From Loudersoud.
Unearthed handwritten notes by Freddie Mercury reveal his early ideas for Queen‘s flagship anthem Bohemian Rhapsody.
The most interesting musing written by the late frontman shows his original intentions for the song’s title, and that he was at one point leaning towards the phrase ‘Mongolian Rhapsody’.
The item of stationary, which was taken from a now-defunct British airline, British Midland, displays the former working-title, with the word ‘Mongolian‘ crossed out and ‘Bohemian‘ written above it.
Elsewhere in the notes, the vocalist appears to have jotted down other lyrical ideas, such as ‘fandango,‘ ‘Figaro,’ ‘thunderbolts and lighting’ and ‘belladonna’.
Other revelations from the draft show Mercury’s initial lyrics for the verse. Instead of ‘Mama/Just killed a man/Put a gun against his head/Pulled my trigger, now he’s dead’, the singer proposed: ‘Mama/There’s a war began/I’ve got to leave tonight/I’ve got to stand and fight.’
The 15 pages of notes – which were recently uncovered after Mercury’s longtime friend Mary Austin offered up thousands of the singer’s items to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s auction house in London – are estimated to be worth $1.5 million.
Fans and collectors will be able to bid for the piece in a live auction on September 6.
Among the 1,500 items up for auction, there are also manuscripts of working lyrics to other Queen songs including Don’t Stop Me Now, Somebody To Love and We Are The Champions.
Mercury’s signature crown and cloak ensemble, famously worn throughout 1986’s Magic Tour, is also available, and expected to bring in £60,000-£80,000.
Following the death of Queen’s vocalist in 1991, Austin inherited much of his estate. Austin tells the BBC that she is selling the memorabilia in the hope of getting her “affairs in order”, adding that the collection “takes you deeper within the individual and the man I knew.”
View the Bohemian Rhapsody draft below:
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- Queen - Backchat + P/S - UK - 7" vinyl - £12.00, $15.12, €14.52 (New Item) (arrived 21-Feb-2025 17:00)on February 22, 2025 at 9:54 am
QUEEN Backchat (1982 UK 7" vinyl single with an intact four prong centre, also including Staying Power, paper picture sleeve. The sleeve displays minimal wear & the vinyl looks barely played EMI5325)
- Queen - Queen I - UK - picture disc LP - £124.99, $157.49, €151.24 (New Item) (arrived 19-Feb-2025 17:00)on February 22, 2025 at 9:54 am
QUEEN Queen I (2024 UK/EU Artist Store exclusive limited numbered edition 11-track PICTURE DISC LP issue of their 1973 debut album, including Keep Yourself Alive, Liar and Seven Seas Of Rhye. Housed in a numbered die-cut card picture sleeve and hype-stickered clear PVC envelope style sleeve) Limited to only 3500 copies
- Queen - Greatest Hits II - 180gm + Inners - EX - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £25.00, $31.50, €30.25 (New Item) (arrived 14-Feb-2025 17:00)on February 22, 2025 at 9:54 am
QUEEN Greatest Hits II (2016 UK/EU 17-track remastered double LP compilation pressed on 180gram Vinyl, including A Kind Of Magic, Under Pressure, Radio Ga Ga, One Vision & more. Comes housed in a deluxe & gold embossed gatefold picturesleeve complete with discography card inners. The sleeve shows some light shelf wear scuffing & the heavyweight vinyl looks barely played)
- Queen - Killer Queen - Original - Japanese - 7" vinyl - £35.00, $44.10, €42.35 (New Item) (arrived 14-Feb-2025 17:00)on February 22, 2025 at 9:54 am
QUEEN Killer Queen (1976 Japanese 7" vinyl single, also including Flick Of The Wrist, with a unique picture insert featuring the group photograph from the 'Sheer Heart Attack' album cover, printed with Japanese biography and English lyrics onthe reverse. The insert displays minimal wear and the vinyl shows little signs of play P-1357E)
- Queen - Another One Bites The Dust - SP - US - 7" vinyl - £20.00, $25.20, €24.20 (New Item) (arrived 17-Feb-2025 13:18)on February 22, 2025 at 9:54 am
QUEEN Another One Bites The Dust (1980 US wide centred 7" vinyl single, on the red Elektra label clearly printed with 'SP' below the catalogue number to show this was pressed by Specialty Records Corporation. Also including Don't Try Suicide,housed in an Elektra/Asylum company die-cut paper sleeve with a split to the bottom edge The vinyl remains Excellent with only a few light scuffs to show play E-47031)
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