pivotal final week
- In Season 3 of 'Hacks,' Jean Smart will make you love to laugh again: Review
- Dance Moms' Nia Sioux Reveals Why She Skipped Their Reunion
- Clear is now enrolling people for TSA PreCheck at these airports
- New 'Yellowstone' is here: Season 5 Part 2 premiere date, time, where to watch
- Police storm into building held by pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia | The Excerpt
Ranking
- Deion Sanders says he would prevent Shedeur Sanders from going to wrong team in NFL draft
- Ford recalls Maverick pickups in US because tail lights can go dark, increasing the risk of a crash
- 76ers force Game 6 vs. Knicks after Tyrese Maxey hits clutch shot to force overtime
- Donald Trump receives earnout bonus worth $1.8 billion in DJT stock
- Businesses at struggling corner where George Floyd was killed sue Minneapolis
- U.S. bans most uses of paint-stripping solvent after dozens of deaths
- Harvey Weinstein to appear in NY court following 2020 rape conviction overturn
- A Facebook user roasted the popular kids book 'Love You Forever.' The internet is divided
Recommendation
-
Amazon Best Books of 2024 revealed: Top 10 span genres but all 'make you feel deeply'
-
Potential shooter 'neutralized' outside Wisconsin middle school Wednesday, authorities say
-
Powell likely to signal that lower inflation is needed before Fed would cut rates
-
Clear is now enrolling people for TSA PreCheck at these airports
-
Federal judge denies request to block measure revoking Arkansas casino license
-
At least 9 dead, dozens treated in Texas capital after unusual spike in overdoses
-
Rollout of transgender bathroom law sows confusion among Utah public school families
-
Florida’s 6-week abortion ban takes effect as doctors worry women will lose access to health care