George’s interests and influences changed, as they do, from rock and roll to classical Indian and Bulgarian choir - from the guitar to ukulele, sitar and the Moog synthesiser. He will always be remembered first as the Beatles’ lead guitarist, but he was also responsible for driving the group’s creativity forward by introducing the others to new music and ideas. He first recorded slide guitar on Strawberry Fields and it has since become an integral part of what’s recognised as the George Harrison sound. A small part of this collection included a Gretsch Duo-Jet, Selmer Futurama, Rickenbacker 360 Deluxe, Gibson SG and Les Paul, and a particular Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster, the latter being an important part of the development of his legendary slide technique and touch. George was arguably the biggest gear-head of all the Beatles he liked to collect and would change his main guitar for each Beatles LP. Many an Abbey Road engineer were left pulling out their hair as he would do take after take, until he felt like it was perfect. He was incredibly methodical when it came to recording. A Harrison original and a fitting end to a period of George’s life he wished to break away from, to focus on the more universal “I”, and to become the gardener he was always meant to be. It’s only just gone 50 years since the last official Beatles session at Abbey Road Studios, putting finishing touches on I Me Mine for Let it Be. Not only that, but he found the drive to record arguably the best solo work of any of The Beatles, certainly my overall favourite.
It follows that post-Beatles, George had found some form of peace and tranquility out in the Oxford countryside.
They said George was a sweet, funny and humble guy despite his Beatles superstardom. My parents told me stories about passing joints around the table with George and Olivia at friends’ houses and hanging around musicians like Mary Hopkin, Dave Edmunds, Mick Ralphs and Barrie Barlow. His wife Olivia Harrison came and took my mom’s dance class at that time and they became friends. In January 1970 he purchased the 62-acre Friar Park mansion near Henley-on-Thames, where I just happened to be born 22 years later.