Mongolian Rhapsody? Newly unearthed writing draft reveals original title for Queen hit

‘I almost rejected it’ … (L-R) Brian May, John Deacon (standing), Roger Taylor and Freddie Mercury at the presentation of silver, gold and platinum discs recognising sales in excess of 1m of Bohemian Rhapsody, 1976. Photograph: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

An early draft of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody to be auctioned at Sotheby’s reveals a different working title for the 1975 hit previously unknown to the band’s fans and scholars.

On one page of 15 pages of early drafts for the rock opera, songwriter Freddie Mercury wrote the words “Mongolian Rhapsody” near the top – but crossed out the first word and wrote “Bohemian” above it, the New York Times reports.