Freddie Mercury's catsuit worn on the video for 'We Are The Champions', 1977, with ballet shoes

Freddie Mercury's catsuit worn on the video for 'We Are The Champions', 1977, with ballet shoes

a half black and half white long-sleeved elastane catsuit with deep scooped neckline and integral feet, the right half white, the left half black, unlabelled; and two pairs of leather ballet shoes, one black, the other white, both lined in ivory cotton and with elastic, the leather soles of each pair stamped ‘FREED, London’ and size ‘8’, both pairs, the white in particular, showing signs showing signs of considerable use

(qty 5)

This catsuit was worn for the music video for 'We Are The Champions' directed by Derek Burbridge and shot in front of an audience of fan club members at the New London Theatre, Drury Lane, 6 October, 1977. The enthusiastic crowd waved scarves to give the feel of an English football match: Freddie was inspired by football chants in writing the song, and it has of course become a staple of sporting events. An extract from the video was broadcast on the BBC’s Top of the Pops, 3 November 1977. Another extract from this video showing Freddie wearing this black and white catsuit before a lively audience was used in the flashback ‘Favourite Years’ sequence in Queen’s promo video for 'Radio Ga Ga' in 1984.

'We Are The Champions' is regarded as one of the greatest of all Rock Anthems. It was an immediate chart success and an integral part of Queen’s live audience participation performances from its outset. For working lyrics to the song see lot 49.

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