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There are few things in life that can depress a fan of popular culture more than the premature death of a childhood idol. For the baby-boomer generation--my generation--those born at the right place and time to witness it, there was no singular, greater influence on pop culture during the revolutionary 1960s than the mop-top quartet from Liverpool, England known as "The Beatles". Of the original four, there are now only two left; John Lennon was shot by a deranged fan in 1980 (Mark David Chapman--tho the TV press has been reluctant to dignify him in the least by mentioning his name, and I had second thoughts too), and now George Harrison, who ironically harbored the greatest fear of being shot, has died of "natural causes" at a friend's home in Los Angeles.
My journalistic sensibilites tell me to start with the known facts, so even tho they're covered elsewhere, I'll reprise last week's announcement that George Harrison died at the age of 58 from, basically, cancer. As a responsible publisher I'm obligated to rehash that Harrison was known to be undergoing chemotherapy for a brain tumor, but that his battle started about 2 years ago with being diagnosed with throat cancer.
While the media at large has been fairly generous with post-mortem kudos to ex-Beatle George Harrison, it has been reprehensibly conservative in its description of his song-writing contributions.
While not quite as successful and certainly not as prolific as bandmates John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Harrison's songs, to me, rate as neo-classics in their own right. "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun" are, to me, two of the greatest pop songs ever written. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with its wistful guitar lines (wasn't Clapton on that also?). "My Sweet Lord", which, recorded soon after the Beatles broke up, re-packaged Harrison's spiritualism for the masses (and was only somewhat tarnished later by a plagiarism lawsuit charging the tune was lifted from the Chiffon's "He's So Fine"). I associate it with the Concert for Bangledesh, where he played that benefit concert with fellow ex-Beatle, drummer Ringo Starr.
Harrison's deeply religious nature would have a profound impact on, not only his personal development, but that of The Beatles as well. That whole episode with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and later, the popularization of Indian sitar music come to mind as just 2 examples.
The media frequently refers to George Harrison as the Beatles' "lead guitarist" and altho he might have argued the point that the group was more-or-less-equally versed as musicians, I can tell you his lead parts--especially his slide work--were modern masterpieces of graceful understatement. They were hugely influential.
The rock world has lost one of its founders and innovators. George Harrison will be sorely missed.
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George Harrison, the "Quiet Beatle" by Steve Beasley George Harrison was every bit as talented as John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Having said that, George's influences were very likely to be far-ranging and eclectic. Were it not for George, the Beatles far-eastern mystical period would likely not have happened, for it was he who first met and became a follower of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (I hope I got that name right), although after some time ( a few months), the Fab Four realized that the Maharishi was merely using them to get chicks! Although John, Paul, George and Ringo (Starr) made a hasty exit from the Mahareshi, George remained an avid visitor to that region of that world. For many years, perhaps until his recent passing, he became a disciple of India's Hindu religion. Taking an interest in music from that part of the world, Sri Lanka and India, etc. The famed stringed instrument from India, known as a "sitar", was even used on Beatle albums from around the 1967-1970 era, just before they broke up. George, in my opinion.....helped bring about the appearance of Ravi Shankar at the Woodstock Festival on August, 16th,17th and 18th of 1969. Harrison's post-Beatle career was not marked by either numerous "Top 10" hits, nor many albums, however what music he did produce was always first-rate to pop/rock music connoisseur's of the world. Harrison's music was very fluid and occasionally mesmerizing to boot. Practically every guitarist from 1965 on, learned how to play, "Here Comes the Sun"......a legacy to the man and a testament to yet another tragic loss from the music world. GEORGE HARRISON TRIBUTE by William Moriaty |
