Freddie Mercury wrote some Queen hits on this Yamaha piano
Freddie Mercury wrote some of Queen’s biggest hits—including “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”—on a Yamaha C3 grand piano that is heading to auction this fall via Propstore. The instrument comes from Queen producer Reinhold Mack’s collection and is expected to fetch up to $528,000.
Key Takeaways
- A Yamaha C3 grand piano Freddie Mercury played at Munich’s Musicland Studios is headed to Propstore’s Music Memorabilia Live Auction.
- Freddie Mercury wrote some Queen material on the instrument, including “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” plus songs linked to The Game, Hot Space, and The Works.
- The piano carries a high estimate of about $528,000; the wider Mack trove and related musical lots could total around $4 million.
- Lots go under the hammer on October 1–2, with a public preview at London’s Cumberland Hotel from September 23–27.
For collectors who chase statement trophies alongside luxury real estate and dream homes, few objects pack more rock-history punch than a working studio piano tied to Queen’s late frontman.
Why does this Yamaha piano matter to Queen’s legacy?
According to Robb Report, Mercury used the Yamaha C3 at Musicland Studios in Munich to craft both solo material and band hits. The studio is iconic in its own right: the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath also worked there.
Beyond “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” the piano is tied to other songs that appear on The Game, Hot Space, and The Works. Robb Report describes it as one of the most important Mercury-related pieces to hit the block since a 2023 sale of his personal items.
What else from the Reinhold Mack collection is for sale?
The Yamaha is one highlight in a larger offering from Queen producer Reinhold Mack and his son, Freddie Jr. The Reinhold Mack Collection includes 81 other Mercury-related lots alongside the piano.
Among them is an AKG C414 EB microphone Mercury used to record lead and backup vocals at Musicland, with an estimate of $52,800 to $105,600. Early handwritten lyrics from Mercury’s debut solo album are also on offer, including “My Love Is Dangerous” and “Let’s Turn It On.”
In a press statement, Mack said Freddie was “not only a colleague and close friend” but “in many ways… part of our family,” recalling that their Munich home gave the star space to escape fame’s pressures. The family says they preserved the items for the memories they hold and now hope fans can connect with Mercury’s artistry and kindness—while keeping the shared memories themselves forever.
When can collectors see the piano before it sells?
Propstore will auction the Yamaha and other musical lots on October 1 and 2 as part of the Music Memorabilia Live Auction. The Mack treasure trove, together with other musical items in the sale, is expected to fetch about $4 million in total.
A sneak peek is planned at the Cumberland Hotel in London from September 23 to 27. For anyone building a luxury collection around cultural pedigree, this is a rare chance to bid on a studio tool Freddie Mercury wrote some of his most lasting Queen work on.