LONDON, Oct 31 (Reuters Life!) - Pop star George Michael will lend the piano on which John Lennon composed his famous 1971 peace anthem "Imagine" to an anti-war exhibition in the United States organized by his partner Kenny Goss.

The former Wham! frontman 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. It has not left the UK before.

Long-term partner Kenny Goss, who opened the Goss Gallery in Dallas last year, said it was the perfect location to launch the exhibition.

"We decided to do it in Dallas, because what better place is there to reiterate how important peace is?" Goss told Reuters.

"Dallas is (President) George Bush's home. It's a great place to remind people how important it is that we find peace."

He said the exhibition, which opens at the gallery on December 5 and closes on January 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 working class family, but meeting George 11 years ago gave me the luxury of visiting the best galleries in the world," he said.

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 is currently on a sellout tour, his first in 15 years, and launches his new album "Twenty-Five" on November 13.



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