Crazy little things for sale

Fans of Freddie Mercury, get out your wallets, because a treasure trove - 1500 items! - of his belongings are going up for auction. Freddie's close friend Mary Austin inherited all this, and she is now ready to part with them.

So, if you have a hankering to own the never-before-seen handwritten draft lyrics to "We Are the Champions," here comes your chance! The items will be on display at Sotheby's in London from August 4 until September 5, and then the auctioneer's gavel with start pounding the "we-will-rock-you" beat on September 6, 7, and 8.

I thought that by giving you this advance notice, you could start clearing off space on your walls, floors, and knick-knack shelves for those prized items.

But wait! There's more!  

You can bid on pink, star-shaped glasses "similar to" the dark pair Freddie wore in the "We Will Rock You" music video 

...or his tiny Tiffany  mustache comb

...the Martin guitar on which he wrote and performed "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

...his waistcoat from his final video, "These Are the Days of Our Lives," and much much more.

 

The auction house figures Mercury's crown -- which looks a lot like the one King Charles III will have on his melon this Saturday for Coronation Day - and the matching cloak will bring in $100,000.

 

Freddie's crown of fake fur, red velvet and rhinestones was made by costume designer Diana Moseley.

Announcing the sale, Ms Austin said, "For many years now, I have had the joy and privilege of living surrounded by all the wonderful things that Freddie sought out and so loved. But the years have passed, and the time has come for me to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life. Freddie was an incredible and intelligent collector who showed us that there is beauty and fun and conversation to be found in everything; I hope this will be an opportunity to share all the many facets of Freddie, both public and private, and for the world to understand more about, and celebrate, his unique and beautiful spirit," she added.

Freddie, born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar in 1946, organized Queen in 1971, fusing heavy metal, glam, and bombastic theatrics.

With hits like "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You" the group earned legendary status. Their music is still part of life here and abroad. "Champions" and "Rock You" are heard at sporting events everywhere.

Freddie passed away from AIDS in 1991.