Freddie fever has officially hit London’s West End, with the queue for Sotheby’s exhibition of his art and objects snaking around the block this afternoon. Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own (until 5 September) features objects that the Queen frontman collected throughout his life: from his Yamaha Grand piano to various stage costumes and Japanese works of art.
The Art Newspaper ventured down to check out the queue, which by 1pm was spilling over onto nearby Maddox Street, and spoke to Mercury fans about what they were most excited about. Cristina, from Italy and standing with her daughter Teresa, explained that she grew up with Queen and was “desperate” to see the collection before it disappears from public view. “It is the first and last” chance, she said. Heather from Loughton in Essex meanwhile was, slightly disconcertingly, really looking forward to getting up close to Freddie’s moustache comb. “Tiffany’s, I believe it is,” she added by means of reassurance.
Stephen, in a tightly fitted Queen t-shirt, was not anticipating anything in particular but was making a day of it, whizzing by the auction house’s New Bond Street site before heading to the We Will Rock You musical down the road. It seems Freddie and co were not the only ones to Want it All.