 "Ginger" or "IT" or however you remember the top-secret invention of inventor Dean Kamen, promoted as revolutionizing commuter travel, was unveiled Monday morning as a high-tech scooter, much like has been speculated in the press and on the internet. Apparently the "gimmick" is that you step onto this little platform flanked as it is by two large bicycle wheels and stabilized with gyroscopes, lean on the steering..er...pole...and an onboard computer senses you want movement and it moves you in that direction up to 17 mph. While Kamen seems absolutely convinced this will revolutionize inner-city short commutes, the $3000 price tag may impede that a bit. Looks like a fun ride, tho. The Lord of the Rings TV special. I wasn't going to comment on this, but Terence asked me a couple times about it so I thought maybe it deserves mention. Yes, I liked very much what I saw on last week's promotional "Lord of the Rings" behind-the-scenes special (last Wed. FOX, I think?). I think director Peter Jackson will go down in cinematic history as pulling off what is arguably the greatest feat of moviedom: filming the "unfilmable" Lord of the Rings trilogy, where so many had tried and failed before, and having filmed all three books at once...AND BE GREAT. THE GILMORE GIRLS. 12-4-01 episode synopsis and review by Lauré
We begin at Elizabeth Gilmore's home watching Lorelai and Rory and Elizabeth have another of their lunches which poor Lorelai loathes. They bantered about some mischief Lorelai pulled at seven years old: She had a fat head, as a baby, and hating all her baby pictures, she plunked every last one in the fire. Lorelai vehemently denies doing any such thing. Elizabeth further complains that there is not a decent table set in the whole of Connecticut, and how she found three matching chairs but not four and you have no idea, girls, how much she paid for this incomplete set. Lorelai rolls her eyes, but to head off another fight, Rory invites her grandmother into Stars Hollow to peruse the lovely antique shops to be found there: specifically, Lane's mother's shop. Elizabeth comes to Stars Hollow and Lorelai, suitably disgusted, refuses to be seen in public with her mother. Equally disgusted, Rory takes off for the day to escort Elizabeth around town (who is appalled to be talked into wearing a pair of Lorelai's tennies--what she will do for her granddaughter!). She explains all the sights and sounds and marvels to finally get her grandmother into Mrs. Kim's (played by Emily Kuroda) antique shop where Elizabeth and Mrs. Kim vigorously barter over a chest of drawers Elizabeth must have. In the midst of this little sparring match Rory sneaks out of earshot to speak with Lane, who is concerned that Henry (played by Eddie Shin) has not called her. Rory points out that a myriad things could have happened between last night and now and that Lane should give him time and off Rory and Elizabeth go to the Independence Inn... Where Lorelai is having a general meltdown. It seems Sookie has offered Jackson's (played by Jackson Douglas) annoying and rude cousin Roan a job at the Independence and no matter that Lorelai is still smarting from their horrid blind, double date, Sookie wants Roan out of Jackson's house and now! Hence she offers him the inn. Elizabeth and Rory bounce into the middle of their fight and Lorelai introduces her mother to Michel and is shocked to see them adore each other from the first. Rory giggles and takes her grandmother on the grand tour which leaves Elizabeth in shock. How could Lorelai have raised Rory, for two years, as she did, in that squalid little tool shed in the back of the Independence Inn when she had a perfectly comfortable home with her family? This realization sends Elizabeth into a fit of guilt (she tells Rory she's ill and runs away, literally) and she starts decorating a room in her home for Rory--complete with Cosmo Girl and Backside Boy posters (I'm not kidding, they referred to them as the Backside Boys--LOL), none of which is Rory into. Meltdown number two and Elizabeth and Lorelai scream at each other about that. Meanwhile, Lorelai's rival, Rachel, comes in with pictures she had taken at the Firefly festival which Lorelai perused. In the stack she finds a photo of an old colonial house and marvels at its beauty. Rachel explains it was an old inn and offers to take Lorelai to see it, while along the way, Lorelai and she compare notes on Luke. Miserable at the prospect of being a bad mother, and possibly losing Luke to the more worldly and exotic; but she gives Rachel some tips on how to handle her old friend and--lo and behold, now she's staying for an indefinite amount of time! Lorelai is miserable, not only that, but something about Luke's coffee tastes different! Well, they decide whatever will come will come and in the meantime, they have plans of their own. Lorelai shows the Dragonfly Inn to Rory and they while away the evening planning their own glorious future as happy owners of a successful inn.
