(Entered October 15, 2000)

Thanks to Richard Joly, Ono-Web


Reuters News Agency reported that Shelagh Johnston, curator and manager of the Beatles Story, a museum in Liverpool, has launched an appeal to keep John Lennon's piano at the museum.

The piano, on which John composed "Imagine," has been on display since February and Ms. Johnston is worried that the buyer of the piano at auction on Tuesday will take it from Liverpool.

Ms. Johnston said, ``We've already lost unique treasures such as the original Cavern Club and the overhead railway, now we want to keep as much of our history here as possible before it's too late. The Beatles Story would love to be able to bid for the piano, but we are a privately run museum and it is completely out of our league.''

The auctioneers -- Fleetwood Owen -- hope the piano will fetch at least $2.2 million at a sale of pop memorabilia at the Hard Rock Cafe in London.

Johnston, who has been seeking a benefactor, will be at the auction and hopes to persuade the buyer to house Lennon's piano in the Beatles museum, which would bear the insurance costs.

Bidding is likely to be heavy and high. The auctioneers acknowledge that the piano may leave Britain forever. Steinway has authenticated the upright walnut piano as the one Lennon bought in 1970 for around 1,000 pounds.