DCC Archive George Harrison 1943 - 2001 R.I.P

Ex-Beatle George Harrison Dies at 58

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Story Filed: Friday, November 30, 2001 3:24 AM EST


LOS ANGELES (AP) -- George Harrison, the Beatles' quiet lead guitarist and spiritual explorer who added both rock 'n' roll flash and a touch of the mystic to the band's timeless magic, has died, a longtime family friend told The Associated Press. He was 58.

Harrison died at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a friend's Los Angeles home following a battle with cancer, longtime friend Gavin De Becker told The Associated Press late Thursday.

``He died with one thought in mind -- love one another,'' De Becker said. De Becker said Harrison's wife, Olivia Harrison, and son Dhani, 24, were with him when he died.

With Harrison's death, there remain two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. John Lennon was shot to death by a deranged fan in 1980.

In 1998, when Harrison disclosed that he had been treated for throat cancer, Harrison said: ``It reminds you that anything can happen.'' The following year, he survived an attack by an intruder who stabbed him several times. In July 2001, he released a statement asking fans not to worry about reports that he was still battling cancer.

The Beatles were four distinct personalities joined as a singular force in the rebellious 1960s, influencing everything from hair styles to music. Whether dropping acid, proclaiming ``All You Need is Love'' or sending up the squares in the film ``A Hard Day's Night,'' the Beatles inspired millions.

Harrison's guitar work, modeled on Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins among others, was essential.

He often blended with the band's joyous sound, but also rocked out wildly on ``Long Tall Sally'' and turned slow and dreamy on ``Something.'' His jangly 12-string Rickenbacker, featured in ``A Hard Day's Night,'' was a major influence on the American band the Byrds.

Although his songwriting was overshadowed by the great Lennon-McCartney team, Harrison did contribute such classics as ``Here Comes the Sun'' and ``Something,'' which Frank Sinatra covered. Harrison also taught the young Lennon how to play the guitar.

He was known as the ``quiet'' Beatle and his public image was summed up in the first song he wrote for them, ``Don't Bother Me,'' which appeared on the group's second album.

But Harrison also had a wry sense of humor that helped shape the Beatles' irreverent charm, memorably fitting in alongside Lennon's cutting wit and Starr's cartoonish appeal.

At their first recording session under George Martin, the producer reportedly asked the young musicians to tell him if they didn't like anything. Harrison's response: ``Well, first of all, I don't like your tie.'' Asked by a reporter what he called the Beatles' famous moptop hairstyle, he quipped, ``Arthur.''

He was even funny about his own mortality. As reports of his failing health proliferated, Harrison recorded a new song -- ``Horse to the Water'' -- and credited it to ``RIP Ltd. 2001.''

He always preferred being a musician to being a star, and he soon soured on Beatlemania -- the screaming girls, the hair-tearing mobs, the wild chases from limos to gigs and back to limos. Like Lennon, his memories of the Beatles were often tempered by what he felt was lost in all the madness.

``There was never anything, in any of the Beatle experiences really, that good: even the best thrill soon got tiring,'' Harrison wrote in his 1979 book, ``I, Me, Mine.'' ``There was never any doubt. The Beatles were doomed. Your own space, man, it's so important. That's why we were doomed, because we didn't have any. We were like monkeys in a zoo.''

Still, in a 1992 interview with The Daily Telegraph, Harrison confided: ``We had the time of our lives: We laughed for years.''

After the Beatles broke up in 1970, Harrison had sporadic success. He organized the concert for Bangladesh in New York City, produced films that included Monty Python's ``Life of Brian,'' and teamed with old friends, including Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison, as ``The Traveling Wilburys.''

George Harrison was born Feb. 25, 1943, in Liverpool, one of four children of Harold and Louise Harrison. His father, a former ship's steward, became a bus conductor soon after his marriage.

Harrison was 13 when he bought his first guitar and befriended Paul McCartney at their school. McCartney introduced him to Lennon, who had founded a band called the Quarry Men -- Harrison was allowed to play if one of the regulars didn't show up.

``When I joined, he didn't really know how to play the guitar; he had a little guitar with three strings on it that looked like a banjo,'' Harrison recalled of Lennon during testimony in a 1998 court case against the owner of a bootleg Beatles' recording.

``I put the six strings on and showed him all the chords -- it was actually me who got him playing the guitar. He didn't object to that, being taught by someone who was the baby of the group. John and I had a very good relationship from very early on.''

Harrison evolved as both musician and songwriter. He became interested in the sitar while making the 1965 film ``Help!'' and introduced it to a generation of Western listeners on ``Norwegian Wood,'' a song by Lennon from the ``Rubber Soul'' album. He also began contributing more of his own material.

Among his compositions were ``I Need You'' for the soundtrack of ``Help''; ``If I Needed Someone'' on ``Rubber Soul''; ``Taxman'' and ``Love You To'' on ``Revolver''; ``Within You, Without You'' on ``Sgt. Pepper''; and ``While My Guitar Gently Weeps'' on the White Album.

In 1966, he married model Patti Boyd, who had a bit part in ``A Hard Day's Night.'' (They divorced in 1977, and she married Harrison's friend, the guitarist Eric Clapton, who wrote the anguished song ``Layla'' about her. Harrison attended the wedding.)

More than any of the Beatles, Harrison craved a little quiet. He found it in India. Late in 1966, after the Beatles had ceased touring, George and Patti went to India, where Harrison studied the sitar with Ravi Shankar. He maintained a lifelong affiliation with that part of the world.

In 1967, Harrison introduced the other Beatles to the teaching of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and all four took up transcendental meditation. Harrison was the only one who remained a follower -- the others dropped out, with Lennon mocking the Maharishi in the song ``Sexy Sadie.''

By the late '60s, Harrison was clearly worn out from being a Beatle and openly bickered with McCartney, arguing with him on camera during the filming of ``Let It Be.''

As the Beatles grew apart, Harrison collaborated with Clapton on the song ``Badge,'' performed with Lennon's Plastic Ono Band and produced his most acclaimed solo work, the triple album ``All Things Must Pass.'' The sheer volume of material on that 1970 release confirmed the feelings of Harrison fans that he was being stifled in the Beatles.

But one of those songs, the hit ``My Sweet Lord,'' later drew Harrison into a lawsuit: The copyright owner of ``He's So Fine,'' written by Lonnie Mack and recorded by The Chiffons, won a claim that Harrison had stolen the music.

Another Harrison project also led to legal problems. Moved by the starvation caused by the war between Bangladesh and Pakistan, Harrison in 1971 staged two benefit concerts at Madison Square Garden and recruited such performers as Starr, Shankar, Clapton and Dylan.

Anticipating such later superstar benefits as Live Aid and Farm Aid, the Bangladesh concerts were also a cautionary tale about counterculture bookkeeping. Although millions were raised and the three-record concert release won a Grammy for album of the year, allegations emerged over mishandling of funds and the money long stayed in escrow.

Despite the occasional hit single, including the Lennon tribute song ``All Those Years Ago,'' Harrison's solo career did not live up to initial expectations. Reviewing a greatest hits compilation, Village Voice critic Robert Christgau likened him to a ``borderline hitter they can pitch around after the sluggers (Lennon and McCartney) are traded away.''

Harrison's family life was steadier. He married Olivia Arias in 1978, a month after Dhani was born.

The next year, Harrison founded Handmade Films to produce Monty Python's ``Life of Brian.'' He sold the company for $8.5 million in 1994.

Fame continued to haunt him. In 1999, he was stabbed several times by a man who broke into his home west of London. The man, who thought the Beatles were witches and believed himself on a divine mission to kill Harrison, was acquitted by reason of insanity.

But fame also continued to enrich Harrison. The following year, he saw a compilation of Beatles No. 1 singles, ``1,'' sell millions of copies and re-establish the band's status around the world.

``The thing that pleases me the most about it is that young people like it,'' he said in an interview with The Associated Press. ``It's given kids from 6 to 16 an alternate view of music to what's been available for the past 20 years.

``I think the popular music has gone truly weird,'' he said. ``It's either cutesy-wutesy or it's hard, nasty stuff. It's good that this has life again with the youth.''

Eds: Robert Barr in London and Hillel Italie in New York also contributed to this report.

On the Net:
http://www.beatles.com

Copyright © 2001 Associated Press Information Services, all rights reserved

 

Thanks for posting Cousin it.
Another sad day in rock history. He was a great musician and will be sadly missed. (sigh)

[ November 30, 2001: Message edited by: Dave ]

 

Well, it's not unexpected but wow ... still, it's jolting.

Yes, thank you for posting this ... if I had to read this this morning, I'm glad I found it here.

 

So sad...
I was listening to "All Things Must Pass" just two hours before he died...

