Key facts
- Freddie Mercury's handwritten lyrics sold for £277,000 at auction.
- The lyrics were from the recording sessions for Mercury's debut solo album, Mr. Bad Guy (1985).
- The notebook was part of The Reinhold Mack Collection.
- Noel Gallagher's autographed guitar sold for £226,800, a record for an Oasis acoustic guitar.
- Michael Jackson's military-style jacket sold for £226,800.
- The auction generated £2.5 million on its first day.
A notebook containing Freddie Mercury's handwritten lyrics sold for £277,000 at auction, making it the highest-selling item on the first day of Propstore’s Music Live Auction. The lyrics are from the recording sessions for Mercury's 1985 debut solo album, "Mr. Bad Guy".
The notebook was part of The Reinhold Mack Collection, which comprises handwritten lyrics, recording memorabilia, and personal gifts that document the producer's close friendship and creative partnership with the Queen frontman.
Other notable sales included Noel Gallagher's autographed Takamine acoustic guitar, which sold for £226,800, setting a world record for an Oasis acoustic guitar at auction. Michael Jackson's black-and-gold military-style jacket, worn during his Dangerous and HIStory eras, also fetched £226,800. John Lennon's tinted prescription glasses from his "lost weekend" period sold for £126,000.
Additionally, the Yamaha C3 grand piano played by Mercury, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and Elton John sold for £81,900. Mercury's stage-worn top and flared trousers from his "Sheer Heart Attack" tour achieved £75,600. The first day of the auction generated a total of £2.5 million.
Propstore's music specialist, Mark Hochman, noted the significance of setting a world record with Gallagher's guitar and highlighted the value collectors place on items with a personal connection to artists, citing Mercury's notebook and Jackson's jackets as examples.