Lennon's 'last' piano for sale

2007-05-31 12:21

New York - A New York recording studio piano believed to have been played by John Lennon just hours before he was shot dead in 1980 is being sold for $375 000, the dealer handling the sale said on Wednesday.

The piano belonged to New York's Record Plant Studios and Lennon would use it to compose new material and record songs, according to the seller, Moments In Time, a memorabilia specialist located just north of New York City.

According to the seller, Lennon fell in love with the upright grand piano's nostalgic sound and had it moved to whichever studio he was using.

He last played it on December 8 1980 - the day he was gunned down in New York.

The piano comes with a document signed by former Record Plant sound engineer Jack Douglas, who says the piano was also played by Bob Dylan, Pete Townshend from "The Who" and Don McLean during sessions for the hit song American Pie.

Killer's autographed album

The current owner bought the piano at auction when Record Plant closed its New York studios more than 20 years ago, according to Moments In Time president Gary Zimet, who said one private client had so far expressed an interest.

The dealer is also selling the album that Lennon autographed for killer Mark David Chapman just hours before he gunned down the former Beatle.

The album was for sale for $600 000.

In 2000, singer George Michael paid £1.4m for the piano that Lennon used to write Imagine.

He recently donated it to victims of April's mass shooting at Virginia Tech university.

- AFP