Lennon Piano On Show In New York

A piano played by JOHN LENNON just hours before he was murdered is to go on display in New York.

The instrument, on which the former Beatle wrote and recorded songs for several years, will be exhibited at the opening of a new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum in the Big Apple.

Lennon had been playing the piano at the Record Plant recording studio on the day he was shot dead outside his Manhattan home in 1980. He had become so attached to it that staff named the instrument The John Lennon Piano.

It was also used during the recording of Don McLean's American Pie.

Former Record Plant sound engineer Jack Douglas once wrote, "It was there on his (Lennon's) last day on earth, which he spent with me in the Mix Room working on Walking On Thin Ice. He was playing that piano shortly before he left."

Other historic memorabilia to be housed at the $12 million (GBP6 million) museum in the trendy SoHo district of the city will include Bruce Springsteen's first car, Elvis Presley's biker jacket, and the phone booth from legendary punk nightclub CBGB.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bosses announced this week (beg11Aug08) that a New York branch will be opened in November (08) to celebrate the city's musical heritage.