A Peek into the World of the Eternal Rockstar Freddie Mercury

From over-the-top song lyrics and costumes to the familiar feeling of stardom, Freddie Mercury was a creative enigma. People seldom knew what went on in his genius mind. The latest Sotheby’s auction gave a glimpse into the rockstar's life. It also displayed some precious belongings that made Freddie Mercury the king of rock music as we came to know him.

by Roasie Virq and Rhea Sarin

Freddie Mercury was born in Tanzania to Indian Parsi parents Bomi Bulsara and Jer Bulsara as Farrokh Bulsara. His Western leanings and a dream to make it big in the world of music led him to change his name, but he never abandoned his Persian roots. Mercury embraced his extravagant style that was put on display under the auction titled “Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own.”

Rise to Fame

Most fans adore Mercury and Queen for their unforgettable songs and agile vocals that propelled them to the top of the global charts. The aspects of creative songwriting and composing are seemingly backend tasks that fans seldom noticed or appreciated. Freddie Mercury’s chart-busting band Queen became an international phenomenon when anthems like “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions” made their way into people’s playlists across the globe. Concerts were overbooked, albums sold out and Queen’s fame rose to newer levels daily. The exhibition wanted to bring these facets into the limelight and remember Mercury in the finest way possible.

Autographed Manuscripts

A plethora of autographed manuscripts were presented in the exhibition where viewers marvelled at Mercury’s creative genius. While some were intrigued to know how “Bohemian Rhapsody” could have been “Mongolian Rhapsody,” many were amazed at the verse “Mama, There’s a war began, I’ve got to leave tonight” that almost made it to the song.

To this effect, Dr Gabriel Heaton, the Sotheby’s Books & Manuscripts Specialist said, "In these pages we see Freddie Mercury wrestling in grand operatic terms with profound themes – sin, damnation, stoic acceptance. Quite unlike anything that had been released before, Bohemian Rhapsody was the band’s greatest risk, which swiftly became their greatest hit.”

Little Red Notebook

People from various walks of life recognized pop rock through the iconic Queen songs that were largely composed and sung by Mercury. His vivid imagination took him places and could strike a chord anytime, anywhere. Whether it was a lyrical musing or a tune he could not stop thinking about, it found its way into his little red notebook. This treasure trove contains songs that Mercury curated even before the band Queen came to be. Even a coffee stain on the cover does not devalue the magnificent notebook that offers a peek into the mind of one of the greatest songwriters and singers in the world.

An Eccentric Wardrobe

If Mercury’s voice and intellect were not enough, his unique style and affluent wardrobe inspired people who were afraid to be themselves in those days. He took risks with his choices and understood the history of fashion. He sought boundless opportunities for creativity, selected materials with which he knew he could create something spectacular, while also being able to move freely on stage. His time at design school helped him come up with costume designs that took the world by storm in the music video for “Bohemian Rhapsody.” On top of that, this encouraged other bands and artists to make music videos to promote songs both domestically and internationally.

The ivory catsuit and the snake bangle that one sees Mercury wearing in the video were also a part of the exhibition and auction in London, as were the Aviator Sunglasses and a silver Moustache Comb from Tiffany and Co. The passionate rockstar is so much more than meets the eye owing to his private demeanour and infamous rule of doing as few interviews as possible. Other than his romantic partners, only his beloved cats would know the Queen frontman best.

The Sotheby’s Auction and Exhibition was a once-ina-lifetime chance for fans to step into the icon’s shoes (quite literally with the size 8.5 Adidas High Top Sneakers auctioned at the event) and see the world through his eyes. The memorabilia magnifies Mercury’s impact on modern music and his wayward approach to the rules of society. He carved his own path and never wavered from his beliefs even when press and haters, armed with lies, resolved to bring him down. He was a revolutionary and way ahead of his time. He was sexually fluid in a time when there were not more than two gender boxes to tick. His acceptance of self was inspirational, from his four extra teeth to his bizarre fashion, Freddie Mercury will always be remembered as a man of passion and endless ingenuity. v

Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own

Across six auctions, Sotheby’s reflected Freddie Mercury’s kaleidoscopic world of style and quality, spanning art, fashion, musical instruments, personal papers, possessions and photographs, furniture, and jewels, accrued over the course of fifty years. The autographed manuscript of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' lyrics and Mercury's iconic piano fetched over £3 million at the Sotheby's Auction in September 2023.