The former Beatles' lost chord

It seems that the good, young and quiet guys go first. George Harrison MBE lost his battle with cancer in Los Angeles and tributes poured in like winter rain, praising him as the great guitarist, songwriter and charming, witty and genuine human being: the first to record and tour following The Beatles’ demise, organiser of charity concerts, founder of HandMade Films for Monty Python-psychos to make movies, writer of the only Beatles’ toon, ‘Something’, Frank Sinatra covered, stabbing at his own home two years ago, his illness...

Having met George only once, during his tenure with the Traveling Wilburys - a ‘fun-venture’ that included Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison but never regrouped after the ‘Big O’ vacated the life’s mic - my impression was of a very shy, reserved and a humble man certainly experienced (and frustrated by songwriting monopoly of Lennon McCartney) to remark that being in The Beatles “was a nightmare”.

In spite of none of the former Beatles ever being able to achieve fame and popularity of the band, news, titbits, anything connected with them has been highly sought after ever since 30 January 1969. That’s when The Beatles’ swansong concert on the roof of the Apple building in Savile Row took place.

‘The third Beatle’s’ bequest is some of the greatest music of pop history with his final track being ‘Horse To Water’ (co-written with son Dhani), a contribution to Jools Holland’s album, ‘Big Band Small World’, that was strangely credited to ‘RIP (Rest In Peace) Ltd. 2001.’

But, Harrison was reportedly working on up to 25 unreleased songs at his home studio in the period leading up to his death. The record has been given a working title of ‘Portrait Of A Leg End’ that is rumoured to guest contributions by Eric Clapton, Elton John and Dylan. It’s good that there is more to come, however little.

George Harrison was born on 24 February 1943.