Queen/Freddie Mercury: Freddie Mercury Owned And Worn Onits...

Hammer

£16,000

Queen/Freddie Mercury:

Freddie Mercury Owned And Worn Onitsuka Tiger High Top 1970s Sneakers.

A pair of Onitsuka Tiger High Top sneakers, black nylon with white leather logos on sides which were owned and worn by Freddie Mercury in the late 1970s. Accompanied by a modern photographic print of Freddie wearing white versions of Onitsuka Tiger boots on stage.

Freddie is first photographed wearing white Onitsuka Tiger High Tops on stage in late 1979. Peter Freestone, Freddie’s personal assistant, recalled how Freddie’s use of boxing boots and red vinyl trousers on stage first occurred in 1979 and heralded a new change of image for Mercury. Freestone had just started working with Queen as their wardrobe assistant on the British leg of the Crazy tour when Freddie decided he was going to go for a new look. Freestone recalls: “I had to buy three pairs of red PVC trousers.. [a few] … ties to act as belts…skate-boarding knee pads and, really lightweight white boots with black stripes, the sort that boxers wear.” Freddie’s new macho style replaced his catsuits and ballet shoes.

The shoes were lot 2130 from the Freddie Mercury: A World Of His Own, Crazy Little Things 2 sale held at Sotheby’s New Bond Street London on 13th September 2023. This item comes with a signed certificate of authenticity on Tracks Ltd. letterhead stating this and also a tag from the auction. The condition is very good.