George Michael buys Lennon's piano

George Michael: Buying 'a piece of history'

LONDON, England -- Singer George Michael has been revealed as the mystery buyer who paid £1.45 million ($2.08 million) for the piano upon which John Lennon composed the hit song Imagine.

Michael, a lifelong fan of the former Beatle, bought the piano at an auction on Tuesday.

Auctioneers Fleetwood Owen initially said the buyer wanted to remain anonymous, but on Wednesday the singer's spokeswoman told CNN.com Europe: "I can confirm that George Michael bought John Lennon's piano.

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The piano upon which John Lennon is said to have composed "Imagine" has been sold for £1.45 million ($2.08 million). Is it really worth such a huge sum of money? Yes, the piano is an important part of pop history No, it's a ludicrous price to pay for a mere musical instrument View Results

"George thinks the piano is a piece of history and he wanted it to stay in Britain."

Steinway has authenticated the upright walnut piano as the one Lennon bought in 1970 for around £1,000.

The former Beatle, who composed Imagine on it a year later, was murdered in New York by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980.

Michael's spokeswoman said the singer had not yet decided what he would do with the piano following speculation that he would donate it to the Beatles Story museum in Lennon's Liverpool birthplace in northern England.

Also on offer at the auction was Lennon's old Ferrari 330GT, which fetched £110,000.

But the piano was the main attraction. Film footage from 1971 shows a relaxed Lennon at its keys composing Imagine before he turns to his keyboard player to remark: "That's the one I like best."

But she added: "George is very excited about buying the piano, and was concerned about it being sold outside Britain. We just don't know what he plans to do with it."

Bidding for the piano was conducted live from Hard Rock Cafe branches in both London and New York, as well as via the telephone and Internet.

It had been owned by a private collector and had been on show for most of the year at the Beatles Story Museum in their home town of Liverpool.

Shelagh Johnston, curator of the museum, called it "a vital cornerstone of Beatles memorabilia, a piece of music heritage."

She added: "The piano has commanded such reverence here. People have come from all over the world and it has brought them to silence. The music 'Imagine' plays and the people just stand there and look. That's a very touching sight."

The piano was bought by a private British collector in 1992 and went on loan to the Beatles Story Museum in February.

Keith Davies, Liverpool City Council's head of heritage, arts and tourism, said he was hopeful that the piano would return to Lennon's home city.

He was in contact with George Michael's representative at the sale within minutes of the winning bid being accepted.

Davies said: "We are really hopeful that this important part of the city's cultural heritage will be on display again soon."

Battle to keep Lennon piano in Liverpool
October 14, 2000

Fleetwood Owen auctioneer
John Lennon library
Rolling Stone: John Lennon
George Michael
Beatles tribute page

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