In 1986, Queen played Budapest, Hungary. After rehearsing the Hungarian national anthem with guitarist Brian May on the terrace of his hotel room, Freddie Mercury took a rest and sat down atop (famed rock photographer and official photographer of the 1986 Queen Magic Tour) Denis O'Regan's photographer's case. Denis took a couple pictures of Freddie sitting atop the case; several of these images have gone into photo montages within Queen videos.
Several years ago, I purchased Denis O'Regan's photographer's case, as well as the original photograph of Freddie sitting atop it, from Mr. O'Regan himself. A watermarked image of the photograph included in this sale is the main image on this auction. This photograph alone, if purchased from Mr. O'Regan's website, would be US $600. Not only is this case a significant piece of rock and roll history because of Freddie Mercury gracing it with his mercurial presence, this case also bore witness to every major concert event in the 1980s and early 1990s, as evidenced by the fact that it is literally covered in backstage passes, including:
Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Sting, Van Halen, Keith Richards, The Cult, Faith No More, Brian May Band, David Bowie, Deff Leppard, Robert Palmer, Bruce Springsteen, Genesis, Extreme, John Mellencamp and more
The backstage passes which were present in the picture of Freddie atop the case are still there today; though they have been covered with years of additional backstage passes and stickers, these can easily be lifted up to expose the very area where Freddie rested his hand. This case includes absolutely undeniable provenance, O'Regan's British Airways tags attached to the handle. Denis O'Regan is the ultimate rock and roll photographer. His cameras took some of the most iconic images in rock and roll history (see http://www.denis.co.uk/) and this case housed the very cameras that took those images. It just so happens that the most famous rock singer to ever live also used it as a makeshift chair!
In this youtube video, you see Freddie practicing the Hungarian anthem on the terrace of his Budapest hotel room. He has the lyrics written upon a yellow notepad, which he sat down beside him when he sat down upon this case to take a break from practice, just moments after rehearsal. At 0:32, you see Freddie with Denis O'Regan, the man who took the picture included in this sale.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV6L4oUwXYY
MERQRY · Member since
Sorry but i won´t pay $ 1,200 only because Freddie put his ass on... it has no sense...
Sue Anne Mercury Taylor · Member since
I appreciate your input, Merqry, but the selling point isn't that Freddie simply put his ass on it. This case was owned by Denis O'Regan, one of the most iconic and famous rock photographers ever. It has on it backstage passes from virtually every conceivable popular band of the era and includes the original photograph of Freddie sitting atop it, provided by Mr. O'Regan. The print alone is US $600. The majority of backstage passes I have had appraised at approximately $20-25 each and the thing is literally covered in them.
princetom · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]MERQRY wrote:[/b]
Sorry but i won´t pay $ 1,200 only because Freddie put his ass on... it has no sense...[/QUOTE]
well, darling, *lol*
(sorry couldn't stand to make an odd commentary here. (no offense :-))
brunogorski · Member since
Again this item? There wasn't an older topic about the same thing? o.O
Indeed, it was and since, I have dramatically reduced the price, in order to accommodate a very long-distance move.
Sue Anne Mercury Taylor · Member since
And look, here's the deal - I'm not a QZ troll, I didn't just appear to advertise this thing. I posted here for years, as mrjordan. I've been a dedicated Queen fan for 20 years. I've got this case. I need to sell it, to move to Denver, Colorado, for a job. That's that. I'm not on here trying to push this on anyone - if someone should happen to see it and take interest in it, that's great. If not, then I hope someone takes notice on ebay. I've forwarded the auction to Hard Rock Cafe, in the hopes that they'll take notice.
Gaabiizz · Member since
Repost (?
Micrówave · Member since
Well, Sue Anne Mercury Taylor...
I think the only problem is your PRICE. Really? Over $5000 for this case?
Good luck.
I suppose if you had em, you'd sell the shorts Freddie wore for the same price?
You might want to look into alternate financial aid for your move. Or get real and realize you're gonna have to get a u-haul.
brENsKi · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Sue Anne Mercury Taylor wrote:[/b]
Indeed, it was and since, I have dramatically reduced the price, in order to accommodate a very long-distance move.[/QUOTE]
HONEST TRANSLATION: nobody was stupid enough to let me rip them off, so i'll try a lower price and see if i can shift something nobody wants
mooghead · Member since
"Freddie / Magic Tour related"
Its not though really, is it?
brENsKi · Member since
...and worth £5000 - just for sitting on it?
just think what it'd be worth if he shot his load into it? or took a dump in it?
i hope that in the interests of parity - you're spamming dozens of other rock bands boards with this genuine item of music history? why the fuck should bowie, purple, lizzy, zep, genesis et al, fans miss out?
good luck with trying to rip people off
jeffuk49 · Member since
might get myself a silver box and chuck some stickers on it, anyone wanna start bidding at say £500
GratefulFan · Member since
This will have value to somebody. You mentioned in your ad that it was one of your most treasured possessions. Hope you get enough for it that it doesn't feel like a huge loss. If it doesn't sell, you'll be forced to finance your move in a different way, and you'll still have it. Which might be the way things are supposed to be anyway. :) Either way, good luck. It's a neat item.