Freddie Mercury’s piano, used to compose Queen’s biggest hits, sells for over $2M at auction

LONDON — The piano that Freddy Mercury used to compose Queen’s biggest hits, such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” sold for over $2 million in an auction this week. Other items from his personal collection, including costumes, artwork and original lyrics, were also auctioned for sale, according to The Associated Press.

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Mercury’s 1973 Yamaha G2 baby grand piano was one of 1,400 items sold at the Sotheby’s auction on Wednesday, according to the New York Times. The newspaper reported it was used to create several of Queen’s hit songs. It was estimated to sell for at least $2.5 million at the auction and ended up selling for $2.2 million in an online bid.

In 1991, Mercury left his house and possessions to close friend Mary Austin after he died of AIDS-related pneumonia at 45 years old, according to the AP. Austin sold the items at the auction, which lasted four and a half hours, the AP reported.

Fifty-nine items from the collection sold for $15.4 million. Bidders from around 61 counties participated in the auction either in person, online or by phone, the AP reported.

Proceeds from the sale of a Cartier onyx and diamond ring that sold for $344,000 were to go to Elton John’s AIDS charity because, according to the AP, the ring was a gift from John.

Other items in the collection will be sold either through live auctions this week or in three online auctions that are going through Sept. 13, according to the Times.

Some of Mercury’s biggest hits aside from “Bohemian Rhapsody” include “Killer Queen” and “We Are the Champions,” according to the AP.

You can see the full list of the auctioned items on Sotheby’s website.

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