Peter Hince is sharing behind-the-scenes memories from touring with Freddie Mercury as he prepares to auction off the late rock legend’s iconic gold microphone.
By Website Content Manager
The gold microphone is among numerous treasured memorabilia that Peter Hince collected while serving as head roadie for Queen.
Peter Hince has shared vivid memories from his time with Queen
Hince first crossed paths with Queen in late 1973, when they were opening for Mott the Hoople on a U.K. tour. Though offered a role with the crew in early 1975, he officially joined later that year at just 20, initially tasked with caring for Freddie Mercury and John Deacon onstage and managing their equipment. Over time, he rose to become head of the road crew, remaining in the role until Queen’s final concert with Mercury at Knebworth in August 1986.
Hince recalls joining during the recording of A Night at the Opera, describing the early days: “I had no idea whether ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ would be a hit… I was earning £40 a week. It was a job; that’s what I did for a living. The band always put on a great live show, which grew bigger with each tour.”
By 1980, Queen had become a global powerhouse, performing in massive outdoor stadiums, including in South America, and achieving their first U.S. No. 1 singles with “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites the Dust.” Hince highlights the professionalism and intensity of the band, particularly Mercury: “Freddie was unpredictable, and I had to watch him like a hawk onstage — always prepared for his theatrics and ready to improvise.” He describes the energy of the live shows as “palpable,” noting that even in iconic venues like Madison Square Garden, his focus remained on supporting the band.
Among Hince’s cherished memorabilia is a Shure 565 SD gold-finished microphone awarded to Queen by Shure/Circus magazine for “Band of the Year.” Mercury gifted it to Hince, saying, “You look after my microphones and things — you should have the award!” The microphone, which Mercury later used on Top of the Pops in 1982, will go up for auction for the first time during Propstore’s Music Live Auction on April 30, 2026, with an estimated value of $39,600–$79,200.
Hince explains that the microphone has been stored away for years and that it feels like the right moment to pass it to a Queen fan who will appreciate it. He reflects fondly on his experiences: “I was lucky enough to be there with Queen and experience it all firsthand — those memories mean far more to me. Now in my seventies, I’m looking forward to the next chapter, and it’s nice to think this piece will find a new home where it can be celebrated.”
Other items in the auction include a stage-used tambourine belonging to Mercury and Hince’s backstage dressing gown. Despite selling many keepsakes, Hince is retaining his most personal items, including awards from Live Aid, gold discs, tour itineraries, laminated backstage passes, and sentimental mementos such as a Christmas card from Mercury.