A combination of the essential role of Krishna worship in Harrison's life and his efforts to be subtle is seen in his appearance in the two shows of the charity concert for Bangladesh. Everyone could see Harrison in his pure white suit. Yet few probably realized that Harrison had a tailor stitch the Om symbol in the lapels of the suit and embroidered the Hare Krishna mantra on the collar and cuffs. Yet Harrison was later accused of wearing his religion on his sleeve in the more traditional figurative sense of the phrase. During Harrison's North American tour in support of 1974's Dark Horse album, critics lambasted Harrison for proselytizing. Harrison, though, was unabashed.
You know, I didn't force you or anybody at gunpoint to come to see me. And I don't care if nobody comes to see me; nobody ever buys another record of me. I don't give a shit, it doesn't matter to me, but I'm going to do what I feel within myself.
This statement reveals not only the ardor of Harrison's desire to adhere to what he believed, but another aspect that Greene brings out but does not explore as analytically. Harrison was plainly conflicted in many ways. While he loved his Beatles bandmates like brothers, Harrison detested the inability to shed that past. He felt trapped by the never-ending mania over and fascination with the Beatles and the public's seeming inability to regard him and the others as anything but Beatles.
Harrison initially embarked on his spiritual quest to find refuge and solace from the never-ending spotlight of Beatledom. Greene's work leaves little doubt, though, that Eastern philosophy not only helped bring peace and inner well-being to Harrison's life, it contributed to some excellent music in ours.
Article comments
1 - Barry Stoller
Unfortunately for his bandmates, around the time Harrison got into India and all that, he stopped keeping up with the guitar. The psychedelic effects masked the slide for a while but, by '68, it was obvious a vast slew of hot new guitar-slingers rendered Harrison's reedy little fills obsolete.
2 - anonymous
Never heard anyone say that his guitar playing suffered after his taking up the guitar. Give yourself a treat and listen to his solo projects. He was one of world best slide players EVER!.
3 - Ann L
I have read the book and thought that it was a great insight as to what was going on with George, both in his personal life and his music. It is a good uplifting read. Recommended reading.
4 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!
5 - Fav Betal
Excellent review, this book is something I'll hunt down for my next read. What an extraordinary life/person, there seems to be a genuine depth of spiritual awareness in George that permeated his music and added to its universal appeal.For what its worth I think Georges guitar play was genius.. he could make a ukulele sound cool.