It was a sad day, November 29, 2001, when we learned of the passing of George Harrison. We were all still trying to get used to a new world order after 9/11, 2 1/2 months earlier. George lost his battle with cancer, so on this day, we want all of you to know we lost a Beatle because of cigarettes. For those few who still do smoke, take this day and give them up in George’s memory. Most of the public gives the praise to John Lennon (and deservedly so) for giving us music and message of peace, love, truth, and reality. Let us never forget that George’s 2nd Number One song Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) had an equally strong message. While John’s journey was outward in the public eye, George chose the inward method, improving the world through inner strength and awareness. Both ways worked. and we are forever grateful for their journeys. We must take this day to celebrate George’s amazing life and help make the world a better place for all. We welcome any thoughts or ideas on this subject. In the meantime, put some George music on your Record Player, CD Player, iPod, iPhone, iTunes or however you listen to music and just marvel at the body of work he left us. There aren’t many musicians/songwriters who created such an amazing musical legacy. I can think of two others at this moment. I am going to listen to the Living In The Material World CD now. Peace and Love.
The Original & Longest Running Beatles Celebration, Since 1974!
Well written Mark. I can’t believe it has been 11 years. I brought a selection of George’s work into my office today
1. All Things Must Pass
2. Living In the Material World
3. George Harrison
4. 33 1/3
5. Cloud Nine
6. Traveling Wilbury’s Vol 1 & 3
Peace be with you all.
Matt
(Somewhere in Ohio)
Om tat sat…on mani padme hum. Love to you George, to the universe.
My favorite Beatle at age 10, my favorite Beatle at age 60. RIP George.
I LOVE GEORGE! He died the same year as my Dad(8/8/24-6/4/2001) I just recently have tried quitting smoking(25 years). I was successful for 8 full days and relapsed over Thanksgiving. 🙁 I have gotten back on the wagon…fallen off the horse….said to myself….only a “couple”. Perhaps George can be of some inspiration to me. Lord knows he has inspired me in soooo other ways. For example, Here Comes the Sun was basically my Mantra during my Mother’s stroke recovery in January of 2001. Time to go downstairs & pick out some Harrison out of what is NOW my son’s collection. Smoking is SOOO bad….and I know it!!!! Time to nip it in the butt! 🙂
I have loved the Beatles since 1963 when they first came to America. Have been a fan of John and hi Music, Paul and his music, and especially and his music. personally I don’t think there has been or will be another group of people that has changed the direction of music, George I still miss you an your inner strength.
When I think of George Harrison, I think of his original smile. And the song that was a prayer to God:”Give me love” you see I’ve been thinking and playing his music a lot lately I guess I think about around this time of year.
George Died on this day in 2001, this day is my birthday also. It was, in 2001 the only sad birthday I think I’ve ever had. But George blessed us all with gentle and soft spoken side, and his wicked Monty Python sense of humor. His songs will stand the test of time over and over again. He was a true Hari man. The last act of his life, was what to do with his body….. He chose to be cremated in a cardboard coffin without any ceremony with his ashes scattered on the RIVER YAMUNA in INDIA. This speaks volumes to me about the man. He was the Lead Guitarist for The Beatles! Not a bad resume’ ! ANNd yet he chose something so simple and peacful, that wouldn’t be to big of a scene for anyone. God Bless, and maybe one day we’ll meet up and I can sit next to you, and listen to you play your songs. Hari Hari Hari Lama Hari Krishna George, RIP.
Unfortunately, George toured the US just once. Way back in 1974. Hari’s voice was very frail and weak and the media just blasted him. Still we all enjoyed the performance. The day he played DC ( really Largo Maryland) Ravi was ill and didn’t make the show. George tried and tried to sing and ended up relying on Billy to help him out. He also met with President Ford that day and mentioned it during the show right before he did a beautiful version of “In My Life” The President’s son sat right in front of us.
Miss you guy.
When I think of George today, I can’t help but think he was possibly the most misunderstood of all the Beatles. George lived with a stigma and an aura that simply was exaggerated and often totally untrue. George lived with the reputation of being “The quiet Beatle”, and deep down, I think George hated that tag. As a result, I think he often rebelled against it through his music and interests. And thank God he did!!! The wealth of melody and inspiration he left us is truely something to behold. As the Beatles lead guitarist, we often forget that it is the lead guitarist’s melody lines and riffs that often linger in the mind, and although John & Paul wrote each song, it was George who fashioned and molded those great guitar solos and riffs. And once George gained confidence at writing his own material, there was no stopping him. In the end, he was writing far better than John & Paul possibly ever did!!! George’s determination to excel and crawl out of his Beatle shell, often put him at odds with his Beatle friends. People often ask who was responsible for the Beatles breakup. Well, I don’t think you can pin it down to any one factor; they were all going in different directions, but because George felt stiffled by his role in the Beatles, I think George wanted out more than any of them. Paul has always been the one blamed more than anyone for leaving the Beatles, but I feel George left long before Paul did. This may shock some people, but I feel that George broke up the Beatles more than any one of them did, because George felt he couldn’t do his best work anymore in the Beatles atmosphere. But as George once said, it all had to self-destruct. Perhaps George was right. Perhaps there were too many distractions and outside interests for the Beatles to continue to put out the same volume of quality work that they had done previously, and I think George understood this more than any of the others. George was always breaking new bounds, and discovering new frontiers. Let us not forget that it was George who brought the Indian music into the Beatles’ arsenal of sound. George loved his sitar and everything he brought from India, and we loved it too!!! For the man who appearantly said so little, have a listen to these words, and make up your own mind about “The quiet Beatle”…
Give me love
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
OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM My Lord…..
Please take hold of my hand, that
I might understand you
Won’t you please
Oh won’t you…….
George, even though you may have not believed it to be true, you did a wonderful job with the Beatles, and your legacy lives on today. We all still love you and miss you each passing day!!! May the good Lord bless you and keep you always. I’m sure you now have the peace you were searching for all your life!!! Hare Krishna!!!
George Harrison was a major inspiration to me.
My Husband and I miss George a lot, his music has helped us thru many tough times, just like all the Beatles. The message of peace, love and faith can never be said enough.
Early Takes Vol. 1 ain’t too shabby either. Good review and commentary at
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/158524-george-harrison-early-takes-vol.-1/
I was surprised that there was no information regarding the other musicians on the disc but according to the reviewer it is Ringo and Klaus Voorman which makes sense, historically and sonically. One cool aspect is that “At no point do these songs sound like demos that were recorded over 40 years ago, due in no small part to the strength of Harrison’s performances. We’ve rarely heard Harrison sing better than he does here. Tracks like “Run of the Mill” and “Behind That Locked Door” are one-take run-throughs, yet they’re flawlessly executed”
George was a player in every sense ……….. Long live music, peace ………
When George passed, I was the water boy/manager for the football team at Cimarron-Memorial Gary Maki was the head coach, he was a fan of George and the Beatles he gave me a football t-shirt which said “All things must pass!” on the back and after George’s passing, at the football banquet I was recipient of the “Most helpful througout the season”
award I gave a big acceptance speech thanking the football players for their dedication and hard work without which, none of this would be possible and telling the football players and their families to join my family in a moment of silence and bow their heads and pray
in memory of George Harrison, who passed away in Los Angeles with lung cancer.
learned of the passing of George as we celebrated my wives 40th birthday.wish it was better news.