Freddie Mercury's Satellite guitar, used in Queen's 'Play The Game' video, 1980

Freddie Mercury's Satellite guitar, used in Queen's 'Play The Game' video, 1980

A circa late 1970s Satellite 97/0 ‘Stratocaster ‘style’ electric guitar, no serial number, in sunburst finish, double cutaway body, maple neck, twenty-one fret fingerboard with dot markers, three pickups, three rotary controls, selector switch, tremolo /bridge tailblock with tremolo arm attached and white pickguard; played by Brian May in the promotional video for the single Play The Game, June 1980, and seen in the Peter Hince photograph from that shoot used on the cover of the single 'Another One Bites The Dust', 1980, and in promotional material for the 1979-1981 'The Game' tour including the cover of the 1981 South American tour programme

The 'Play The Game' video, although a simple performance video, proved controversial as it heralded a change in direction for the band, featuring a synthesiser for the first time on a released track. But most significantly it introduced a dramatic change in style for Freddie who for the first time sported a thick moustache and short cropped hair, creating much consternation among fans.

Directed by Brian Grant and shot at Trillion Studios in London, the video was unusual in its use of blue-screen to create a wall of multi-coloured flames behand the small stage. Freddie’s athletic performance, notable for the famous jump sequence, at one point involved wrenching the guitar out of Brian May’s hands and then throwing it back to the guitarist across the stage. Brian May played this Satellite-branded budget Fender Stratocaster copy rather than his Red Special probably to avert possible damage to his trademark guitar from the action scene.

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This lot is being sold for private use only. No right to reproduce or otherwise commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual property in the lots is included with the sale of lot. Queen Productions Limited and Queen Music Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights.