The stage where John Lennon met Paul McCartney all those years ago is up for sale, and Beatles fans wanting a slice of the world’s most famous pop group can also buy the Bechstein Grand Piano used on The White Album and to record “Hey Jude.”
The church hall stage where pop history was made is expected to fetch up to $72,000 at a London auction on Nov. 27, auctioneers Fleetwood Owen said in a statement Thursday.
Lennon was playing with his group the Quarrymen at St. Peter’s Church Hall in Woolton, in northern England, on July 6, 1957, when he was first introduced to McCartney. Together they became two of the 20th century’s most influential composers.
Auctioneer Ted Owen said: “The stage is one of the most impeccable pieces to come up for auction because of the meeting between Lennon and McCartney. It is a piece of post-war history.”
The sale of the stage sparked protest from some Fab Four fans who felt it should remain as part of the heritage of Liverpool, birthplace of the Beatles.
But Canon John Roberts of St. Peter’s Church said it was time to move on. “You cannot do 21st century work in a Victorian building any more. The money raised will be spent on the hall.”
Fleetwood Owen expect the Bechstein Grand to fetch up to $501,000 because of its illustrious pop history.
The piano from Trident Studios in London has also been used in Elton John, David Bowie, Queen and Supertramp albums.
Last year, pop star George Michael paid $2.1 million for John Lennon’s legendary piano on which the former Beatle composed “Imagine.”
The other Beatle jewel on offer at next month’s auction is George Harrison’s first guitar which is expected to fetch up to $71,500.
Harrison described the guitar as “a real cheapo, a horrible little guitar. but it was OK at the time.”
Beatlemania shows no signs of flagging 30 years after the group broke up with their compilation album of Number One hits topping hit parades around the world.
And at the auction even Allen Klein, branded as the man who broke up the Beatles, is commemorated.
For about $715 you can secure the only known photograph of Klein signing his contract with Apple in 1969 surrounded by the band and Yoko Ono.