UNITED KINGDOM: George Michael's 'Imagine' piano is packed up for first ever trip outside of UK

Record ID: 190984

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: George Michael's 'Imagine' piano is packed up for first ever trip outside of UK
  • Date: 15th November 2006
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 10, 2006) (REUTERS) VARIOUS SHOTS OF 'IMAGINE' UPRIGHT STEINWAY PIANO USED BY JOHN LENNON AND NOW OWNED BY GEORGE MICHAEL
  • Embargoed: 30th November 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAD347KTE1BQ93Z6GLYF3ZF55F2
  • Story Text: It's quite something to move any piano around, but a 2 million dollar piano that used to belong to no other than John Lennon is no small feat. Well, British pop star George Michael who bought the piano at auction in 2000, on Friday (November 10) lent it to an anti-war exhibition in the United States organised by his partner Kenny Goss. Michael bought the piano, which is a simple upright model and not the white version that appeared on the original record cover, at an auction in October, 2000, for over 2 million U.S. dollars. It has never before left the UK.
    Long-term partner Kenny Goss, who opened the Goss Gallery in Dallas last year, said it was the perfect location to launch the exhibition.
    He was there to oversee the packaging of the piano, on which Lennon composed his famous 1971 peace anthem "Imagine".
    Speaking exclusively to Reuters Television, he said: "I'm excited because it's going to my home, Dallas, Texas. So that's quite interesting and also I'm really excited because it's going to George Bush's home."
    He said the exhibition, which opens at the gallery on Dec. 5 and closes on Jan. 13, 2007, would focus on three trouble spots -- Vietnam, Beirut and Afghanistan -- and feature the work of renowned war photographer Don McCullin.
    Goss added that his interest in art only really began after he met Michael more than 10 years ago.
    "I grew up in a really Texan family, we didn't have any art. I began to love art when I met George about 11 years ago and the rest is history. We have a great collection now I just love it." He added jokingly: "He (George W. Bush) lived in Dallas for a while, as a matter of fact, I think, you see George and I own a house in Dallas, I think he's moving very close to us when he's out of office, so it could be quite cool , yeah, and maybe George can put the...I don't know if you've seen the show, but he's got a big balloon of George Bush - we may put it in our back garden...no I'm only joking."
    George MIchael, who is currently touring Europe uses the balloon on stage during his performance of 'Shoot the Dog".
    When asked how his tour is going and whether he enjoys it, Goss laughed:
    "He is loving it and we didn't know for sure, I was originally gonna be like, this is either going to be the best time of his life or the biggest disaster of my life because he would be so miserable and he's loving it. The fans have been incredible, it's been really easy and it's been a hugely pleasurable, enjoyable experience for him. I actually think he might do it again, he likes it so much."
    Michael has been a regular fixture in Britain's celebrity-obsessed tabloid newspapers in recent years, and Goss has been dragged into the media glare.
    Michael announced he was gay in 1998 after being arrested for engaging in a "lewd act" in a public toilet in Los Angeles, and has had subsequent run-ins with the law in Britain on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs.
    He has indicated his intention to legally register his relationship with Goss this year.
    Michael launches his new album "Twenty-Five" on Nov. 13.
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