Paul and Ringo's heartfelt Harrison tribute
Friday, November 29, 2002
The surviving members of the Beatles paid tribute to Harrison on the anniversary of his death.
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- The two surviving Beatles came together on Friday to pay a heartfelt tribute to their "baby brother" George Harrison at a memorial concert to mark the first anniversary of his death from cancer.
For Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the tribute gig was an emotional trip down memory lane for the last two members of the world's most famous pop group.
Both received a standing ovation from an adoring crowd. Ringo, beaming from ear to ear with delight, said "what a band, what a night. George loved me and I loved George."
And then, standing under a giant portrait of Harrison, he poignantly sang; "All I've got is a photograph and I realise you are not coming back any more."
McCartney, who once fondly referred to Harrison as "just my baby brother," sang his heart out and played the ukulele, the guitar and the piano in what he called "a tribute to a beautiful friend."
Harrison's widow Olivia organised the concert at London's cavernous Royal Albert Hall with Eric Clapton, one of pop's most renowned guitarists, who said "We have got a lot of grieving over by playing this music."
Beside him stood Harrison's son Dhani, the spitting image of his father, who thanked the all-star band from the bottom of his heart.
McCartney, glancing at Dhani, said "It looks like George stayed younger and we all got older."
From Billy Preston to Tom Petty, the stars queued up to pay tribute to Harrison at the sell-out concert which raised money for one of Harrison's favourite charities, the Material World Charitable Foundation. It raises money for disadvantaged people the world over.
Harrison's musical mentor, classical Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar, fittingly joined the tributes. He had spent the day before Harrison died with the "Quiet Beatle" and told the audience "I strongly feel that George is here tonight. He was like a son to me."
Guitars gently wept for "My Sweet Lord" as the stars relived the soundtrack of the 60s.
And his career as a film producer was fondly hailed by the cult comedy team from Monty Python's Flying Circus. Michael Palin brought the house down with a stirring rendition of the Python classic "I'm a Lumberjack."
Harrison died in Los Angeles last November after a long battle with throat cancer. He was the second Beatle to die -- John Lennon was gunned down by a crazed fan in New York in 1980.
But after an evening rich in memories, it was left to the soft-spoken Harrison to provide his own epitaph in the programme.
"I remember thinking I just want more. This isn't it. Fame is not the goal. Money is not the goal. To be able to know how to get peace of mind, how to be happy, is something you don't just stumble across. You've got to search for it." |
