Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Peter Straker, 'The Great Pretender' Video, 1987, backing singer costumes

Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Peter Straker, 'The Great Pretender' Video, 1987, backing singer costumes

A collection of costumes designed by Diana Moseley and made by Jill Thraves for Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Peter Straker, comprising:

Freddie Mercury’s red sequin full-length sleeveless sheath dress with side split, bugle beads to upper neckline, the deep v-neck front backed with nude mesh; with a pair of long red satin fingerless gloves and two matching red wigs and a black lace bra, the cups padded with white foam, labelled ‘St. Michael’, size 38C, the care label and maker’s label, inscribed in black ballpoint ‘FREDDIE’ (qty 6)

Peter Straker’s two-piece costume of lime green and black striped nylon, the skirt with black fringe and matching bodice, a pair of black nylon sleeves and a black nylon sash ruched in the middle (qty 5)

Roger Taylor’s two-piece ‘cowgirl’ costume of purple vinyl, the jacket with white fringing and matching mini skirt; a white sleeveless polo neck top labelled ‘Pineapple’ worn under the jacket (make-up marks around neck and on body); with corresponding wig, a black lace top (unseen) and the blonde wig from his gold costume (gold costume not present) (6)

- Freddie Mercury’s black vinyl sleeveless mini dress (vinyl flaking), with a pair of black vinyl lace-up gauntlets (in similar condition);; a black bandeau made of a black cotton strapless bra labelled ‘St Michael’ size 36B covered with a ruched black wet-look fabric; and a corresponding red wig (qty 5)

Peter Straker’s two-piece leopard-print nylon costume, the halter-neck sheath with ruched front and matching bolero jacket; with a black vinyl ‘waspie’ with lace-up back and press-stud fastening, a black lace bra, straps removed, the cups padded with white foam, labelled ‘St, Michael’, size 40C, both the maker’s label and care label inscribed in blue ballpoint pen ‘PETER’, and one black wig (qty 5)

A red nylon leotard with integral bow tie and black collar with press-stud fastening, resembling a ‘Bunny Girl’ outfit with red ‘spiky’ wig, worn by Freddie to a fancy dress party in Munich (qty 2)

Miscellaneous costume comprising:a black nylon sash ruched in the middle an unpadded black lace bra, labelled ‘St. Michael’, size 38C, a short black wig, a short brown wig and a grey/brown curly wig, with 5 original tags for wigs and two ‘Cupid Collection’ wig boxes; and a polystyrene head (qty 12)

(qty 41) 

See lot 60, nos 164-166 for photographs taken backstage during the filming of the backing singer sequence and nos 251 and 267 for photos of Freddie in Munich wearing the red ‘Bunny Girl’ leotard.

The extended video for ‘The Great Pretender’ includes footage of Freddie, Roger and Peter getting ready.

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song lyrics, sketches, drawings and garment designs). Queen Productions Limited, Queen

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to consider any such requests.