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George Harrison

Historical Figure

George Harrison

1943–2001

English musician (1943–2001)

Interwar & WWII

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Original Speech

"San Remo TV Interview" — February 26, 1988

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Biography

George Harrison was an English musician who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Known as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison played a significant role in shaping the band's musical direction and established a successful solo career, particularly through his interest in non-Western musical influences.

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Timeline

The story of George Harrison, told in moments.

1943 Birth

Born at 12 Arnold Grove in Wavertree, Liverpool. The youngest of four children. His father drives a bus. George picks up guitar at 14 after hearing Elvis on the radio. His earliest influences: George Formby, Django Reinhardt, Carl Perkins.

1965 Life

Discovers the sitar on the set of Help! Begins studying Indian classical music under Ravi Shankar. Introduces the Beatles to Indian instruments and Transcendental Meditation. "Norwegian Wood" features his sitar playing. The quiet Beatle is reshaping the band's direction more than anyone realizes.

1970 Event

Releases All Things Must Pass, a triple album. He'd stockpiled songs for years because Lennon and McCartney dominated the Beatles' albums. "My Sweet Lord" hits number one. The album outsells anything Lennon or McCartney release that year. Phil Spector produces it with his Wall of Sound. George is 27.

1971 Event

Organizes the Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden with Ravi Shankar. Two shows, 40,000 people. Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, and Leon Russell join him on stage. It raises $243,000 for UNICEF relief. It's the first major benefit concert in rock history. Live Aid is 14 years away.

1978 Event

Co-founds HandMade Films to finance Monty Python's Life of Brian after EMI pulls out. He mortgages his house to cover the 4-million-dollar budget. The film earns $20 million. "I've always wanted to be in a Monty Python film," he explains. "The only way I could was to produce one."

2001 Death

Dies of lung cancer at 58 in Los Angeles. A lifelong smoker. In 1999, a schizophrenic intruder broke into his home and stabbed him over 40 times. His wife Olivia beat the attacker with a lamp and a fireplace poker. Harrison survived that. The cancer he didn't.

In Their Own Words (20)

Rap music is just computerised crap. I listen to Top of the Pops and after three songs I feel like killing someone.

Quoted in The Beatles — After the Break-up : In Their Own Words (1991) by David Bennahum, p. 54, 1991

It just annoyed me that people got so into the Beatles. "Beatles, Beatles, Beatles." It's not that I don't like talking about them. I've never stopped talking about them. It's "Beatles this, Beatles that, Beatles, Beatles, Beatles, Beatles." Then in the end, it's like "Oh, sod off with the Beatles," you know?

Interview with Selina Scott on West 57th Street (aired 12 December 1987), 1987

He was annoyed 'cause I didn't say that he'd written one line of this song "Taxman." But I also didn't say how I wrote two lines of "Come Together" or three lines of "Eleanor Rigby," you know? I wasn't getting into any of that. I think, in the balance, I would have had more things to be niggled with him about than he would have had with me!

When asked about John Lennon's feelings towards his autobiography, interview with Selina Scott on West 57th Street, aired 12 December 1987, 1987

I had no ambition when I was a kid other than to play guitar and get in a rock 'n' roll band. I don't really like to be the guy in the white suit at the front. Like in the Beatles, I was the one who kept quiet at the back and let the other egos be at the front.

Interview with Selina Scott on West 57th Street (aired 12 December 1987), 1987

'''Give me love, give me peace on earth, Give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, Give me hope, help me cope, with this heavy load, Trying to, touch and reach you with, heart and soul.

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (1973), 1973

Artifacts (15)

George Anne Bellamy

Harrison & Co.

1st July 1781
vam View

Mrs Bellamy in the Character of Cleone

Harrison & Co.

01/07/1781
vam View

Destruction of the Furious Elephant at Exeter Change

Cruikshank, George

6 March 1826
vam View

Toelichting bij de prent waarop Oliver Cromwell het parlement ontbindt

1785 - 1811 · paper
rijksmuseum View

HANDEL

Thomas Hudson

1794
vam View

Untitled

Harrison, George Henry

1816-46
vam View

Untitled

Harrison, George Henry

1816-46
vam View

THE BEATLES - Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George harrison

photo
europeana View

HELP - John Lennon; Paul McCartbey; Ringo Star; George Harrison

photo
europeana View

H Beard Print Collection

Dance, George

ca. late 18th century -early 19th century
vam View

Watch case

George Harrison|Gyles Hooper

probably ca. 1770 · Partly enameled gold, outer case set with diamonds
The Met View

Nix My Dolly Palls Fake Away

Ainsworth, William Harrison

ca. 19th century
vam View

[Collected reprints]

2

1902

[Collected reprints]

3

1902

I, Me, Mine

Offers a rare inside view of the Beatles and the cultural revolution of which they were a part, with a personal recollection of Harrison's evolution as a musician and composer.

2007

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