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In my teenage years, I loved Queen. I thought that Freddie Mercury, with his bombastic stage presence, charisma, and phenomenal vocals, embodied the wonderfully brilliant weirdness of the ’70s. As an adult, I came to appreciate the unbelievable once-in-a-lifetime songwriting, the stunning vocal range of nearly four octaves, and the theatrical talent that was Freddie Mercury.
Like Queen guitarist Brian May and some Queen fans, I had mixed feelings about this auction. The moment I heard “Killer Queen,” I was hooked. Even at the tender age of 14, I knew greatness when I heard it. To watch those items that Mercury had carefully curated over the years, including his personal possessions, be auctioned off to the highest bidder was bittersweet at best. Still, I understood how difficult the decision to let go of Mercury’s possessions must have been for Mary Austin, the woman Mercury referred to as “the love of his life,” and dearest friend. She cared for his estate for over thirty years at his former home in Kensington, London.
In a press release prior to the auction, Austin told Sotheby’s:
“For many years now, I have had the joy and privilege of living surrounded by all the wonderful things that Freddie sought out and so loved. But the years have passed, and the time has come for me to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life.
It was important to me to do this in a way that I felt Freddie would have loved, and there was nothing he loved more than an auction. Freddie was an incredible and intelligent collector who showed us that there is beauty and fun and conversation to be found in everything.”
I hope this will be an opportunity to share all the many facets of Freddie, both public and private, and for the world to understand more about, and celebrate, his unique and beautiful spirit.”
In that vein, I think that Freddie would have been overwhelmed by the response to the release of his various collections and accouterments to the public. After all these years, he remains beloved—one of the greatest lead singers in the history of rock music. The auction results more than testify to his continued popularity.
During a bidding frenzy, which Bloomberg News described as “heated,” a majority of realized auction prices far exceeded the original estimates, netting a staggering $50.4 million.
One quirky little item in particular, Mercury’s sterling silver Tiffany mustache comb, groomed one of the most famous mustaches in the world. It drew some serious pre-auction attention. With a relatively inexpensive pre-auction estimate of $500 – $600, the comb crushed the initial estimate to sell for an astounding $186,964.
The graffiti-covered door from Mercury’s garden lodge, layered with hand-painted notes from fans who often pilgrimaged to Mercury’s Kensington home, was originally estimated to bring between $18,400 – $31,000. However, it sold for a remarkable $506,816!
Mercury’s concert wear also blasted through pre-auction estimates. His signature crown and cloak ensemble, designed by Diana Moseley for Queen’s “Magic Tour” in the summer of 1986, pulled in an unbelievable $801,500. It was estimated to bring around $74,000 – $98,000.
Other items, such as photographs, sales awards, shoes, casual attire, and a motley collection of 20th-century cat ornaments, far exceeded expectations.
One of the focal points of the auction was Mercury’s Yamaha baby grand piano. He purchased it after a six-month search for “the ideal instrument to bring to life” his compositions. The baby grand sold for $2.2 million.
Mercury would be pleased to know that a portion of the auction proceeds will benefit several charities, including the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. It is befitting of a man whose off-stage persona was quiet to the point of shyness but is described by friends as kind, generous, and funny. It is likely he would have been incredibly amazed and filled with joy by the love and loyalty his fans continue to carry for him more than thirty years after his untimely death.
He was “The Champion,” indeed.
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