Freddie Mercury video-worn outfit for ‘I’m Going Slightly Mad’, 1991

Freddie Mercury video-worn outfit for ‘I’m Going Slightly Mad’, 1991

An almost complete video-worn outfit comprising:

A two-piece suit of fine black wool by Antony Price, the single-breasted jacket with narrow lapels, fitted at the waist with jetted pockets, single-button fastening and lined in black satin and a pair corresponding narrow-legged trousers with concealed fastening at waistband and two jetted pockets to the front, both garments labelled ‘Antony Price’

Two large ‘Timney Fowler’ silk scarves, both worn at different times during the video around Freddie’s neck and tucked into his shirt - one ivory and black, the other white and black, the former featuring a central clock face design, the border incorporating various designs and motifs including classical columns, ropes, Greek key and flowers, with hand rolled edges, 82 x 87 cm., seen first in the video, the latter with central architectural designs surrounded by a border featuring a triangular pattern, with hand-rolled edges, 86 x 88 cm.

A black satin cummerbund, the front with pleated black and white silk in an abstract design, and labelled ‘Ken White / London’, with two matching black and white silk scarves with hand rolled edges, unlabelled (scarves not seen in video), 142 x 32 cm.

A pair of black velvet Church’s ‘Crown’ loafers, the upper embroidered in gold coloured thread with a crown motif, lined in quilted red satin with black and gold ‘Church’ labels, the leather soles stamped ‘CHURCH’ with the size ‘8 ½’

A pair of black leather lace-up winkle-picker shoes with exaggerated toes, labelled inside ‘Loco Mia / Javier / Ibiza’, 40 cm. long, worn at the end of the video

A white dress shirt of fine white cotton with stiff wing collar, textured front and cuffs with plastic studs and cufflinks, labelled ‘Turnbull & Asser / London’ in original unbranded cellophane wrapping (not worn in video)

(qty 12)   

‘I’m Going Slightly Mad’, written by Freddie Mercury (with uncredited input from Peter Straker), was the second single released from Queen’s 1991 album ‘Innuendo’ on 4 March, 1991. The video, directed by Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher, was filmed in February 1991 at Limehouse Studios and is the last video in which Freddie appears with Queen. His final video appearance was a solo performance of a Queen track, ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives’ filmed in May, 1991 (see lot 281).

According to Diana Moseley, who styled this costume for the video, the exaggerated winkle-picker shoes were purchased by Freddie in Ibiza and were worn to one of his parties at Pike’s nightclub – Freddie greatly admired the local street dancing of Barcelona for which this style of shoe, known as a ‘spinning shoe’, is apparently worn.

Freddie also seems to have worn this suit as part of his personal wardrobe as there is a photograph of him wearing it as an evening suit at an event with Mary Austin.

See Lot 2309 for the wig worn by Freddie in this video. See Lots 2201 and 2288 for Diana Moseley designed accessories made for, but not worn in, the ‘I’m Going Slightly Mad’ video. 

LITERATURE

Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender, Welbeck, 2020, p. 140 (illus.)

Queen: The Complete Illustrated Lyrics, Backbeat Books, 2012, p.143 (illus.)

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