THANK YOU GEORGE HARRISON, TWENTY YEARS LATE

From my Beatles scrapbook

Twenty years ago on 29 November 2001, George Harrison died in Los Angeles from cancer and probably from too many cigarettes and too many drugs. And probably from lingering effects from being stabbed multiple times in December 1999. 

I took out the old Beatle records and listened for hours while I cried; but also felt the old joy of singing along with Beatle songs. My tears surprised me so on December 1st, I wrote in my journal in an effort to sort through my feelings.

"I guess I put away my Beatle records one day and never really knew why."

2001 had been a difficult year, beginning in February when my older sister died from cancer. Of course September 11 was devastating for all of us. So I figured my grief and tears was a way to release all the sadness of the year. I also figured it was sadness over the reminder of all those special times with my friends and fellow Beatlemaniacs, Kathy, Dede and Nancy. Whatever was the reason for my tears, I wrote 

"Thank you George" 

I've written here before about my history as a Beatlemaniac and the ways the Beatles, their story and their music intersected with events in my life.

    • Almost 41 years ago on 8 December 1980, John Lennon was assassinated.

    • Almost 56 years ago on 25 December 1965, my mother gave me Rubber Soul for Christmas.

        (http://honeylights.blogspot.com/2014/12/rubber-soul-49-years-ago.html)

    

    • 56 years ago on 30 August 1965, I saw the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl with friends Nancy and Kathy. 

        (http://honeylights.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-best-guilt-trip-ever-or-how-i-saw.html)

   

    • Almost 58 years ago on 9 February 1964, I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show on the tiny, maybe 10-inch, screen of my grandmother's television. I was almost 11 years old.

An ad for an Admiral TV console 

like my grandmother's

I know there will be many words written to honor George Harrison on the anniversary of his death. More words than I could ever read. And I know they'll be written by famous people who can write about him and his music with a depth of knowledge that I don't possess. I'm not sure I'll read those words because I resent being told how I should feel about George Harrison and the Beatles. And I know that although I am not and have never been a "super-fan" most people who know me probably know that the "way to my heart" is through a Beatles song. That first chord of A Hard Day's Night? That's George. But don't ask me to name my favorite George song or my favorite Beatles song. I can't do it.

Fifty-five years after my last addition to my Beatles scrapbook. I occasionally pull it from the bookcase to remember my 10 to 13 year old self. I don't know if my daughters ever looked through my scrapbook but if they did, they'd discover my 10 to 13 year-old self, trying (unsuccessfully) to keep my Beatlemania under control. My scrapbook is where I tried to keep my Beatlemania undercover from my older brother who loved to tease me but has since asked forgiveness and admitted that I was correct about the Beatles. I also tried to keep it under cover from my older, uber-cool sister – the one who died in February 2001. My daughters didn't keep scrapbooks but plastered their bedroom walls with posters of their favorite bands of the late '80s and '90s. I'm happy that my daughters appreciate the Beatles and their music. It makes sense because many of their favorite bands were influenced by the Beatles. Now it seems we also have a third generation Beatles fan. I don't know if our granddaughter remembers that I sang Beatles' songs to her as I rocked her to to sleep in her first months of life but I've heard recently that she was upset to learn that the Beatles broke up; thanks to the new Peter Jackson film.

Here's my first  scrapbook entry. Unfortunately, I didn't include the source of the article but it seems to be very early 1964, probably before the Ed Sullivan Show or I think it would be mentioned. Several of the passages are quoted in other articles I found, but none of them are credited. 

Here was my apparent secret code for who was my favorite Beatle. 

Paul - George - Ringo - John

Twenty years after George's death, I still don't know what my Beatlemania and my reaction to his death means and I for sure don't know why I put away my Beatles records. They've all been replaced by CDs, videos, DVDs of the movies and of course internet resources for just listening. I am not a music critic or a rock-music critic or a movie critic or a historian so if you want to learn about the Beatles you can easily find sources for their history and analysis of their music. I don't respond to Beatles music the way I did as a 12 year-old girl anymore, but sometimes listening to the Beatles makes me sentimental for her. Usually I prefer to mix up their old and newer music, but sometimes I prefer to listen to an album from start to finish. That's about all I can tell you about my tastes in Beatles music. And I can tell you that while I can get sentimental, I am fully aware of their faults and scandals. 

I saw the BEATLES live in concert only once. I never saw any of them individually or with their subsequent bands. I haven't seen any of the so-called "tribute bands" with one exception – the Fab Faux – and you should see them too! (https://www.thefabfaux.com/live.html) It's not that I'm stuck in the past. I think it's just that I don't want to mix up my memories of The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl in 1965 with some guys dressed up in look-alike costumes and wigs. I have not yet watched the new Peter Jackson film though I will eventually. 

Me in 1965

And in the end, I'm just a grown up version of my 10 to 13 year-old self who kept a "Beatles scrapbook" so that "in 30 years" I could try to recall those days. And I'm so grateful that George Harrison found his way to Paul McCartney and John Lennon and that they found Ringo Starr. 

******

P.S.
This is a column from the 19 February 1966 issue of the KRLA BEAT, from the Los Angeles radio station KRLA. THE BEAT was published from 1964 to 1968. I'm not sure where I picked it up after moving to San Diego in August of 1965 but I found issues online where you can read this entire issue at http://krlabeat.sakionline.net/issue/19feb66.pdf
Turns out Shirley Postson was an alias but I didn't know that then. I faithfully read her "For Girls Only" column in KRLA BEAT. I tried to emulate her style in a story I wrote. I suppose today my attempt would be labeled fan fiction. If "Shirley" is still alive, I'm pretty sure she would understand my feelings about George. Like "Shirley" I was completely caught up in Beatlemania but I imagine that like me, she also acquired additional musical interests. 

From my scrapbook. Also see page 6 at http://krlabeat.sakionline.net/issue/19feb66.pdf