On June 5, 1965 a twin engine Fairchild C-119 "Flying Boxcar" piston cargo aircraft on a routine mission from Homestead Air Force Base south of Miami to the Grand Turk island near the Bahamas became another victim of the infamous Bermuda Triangle. The last call received from the aircraft carrying a crew of ten gave its position of being about 100 miles from its destination with an estimated time of arrival of one hour. This was the last message from the aircraft, and a five-day search for it proved fruitless. The aircraft, which originated out of Billy Mitchell Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was hauling engine parts from Homestead to the Grand Turk Island when it disappeared. The Miami Herald newspaper of June 8, 1965 quoted an old-timer at Homestead as saying, "It's strange that the planes that go down in the south Bahamas never leave a trace." The article went on to state that ".not a piece of wreckage or evidence of life..." was found, and that "Not a flare at night, though seven planes scored the area Sunday night."
Next week: In Part 3 of the Bermuda Triangle series we will explore the myths and facts behind one of the most unusual disappearances of all in the Bermuda Triangle. A total of five Navy TBM Avengers with fifteen souls on board, and one Navy rescue aircraft, a Martin Mariner PBM Flying Boat, would all leave Florida soil on December 5, 1945 never to be seen by human beings again. Their vanishing act would launch one of the biggest air-sea search operations in American history and become the catalyst for the Bermuda Triangle legend! Stay tuned here in seven days in the NCPCR!
You all must easily know by now, if you're a regular to the Newsstand, that I love The Beatles. I just can't believe the early reports were true, but I guess prayful hopes don't always come to kind realities.
I think back many years ago and recall Mike and I hanging at the Paddock Lounge in Downtown Tampa just days before our induction to the service. Knocking down cold ones, shooting pool with some writers for the Tribune, and playing "Blow Away" on the jukebox all night long. Everyone was feeling pretty good as the evening wore on and, eventually, Mike and I had the whole damn place singing "Blow Away" with us as it played on the jukebox. Ah, life's great memories.
Since his passing, we've learned that George Harrison was the genuine article. A man much like Lennon, in that his life's hope was that man could love, instead of hate. A man who believed, and once stated, that all of life's quests are secondary to mans individual search for his relationship with God. A man who will have no skeletons coming out of his closet to make the National Enquirer richer.
The ironic thing, personally, is that I was just starting to appreciate this guys solo efforts. Not just the songs heavy on airplay, but the entirety of what he had to offer us. The last time I started appreciateing a beatle other than Paul, he ended up dead, too. That, of course, was John Lennon.
Needless to say the last couple days listening pleasures have been devoted to Mr. Harrison, and I suggest everyone try to pick up a copy of All Things Must Pass. You'll discover, if you didnt know already, that this man was as much a musical genius as John and Paul. So much so that it looks like I need to revise my top 10 albums of all time!!!
MIKE AND MATT'S FANTASY CHALLENGE That's it for now, so till next time....
Hello gang. Holiday TV specials and the passing of a legend. Shall we begin?
WHILE MY GUITAR (AND I) GENTLY WEEP But while we mourn his passing, we should remember his words, "Life goes on within you and without you." As Nolan has mentioned in his editorial, many of the facts of Harrison's life have been documented over and over in other publications. I'd like to point out some things that may have been missed:
February 23, 1943: George Harrison is born in the Wavetree borough of Liverpool, England. If I have one distinct memory of Harrison's music, it's of the many hours Matt and I spent in a bar in downtown Tampa, shooting pool and singing along to the most frequently-played song on the jukebox, George Harrison's "Blow Away." (LOL! Matt, did you see this? Readers: Matt's Rail and Mike's Rant arrived simultaneously. Separated by thousands of miles, they still carry this important memory. Cool moment.---Nolan)
Well, that's it for this week. I promise to be here early next week. I'll be spending the majority of it with my son visiting my mom in Chicago. See ya!
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The Gilmore Girls is the latest hit on the WB (and the only show they have
worth a damn, if you ask me). It airs Tuesday nights at 8:00 right
before Smallville.