According to Monty Python's Michael Palin, George Harrison was in fact not the "quiet Beatle": "George never stopped talking when we were together..."

Now, George joined the band for the great gig in the sky.

 

Very sad day.

Cigarettes aren't worth it...

 

Sad day for me as well. It took me quite a long time to recover when John was tragically killed.

George I know was sick for a long time.

Here's a nice link to my fellow audiophiles here...
http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/news/709georgenewcancer.html

 

Makes me want to stop wasting time. Too little of it.

 

Sad news indeed. Many years ago I bought an old Gretsch guitar and it turned out to be the "Chet Atkins Tennessean" model like George used in the mid 60's. I'll probably get it down later and see if I can learn a few chords from While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

 

I wonder what this means for the upgrade of the George Harrison catalog? Apparently, the deluxe All Things Must Pass reissue was going to be the first in a series of reissues of George Harrison albums, each with bonus tracks. And expanded reissue of the Concert for Bangladesh was to have been next. There had also been talk of a possible box set, as well as a new album. I guess the new album never really got past the demo stage (except for one track recorded with Jools Holland).

 

David; the Bangla Desh remaster was actually on the schedule for release for Nov and was pulled by Capitol in Oct. So that one is ready. I have heard conflicting reports about his new material, but I understand that he has a number of songs already recorded. As far as the other remasters, I also know Living in the Material World was complete and ready to go (and was for a short time on Capitol's release schedule for Nov, but pulled even before Bangla Desh was). As far as the others, I don't know how far they got in preparing the reissues. How did you feel about the remastered All Things Must Pass?

 

"I wonder what this means for the upgrade of the George Harrison catalog? Apparently, the deluxe All Things Must Pass reissue was going to be the first in a series of reissues of George Harrison albums, each with bonus tracks. And expanded reissue of the Concert for Bangladesh was to have been next. There had also been talk of a possible box set, as well as a new album. I guess the new album never really got past the demo stage (except for one track recorded with Jools Holland)."
I know we all are a little fanatical about this stuff here and everyone reacts to events such as those of yesterday differently, but your concern about the potential effect of the man's death on the reissues of his albums is somewhat astounding. Nice sense of proportion!

 

Hello Bill. I don't think anyone meant any offense by asking about possible future reissue plans. Most people only "know" George through the music he shared with us. Regardless, my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and all grieving fans out there.

 

I just can believe it's only half the band now. After all that's happened to him in the last year, being attacked followed by the reoccurences of tumors, it's sad to have it end this way.

I remember when Paul was interviewed by Matt Lauer after Linda died, and Lauer mentioned during a previous interview that took place shortly before Linda passed, he had asked Paul about her health. Paul said she was doing fine, and Lauer asked if he was telling the truth or putting on a straight face. Paul just bluntly said he was putting on a straight face.

I recalled that a few weeks ago when Paul was asked about George's health and he said he was doing just fine.

Knowing George's spirituality, though, I'm certain he died without much fear or anxiety. Even though the media pegged him as being a recluse and "the quiet one," I'll always remember his deadpan humor, that beautiful slide guitar (I wish he recorded more), and "All Things Must Pass"...he may not have basked much in the spotlight, but "Apple Scruffs" is proof that he still loved his fans and actually did take notice.

Good-bye, George...

[ November 30, 2001: Message edited by: Camarillo ]

 

George Harrison was a man who was very much at peace with himself. He wanted privacy and solace in his life, and the respect he's gotten as a Beatle is equaled or has been exceeded by the work he has done as a producer, concept film maker and recording artist. We would not know Beatles if it wasn’t for George and his mum. We would not have known George as a strong willed, creative and secure artist if it wasn’t for Beatles, and for that I am personally grateful. It’s very true; in the early years, George may have been humble, but with a closer look, George was not the quietest Beatle. John and George were always very outspoken.

We will always miss him, remember and enjoy what he has left us. Deepest respects to his fans, family, his son and wife. May he find the deeper meaning that he was known to be searching for, and that this may bring more fans together in peace this year.

 

Around the time of the Yellow Submarine re-release there was a nice article of George in Billboard. I wonder if I still have it at home somewhere. But from the descriptions of his new material, it sounded like like it was all done but he wasn't sure how he'd release it. I don't think there was anymore info after that.

Indeed, this is a sad day.

