Original Bohemian Rhapsody Manuscript Goes Up for Auction at Sotheby’s: Discover the Intriguing Development of Freddie Mercury’s Songs

Written in ballpoint pen and pencil on paper from a now defunct airline, “British Midlands Airways”, the draft of “Bohemian Rhapsody” reveals over 15 pages the different directions that Freddie Mercury had considered for this famous title. by Queen, which he originally planned to be titled “Mongolian Rhapsody”.

Sotheby’s evokes an estimate between 800,000 and 1.2 million pounds sterling (930,000 to 1.4 million euros).

Among the other drafts of the singer who died of AIDS in 1991 are those of “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “Somebody to Love”, and “We Are the Champions”, estimated between 200,000 and 300,000 pounds (225,000 to 339,000 euros).

With such early drafts being “easily lost or discarded”, the pieces up for auction offer “a fascinating dive into how ‘Freddie Mercury’ songs were developed and put together”, “while reminding us of their musical complexity and sophistication. “, underlined Gabriel Heaton, specialist in the manuscripts at Sotheby’s.

When the auction of 1,500 objects, including stage costumes and paintings by Matisse or Picasso that belonged to Freddie Mercury, was announced in April, Sotheby’s estimated that it would reach a total of at least six million pounds (6. 7 million euros).

Profits will be donated in part to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and Elton John Aids Foundation, two organizations involved in the fight against AIDS.