Sir Paul McCartney has led the tributes to George Michael following the singer’s sudden passing.
The pop star and former front man of Wham! died peacefuly at his Oxfordshire home on Christmas Day from heart faliure at the age of 53.
He last performed in Liverpool back in 2012 but his connection was cemented when he paid for John Lennon’s famous piano to be restored to the city.
It was the piano on which the late Beatles legend had composed his iconic song ‘Imagine’ and had been working on the day he was murdered in December 1980.
Michael paid £1.45 million to private collector in the year 2000 for the instrument to be permanently on display at The Beatles Story museum in the Albert Dock.
McCartney worked with Michael on a re-release of his single ‘Heal The Pain’ and said: “George Michael’s sweet soul music will live on even after his sudden death.”
Several other Liverpool performers added their condolences including Holly Johnson, the lead singer of fellow 1980s band Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
“Sad to hear the news about George Michael, and so many great singers and songwriters we lost this year”, he tweeted.