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 - Hot Space - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.75, €17.55 (New Item) (arrived 17-Apr-2024 16:31)on April 18, 2024 at 11:16 am
QUEEN Hot Space (1982 UK 11-track vinyl LP, including Under Pressure with David Bowie, Staying Power, Body Language & Las Palabras De Amor. The glossy picture sleeve displays just a little general wear but comes with its illustrated lyric inner and the vinyl remains in Excellent condition EMA797)
- Queen - Queen II - Italian - vinyl LP - £25.00, $31.25, €29.25 (New Item) (arrived 08-Apr-2024 14:56)on April 18, 2024 at 11:16 am
QUEEN Queen II (1974 Italian 11-track LP with the date '26-4-74' machine stamped in the run-outs, housed in a single pocket picture sleeve with English lyric inner with round edges & flipbacks. The cover [VG] has some light paper scuffing & fading-to-white around the edges, with all text legible, the sleeve has a samll tape repair to one edge due to a small split & the vinyl shows just a few light signs of play 3C064-95186)
- Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody - Japanese - 3" CD single - £35.00, $43.75, €40.95 (New Item) (arrived 01-Apr-2024 13:31)on April 18, 2024 at 11:16 am
QUEEN Bohemian Rhapsody (2000 Japanese 3-track 3" CD single, issued to coincide with the release of the 'Visions' album. Includes a Karoake Version performed by Queen plus Now I'm Here, housed in a unique lilac snap-pack picture sleeve with English lyric insert - The front of the sleeve also promotes the Toyota Pronard TV for which the track was used in the marketing campaign TODP-2560)
- Queen - A Winter's Tale - Xmas Pack - UK - CD single - £15.00, $18.75, €17.55 (New Item) (arrived 01-Apr-2024 13:35)on April 18, 2024 at 11:16 am
QUEEN A Winter's Tale (1995 UK limited edition 3-track CD single, including Thank God It's Christmas & Rock In Rio Blues, housed in a green card Christmas envelope pack. The packaging shows some minor edge scuffing & the custom title sticker on the back is unbroken & the disc is unplayed CDQUEENS22)
- Queen - The Show Must Go On - Box + Poster - UK - cd single boxset - £25.00, $31.25, €29.25 (New Item) (arrived 01-Apr-2024 13:46)on April 18, 2024 at 11:16 am
QUEEN The Show Must Go On (Special Limited Edition 1991 UK 4-track CD single box set, also including Now I'm Here, Fat Bottomed Girls & Las Palabras De Amor, housed in the gold embossed collectors' box complete with the fold-out illustrated print/ poster with UK singles discography. The box shows some minor age wear & the disc appears barely played CDQUEENS19)
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