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 - Cool Cat - Pink Vinyl + Foil-stamped Cover Art - RSD 2024 - Sealed - UK - 7" vinyl - £24.99, $31.49, €29.24 (New Item) (arrived 30-Apr-2024 10:16)on April 30, 2024 at 10:18 am
QUEEN Cool Cat (Record Store Day 2024 UK/EU limited edition RSD 2-track 7" pressed on Pink Vinyl, making its debut as a single more than 40 years after it first appearedon1982's Hot Space album. Picture sleeve with silver foil-stamped four-faces cover art, plus lyrics printed on the back. Factory sealed)
- Queen - Made In Heaven - Cream Vinyl - Stickered - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £150.00, $189.00, €175.50 (New Item) (arrived 20-Apr-2024 11:44)on April 30, 2024 at 10:18 am
QUEEN Made In Heaven (Rare 1995 UK limited edition 11-track LP pressed on Heavyweight Cream Vinyl with picture labels, featuring a slightly different version to the CD release, complete with the original hype stickered gatefold picture sleeve,glossy lyric inner, three fold-out posters & Queen crest logo 12x24cm booklet. The inner on this example has a misprint - The title for the song 'Heaven For Everyone' is missing & has some of the lyrics printed at the end of the previous song, I Was Born To Love You. The sleeve reveals just a little minor corner scuffing & is otherwise Excellent. The vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with few signs of play PCSD167)
- Queen - Sheer Heart Attack - 1st - UK - vinyl LP - £125.00, $157.50, €146.25 (Back In Stock) (arrived 11-Apr-2024 10:47)on April 30, 2024 at 10:18 am
QUEEN Sheer Heart Attack (1974 UK first issue 13-track vinyl LP, complete with angled corner lyric inner with Queen crest directly below the lyrics and 'G&L' below, fully laminated picture sleeve with 'Trident' logo on the reverse. The sleeve is shows minimal shelfwear and the vinyl remains in wonderful condition with few signs of play EMC3061)
- Queen - Spring Tour '78 + Merchandise Insert - EX - UK - tour programme - £50.00, $63.00, €58.50 (New Item) (arrived 11-Apr-2024 13:48)on April 30, 2024 at 10:18 am
QUEEN Spring Tour '78 (Original 1978 UK 11" square 24-page tour programme featuring tour dates, intact merchandise insert & lots of 'live' colour photographs. The cover has some light general wear whilst the inner pages shows very little signsof age. Although not mint this is still a hard to find top and the first few we have ever seen with the Merch insert)
- Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody - 4pr - EX - UK - 7" vinyl - £25.00, $31.50, €29.25 (New Item) (arrived 13-Apr-2024 11:11)on April 30, 2024 at 10:18 am
QUEEN Bohemian Rhapsody (Classic 1975 UK 7" vinyl single with intact four prong centre, also including I'm In Love With My Car, EMI company die-cut paper sleeve. The vinyl remains in Excellent condition EMI2375)
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