Ibiza has luxury, celebrity and bench in its DNA. Current refuge of soccer players in June and the first days of July, the kings of football are not the only ones who enjoy this small paradise in the Mediterranean Sea. Mallorca, Menorca or Formentera also ooze tourists, but they are not like those of Ibiza. They are special, some more than others, but they converge in their coves in harmony. Among all the illustrious people who have passed (and pass every year) by the island, perhaps one of those who has left more mark has been Freddie Mercury. Especially in the hotel where he stayed, the walls of which still have the rock star’s name on them and keep his memories alive. A more than successful marketing strategy. Because it works.
It only takes a glance at Pikes Ibiza’s social networks to see that no one there has ever surpassed the big birthday party that the singer of Queen celebrated within its walls. Specifically, it was in 1987 in room 41. They haven’t outgrown it in a good way, because from the first minute they made it become part of their essence. “An iconic institution, steeped in rock and roll history and brimming with personality”. This is how this boutique accommodation is defined on its website. That room 41, at that time of great luxury, is today the Freddies Club. There everything revolves around the singer of I want to break free, Bohemian Rhapsody or We are the champions. There are evenings in honor of his memory that are also a trip back in time to that September of the late 80s.
Nothing was left to chance. The artist celebrated in style and blew out 41 candles on the 5th. Then he was already sick with HIVin April, doctors had confirmed the diagnosis, although his appearance had not yet deteriorated. At most, his face looked a little more swollen than usual. Images of the singer on the resort’s tennis court attest to this. Of course, Mercury knew that his sentence was practically signed: the survival rate was too low at the time. Far from sinking, he decided to celebrate as if it were the last time, so much so that he decided against setting a budget in advance. Everything was paid for, no limits.
There they met more than 500 guestsamong them many familiar faces. The only ‘thorn’ was the absence of Elton John, another of those who never missed the high society parties. Dozens of gold and black balloons decorated the rooms. The original cake reproduced one of the facades of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, but the ambitious proposal was cut short when it collapsed. In its place was improvised a cake of more than two meters with the chords of Barcelona, which Mercury had already recorded with Montserrat Caballé. For the occasion, Queen’s front man chose a patterned shirt, very Mediterraneanin which green and blue tones prevailed, like the water that bathes the island. He was even photographed with the cats.
From there, the dance of figures. It is said that they drank 350 bottles of Moet & Chandonin addition to other spirits. Rivers of ink ran over the drugs that were consumed, but Tony Pikes, an exceptional guest in his own house, always defended that his policy was what he called ‘BYOD’, the acronym for ‘Bring your own drugs’. The owners preferred not to count the glasses that ended up on the floor on that never-ending day.
26 rooms
Pikes Ibiza stands solitary, almost as if hidden, in the hills of the west coast of Ibiza. It has only 26 rooms and suites, but also welcomes those who just want to eat and dance. They only accept guests who book a minimum of four nights. It is one of the house rules, just as everyone will have breakfast included and guaranteed entrance to their parties. However, it is not suitable for all budgets: in July and August, the price per night in a double room is about 600 euros. It was founded by Tony Pike, who passed away in 2019, in the 1970s. The spirit has been renewed, but its essence has not changed.