GEORGE HARRISON

1943-2001

While My Column Gently Weeps

First our country, and now our music. When, oh, when will the madness of this year ever end?

Not that it makes it any easier to take, but at least we knew, unfortunately, that the death of Beatles guitarist George Harrison was coming. We had known for some time that his lung cancer had spread to his brain, and that he was recently undergoing radical treatment at Staten Island Hospital in New York. Then, there was a story about what was described as a tearful hospital reunion with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. So, we seemed to accept that the end was near. In that way, his death was a lot less shocking than the murder of fellow Beatle John Lennon in December 1980.

But, still, it hurts. It was doubly tough for me, because, unlike many members of my generation, when it came time to pick a favorite Beatle, I selected George. And, when I think back on it now, sometimes I’m not really sure why. John and Paul were arguably better songwriters, and Ringo always made us laugh, and was, and is, an incredibly underrated drummer.

So, why George? I think it was because his musicianship, and what comparatively little writing he did, was so pure. If John and Paul molded the Beatles’ songs, George was the rock of their musical soul, the backbone of their sound. Just remember those amazing guitar riffs from the Beatles’ early work, influenced so strongly by his idol, Carl Perkins. If you can’t hear them there, then go listen to just about every guitar solo from 1967 to 1973, in the real growth era of rock and roll, and you will hear George’s influence on all of them. Couple that with songs like “If I Needed Someone,” “Within You Without You,” “Something,” and “Here Comes The Sun,” and George really delivered the whole package.

Perhaps more importantly, as I got older, I found that George’s lifelong spiritual search was an important example for my life, as well. At the end of the day, the Beatles’ music was clearly all about peace and love. George, unlike many people, never seemed to take that as a hollow Sixties’ phrase, but made it an integral part of his life. His quest for fulfillment, and his apparent acceptance of death, remain a positive for all of us.

George, like all of the Beatles, touched us. Those four guys from Liverpool changed our world, and, I’d like to think, for the better. Their music and influence became the soundtrack for my generation, the baby boomers, and, thankfully, for those who followed.

On the morning we learned of his death, I had rolled out of bed early, like I normally do. It was very dark and foggy out, and, for some strange reason, I immediately remembered that I had not set out some compact discs to take to my office for background listening on my computer. So, I wandered into our den, where I keep my music. Ironically, as my hands felt around in the dark, I grabbed a handful of live Beatles concerts from the mid Sixties, that a friend had sent me.

When I returned to our bedroom, the television was on, and there was a picture of George. Immediately, I knew. Later that morning, my wife, Jan, wrote the following e-mail to some of our closest friends. As a writer, I can’t think of a better way to put George’s influence on us into words.

Here’s what she wrote:

Almost every morning I awake to a beautiful coral sun rise and I quietly sing to myself, “Here comes the sun, do do do do, here comes the sun and I say, it all right, do do do do, do do do, do do do do do do”.

So, when I saw the fog this morning, I put Good Morning America on. There was no sound at first just a photo of George Harrison and then they started to play “Here comes the sun, do do do do.......”. I knew I wouldn’t be singing this morning. My eyes filled with tears as they began

their story. The tears ran down my cheeks as I saw Mark filled with emotion. Another untimely death of someone the world looked up to; someone we regard as immortal because he was part of a group of talented musicians

who changed the world with their talent. His most famous hit “Something” was regarded by Frank Sinatra as one of the best romantic songs written. So, it is another sad day in the world for those that respected, appreciated, and loved this great talented person.

“Somethings” in life are so unfair.

Peace and love, George. And please tell John that we all say hello.