GEORGE HARRISON DIES IN LOS ANGELES

ITN ^ | November 30, 2001 | ITN

[leadpenny]

No doubt, the period in which the Beatles came of age was influenced greatly by the war years of 1939-1945 and the anxious adolescence of the post-war period -- for them and for many of us who are contemporaries of the Beatles.

Interesting thoughts, however, I didn't feel as though the 50's were an anxious time to grow up. I may have been sheltered by my rural Michigan roots or it could just have been a case of 'Ignorance is Bliss,' but WWII was something distant that had happened in black and white. There were the uncles that had fought in both theaters and the school teachers who had been there, but no one impressed the horror of it all on me. It was only after serving in Nam and then seeing this country slip into the character/moral decay of the 90's under Clinton, that I would feel restless and anxious about our future. If George Bush stays the course, I think the nightmare of the 90's, along with the Clinton legacy, will be washed away like leaves down a storm drain. I can only hope.

Oh, and thanks for the info on the pennies. I think the official name was the 1943 Wartime Steel Cents. But that would have been a heck of a screen name.

[Slyfox]

I'll BET that BJ Clinton is at the funeral!!! Any takers??

Yeah, and I'll raise you three boxes of Kleenax.

[gdani]

You mean George Harrison was in a band before the Traveling Wilburys?

[NYCVirago]

My favourite Harrison solo song....What is Life.

Did you ever see GoodFellas? That song is used to great effect in that movie.

[NYCVirago]

Good points, but 50sDad couldn't even get his facts straight. It was John Lennon who said the "Beatles are bigger than Christ" and John Lennon who wrote "Imagine."

[MistyCA]

I will look for it at the Wherehouse! Any self-respecting cd collection has to have Bangladesh! :)

[xp38]

No but next time I'm in the mood for a ganster flick I'll check it out. Thanks

[MistyCA]

Thanks! Appreciate the tip. :)

[NYCVirago]

(although he wrecked it by sensationalizing about a made-up homosexual encounter between two dead people, Lennon and Epstein)

It was well-known amongst the "Beatle community" that Brian Epstein was gay and had a crush on John Lennon right from the beginning, and Lennon himself admitted to having an encounter with him in Spain.

[NYCVirago]

Patti Boyd should write a book -- she had George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Ron Wood in love with her. She must have been something!

[MistyCA]

Well, I have to tell you my latest Yamaha keyboard beats the heck out of my others! I have several friends who are professional musicians and many of them practice and do tons of enhancements via electronics. Give it a shot. In fact, I have enhancements on my keyboard for voice that will put an entire choir behind me if I want it! amazing!

[MistyCA]

I remember when my friend from England first played the Beatles for me (way the heck back then!), I had to listen several times before I "got it"! When we first tried to take the songs to the radio station she was much more enthusiastic then I was, and I wasn't too surprised when the station turned the opportunity down. I was quite amazed when they later became so popular! But those guys grew! And what was neat about the Beatles is that they have offered such a wonderful collection of songs over the years. Quite unlike Mick Jagger who does the best "Satisfaction" in the world, but not much else!

[baseballmom]

All these memories...what a happy time it was. My older brother and I and our younger sister saw the Beatles at D.C. (now RFK) Stadium in Washington,on Aug.15,1966. I'll never forget it as long as I live. 2nd Row !!! We staked out our ground at the Shoreham Hotel early in the morning hoping to get a close up glimpse. We did get to see them close up - I hugged John and Paul before they could get into their limo - and ran with their car as long as I could keep up. It was a glorious day for a Beatlemaniac. The concert ($6.00) was about 35 minutes and we made sure to try to stay quiet while they were playing, and scream our lungs out in between songs. The Beatles were my life when I was 13. "Something" was the first dance at my wedding. I still love the music. Beatles4Ever. Rest in Peace, George.

[jennyp]

Quite unlike Mick Jagger who does the best "Satisfaction" in the world, but not much else!

Actually Devo does, but I get your point. :-)

[Rocko]

"After a few brews we finally summoned to gonads to talk to them, and they were as friendly as can be."

What did you say or talk about; just small talk, or what?

[Revolting cat!]

The Beatles of 1962, early '63 in England on the radio didn't sound particularly different from the rest of the scene. When I first heard "Love Me Do", their first single, I thought it was the Allisons duo, popular Everly Brothers imitators at the time. I didn't like it, it sounded too English folk, like the Springfields, also popular then (with Dusty, her brother and another guy.) Same with their second single "Please, Please Me", which sounded better, I thought then, but also like the Allisons and also English folkie.

At the same time, Radio Luxembourg, which broadcast in English in the evenings, (and is long gone) had a show called Sunday Night at the Cavern, broadcasting live concerts from that Liverpool nightclub, including appearances by, yes, the Beatles and other groups from there. They all, as I said, sounded great. Then came the Beatles third British single "From Me to You" (the fourth one was "She Loves You", but by then there was at least one four song 45RPM EP out as well,) and that completely blew things open for me. It was freaking incredibly sounding!

They arrived in the States in January 1964, pretty much as a pre-packaged product, all of the singles were released at the same time, the history, the background and the evolution of the vibrant English scene were lacking of course. A different perspective and a different perception.

These days I prefer their early stuff (luv those first two singles) and can hardly believe the energy and feverish excitement pulsating from those records. If I had a time machine and an opportunity to re-live my own life, 1962-3 England would be where I'd choose to go!

Love and rest in peace, George.

[gracie1]

My guitar gently weeps.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Dear George, Your music is woven into the fabric of every American's life age 40-60, and beyond. A little piece of my life died with you today. Thank you for sharing your music, and for putting into words those thoughts that are too deep for us to comprehend at times...George, we played "Here Comes the Sun" at Evan's funeral, which comforted us then, and still does now. I share your birthday...and wear your pin today, and am so sad that you had to suffer so. You have waited so long, and now you see your Sweet Lord...for that we are grateful. Live on and Soar, George Harrison.