The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Meeting George – The Somewhere In England Cover Shoot

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I’ve had a request for this story. I’m sure I’ve posted it here before, but it may have been on the old blog and as it’s impossible to search the site, here it is again.

Sometime in early 1981 I got a phone call from a friend who worked as a porter at the Tate Gallery on the south bank in London. “Come ’round the back door when we close tomorrow if you want to meet George Harrison” was all he said. It turned out that Beatle George had booked the gallery after hours for a photo shoot. That’s all I knew.

So, armed with a bag of LP sleeves and related items I turned up at the Tate just as they were closing. I later found out that the boss in charge of the backroom boys, porters and the like had asked if anyone wanted to work back a couple of hours to accommodate George and his party. Most of the long-serving old blokes didn’t want the overtime, but my mate and some of the younger guys jumped at the chance and probably would have done it for nothing.

When I arrived George was already there with his manager » Continue Reading.

George Harrison

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Just read that today is George Harrison’s anniversary. It’s 14 years since he left us – which seems like no time at all really.

Got any favourite George clips? This is one that I’ve listened to a lot since his music arrived on Spotify last month. Sounds perfect now on a gloomy grey Sunday morning. It’s also, surely, a contender for worst solo Fab video. And that’s a crowded field!

Most memorable improvised guitar intros

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This is inspired by listening to The Beatles “Octopus’ Garden” on @Dude From Atlantis thread “The Octopus Test”.

George’s intro is just so brilliant – sets up the song, totally memorable. Made me think of Jerry Garcia’s pedal steel intro to CSNY’s “Teach Your Children.

What other fabuloid improvised guitar intros do you love? I’m not talking about a riff that forms the basis of the song (eg “Whole Lotta Love”) – I mean something that is an invention of the guitar player but just sets the scene for the song perfectly.

Beatle Saved From Plunging Piano Death By Passer-By

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It’s 1965. Really. You’re on a ski-ing holiday in the Alps, and are delighted to find the Beatles there too, filming their second feature film, Help. Okay so far?

You’re amongst a small crowd of spectators when a grand piano is lifted by crane above the boys for a Ticket To Ride sequence. As they prepare for the scene, you – and you alone – notice a rope around the grand piano fraying to a thread. You dash for the boys, knowing full well you can only push one of them out of the way of the falling piano.

Although it’s a tragedy that three Beatles were crushed to death, you achieve fame of a sort for saving the life one of the Beatles. My question is – which one did you save? And why?

Rules: Smartarse votes for any “Beatle” not John, Paul, George, or Ringo will be disqualified. Votes for any outcome other than you saving the life of one Beatle (and the consequent deaths of the other three) will be disqualified. A reason has to be given for your split-second choice. remember – history turns on your decision.

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