George Harrison, the mystical songwriting guitarist of The Beatles and acclaimed offbeat filmmaker, died fourteen years ago today, on November 29, 2001. Harrison's death, coming months after the Twin Tower bombings of September 11, was not met with the same worldwide outpouring of grief that followed the senseless assassination of John Lennon. Perhaps that was more fitting, as George was all about internal growth.
Harrison's songs had depth, mixing spiritual ideology with his inborn Liverpudlian cynicism. Songs like "My Sweet Lord" or "The Light That Has Lighted the World" speak of a universal celebration of mystical truths, while "Taxman," "Piggies," "Sue Me Sue You Blues" and "This Song" mock the material world. Countered against these were the lighthearted ditties like "Crackerbox Palace" or "Savoy Truffle," a song about Eric Clapton's rotting teeth ("You'll have to have them all pulled out").
George adapted many of these time signatures to rock because he was studying the music of India. Along with John McLauchlin of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Harrison explored semitones and hemitones and hemi-semitones like no western guitarist since maybe Django Rheinhart. Maybe. Though Django was doing it with three fingers.
Harrison also invented the rock benefit with his Bangladesh concert, film and album.
Olivia Harrison said that when George finally dislodged himself from the material world that she experienced a spiritual anomaly of a most mystical kind. Some fans have felt that through his music. We all may miss him, but there is a sense that he's not that far away.
Ever the natural comedian, George Harrison wanted to collect a full $3,600 from Lorne Michaels who offered the Fabs the money to fully reunite.