 

I don't think there's anything wrong with bringing up the topic of reissues right now. If anyone who actually knew George personally reads this board then I could see it being in poor taste, but that is not the case. All of us here only "knew" George only through his music, and it is natural at this time to be thinking about his music and wanting to listen to it. And, at least as far as in-print CDs go, there is very little George Harrison music available. So I think it's natural that people would be wondering/hoping that will change.

My guess would be that George's sad and untimely passing will expedite the reissuing of his catalog. It's possible the reissues have been delayed because of uncertainty about his health.

 

<<How did you feel about the remastered All Things Must Pass?>>

I thought it sounded better than the orignal CD release, but still not as good as it should. I didn't like the cardboard packaging -- I'd much rather have had two jewel boxes in a cardboard sleeve. The bonus tracks were ok. I suppose that it an ideal work. we could have gotten something similar to the Layla 20th Anniversary box set. The album certainly deserved it. It's by far my favorite George Harrison album, and quite possibly by favorite Beatle solo album (though Band on the Run and Plastic Ono Band come close). I still wish Steve could do a gold disc version, but the reissue will certainly tide me over until then.

<<I know we all are a little fanatical about this stuff here and everyone reacts to events such as those of yesterday differently, but your concern about the potential effect of the man's death on the reissues of his albums is somewhat astounding. Nice sense of proportion! >>

Well, there was little I could add to what had already been said. Death from cancer is always tragic. I wasn't in any way attempting to triviliaze the grief his family and friends must be going through. But the fact is, George had spoken fairly recently about the plans he had for reissuing his back catalog and making some unreleased recordings, both old and new, available, and it's a shame he didn't live to see everything through to completion. It's hard to predict what impact his passing will have on his music legacy, although I imagine his son will probably be involved in the preparation of any future releases.

<<But from the descriptions of his new material, it sounded like like it was all done but he wasn't sure how he'd release it. I don't think there was anymore info after that.>>

I'm almost certain that George had a home studio, so even if he only made demos of the new songs, they're probably fairly polished.

 

Putting reissue news aside for now.

". . .and a time will come when you see we're all one and life flows on within you and without you. . ."

 

One of the reasons I wanted to play the guitar in the first place. The world seems a little colder without him.

 

In my opinion, the remastered ATMP is really awful sounding... compressed, tinny, harsh. I listened to it once and put it away. Jon Astley used a boatload of noise reduction on it as usual. I haven't heard the original ATMP cd, but it's really mind-boggling to imagine it sounds worse than the remaster. It must truly be horrifying. Does anyone know if Mr. Astley also did the in-the-can-but-unreleased remasters of Bangla Desh and Material World mentioned above? It's too bad the musical legacy of George Harrison isn't represented on CD in the quality it deserves...

 

Goodbye George. The world will miss you. Just knowing you three were still with us was a comfort after John was killed. Now only two. You died too young. You will live forever in your music and videos. You entertained not only my generation but my children's as well. My 4 year-old watches your videos and then picks up his toy guitar, shakes his head and sings "yeah, yeah, yeah." Thank you George for the music and joy that you, John, Paul and Ringo gave to the world. "It's alright! Here comes the sun."

 

One of the gifts George gave me (us) was an open mindedness toward Hinduism, Paramahansa Yogananda, and the Bagavad Gita. My mother died of cancer and in the last few years of her life she was into all that, completely independently (she didn't listen to music much). George studying all that sort of made it "OK" for me to explore it as well, rather than dismissing it as another one of Mother's cookoo fads. I'm going to be reading some more of the Gita tonight.

Another thing we don't hear much about is George's contribution to the motion picture industry, which was significant. Handmade films made some brilliant, important movies including Life of Brian, Track 29, and many others. Keith Richards once said he felt this was George's most important contribution, even over music. I wouldn't put it above his music, but it certainly was welcome.

 

I'm going home tonight with lights out for two hours and listen to 'Songs for Patti" and 'Beware of Abkco"--great George demos and outakes.

George Harrison was the first rock concert I ever attended. Thanksgiving Night 1974--The Omni-Atlanta, Ga. A friend that was with me that night and got a set of Jurgen Vollmer Beatle photos to George thru his road manager,Dennis, and George sent back one at the end of the show with a nice thank you and autograph, a real cool piece.

Gonna mis you George.

 

I plan to go home tonight to listen to "Thirty Three and a Third." Personally I think it's at least as good as "All Things Must Pass" even if it's lesser known. "Learning How to Love You" could be the most beautiful song he ever wrote ...

If you like George's music but are unfamiliar with the album I really urge you to check it out. OOP on CD but there should be some LPs floating around ...