George Harrison
Solo Projects
George Harrison was often described as the quiet Beatle, but was absolutely the soul of the greatest rock 'n' roll band of all time.
From the early age of 13, he began teaching himself to play guitar. He bought one from a friend for about $6.00, which was a nice sum in 1956. His playing developed to the point where he is regularly named as one of the best guitar players of all time, including the list published by Rolling Stone magazine.
His playing influenced everyone who has ever picked up a guitar, desperately trying to make it sound just as wonderfully beautiful; including yours truly. You could hear that it was a George Harrison song, or influenced by him, simply by listening to the unmistakable style and the sound blasting through your speakers. The magic he could conjure by sliding his fingers up and down the fretboard!
George once said, "The only thing we really wanted to do was make a record." At the age of 17, he joined his friends John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with Ringo Starr joining shortly thereafter. The Beatles were born. And the world had changed.
Their message was, and is, clear, simple, and one that the Divine would be proud of: Peace and Love.
In the mid-1960s, when he realized that there is more to life than that big blue marble called Earth, he said, "Everything can wait, but the search for God cannot," and so he became a spiritual seeker. In the end, he would find God.
When he traveled to India, he immersed himself in the world of Eastern religions such as Hinduism; he studied Indian philosophy, their culture, and music. George learned to play the sitar after meeting Ravi Shankar, a lifelong friend. He regularly brought both Eastern music and philosophy to the West, thereby introducing a new way of thinking to an entire generation. With the Beatles and as a solo artist, George wrote many classics such as "Taxman", "Within You Without You", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Here Comes the Sun", "All Things Must Pass", "My Sweet Lord", "All Those Years Ago", "This is Love", and "Any Road".
Frank Sinatra once said of George's song "Something", "it is the best love song of the last 50 years". "Something" also became the second most covered Beatles song ever, after "Yesterday".
George became a loving husband to Olivia and a devoted father to his son Dhani. He loved race cars, was involved in the film industry with his production company Handmade Films, founded Dark Horse Records, and pioneered the concept of musical benefit concerts featuring famous artists. In 1971, he organized the Concert for Bangladesh when his friend Ravi Shankar asked him for help. He was the founder of the Traveling Wilburys supergroup along with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Roy Orbison. The group produced hits such as "Handle With Care" and "End of the Line." In 1992, Billboard magazine presented him with the first Century Award. He is a member of the Rock Hall of Fame, both individually (2004) and as a band member (1988).
A fun fact is that he was also known for always carrying his ukulele with him, so that he could play it at any moment. On his last critically acclaimed solo album, "Brainwashed," which was released posthumously in 2002, he is accompanied by his ukulele on several songs.
Personally, the impact of George that arose within me on November 29, 2001, is indescribable. He left his body that day to enter the astral world; to continue his life's journey to get to know God, to see God, and to understand himself. This was his goal in life. On that day, it became my goal too.
A few days after his passing, Olivia asked the world to observe a minute of silence at 11 a.m. She requested everyone to meditate, to think of nothing but George, and thus help him reach his final destination, as is the tradition among Hindus.
George will be remembered for many things, including his musicality, his songwriting ability, his generous and loving character, and his sense of humor. But all the tributes, both personal and professional, are too numerous to mention, and I have only listed a small portion.
Words alone are not enough to express my appreciation and admiration for this sweet man. The world is emptier without him, but how rich and full heaven must be now!
I can only say: George, thank you.
Hare Krishna!
| Year | Release / Event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | All Things Must Pass | First major solo statement after The Beatles, showcasing a huge backlog of songs and spiritual themes. |
| 1971 | Concert for Bangladesh | Pioneering rock benefit concert, organised by George and Ravi Shankar to raise awareness and funds. |
| 1973 | Living in the Material World | Balances chart success with explicitly spiritual lyrics; includes the hit "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)". |
| 1974 | Dark Horse tour (North America) | George’s first major solo tour, mixing Beatles songs, solo material and Indian classical music. |
| 1976 | Thirty Three & 1/3 | A more relaxed, witty album that re-establishes George on the charts with "Crackerbox Palace" and "This Song". |
| 1981–1982 | Somewhere in England / Gone Troppo | Reflective early-80s period, including "All Those Years Ago" as a tribute to John Lennon. |
| 1987 | Cloud Nine | Major comeback album co-produced with Jeff Lynne, spawning hits like "Got My Mind Set on You". |
| 1988–1990 | Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 & Vol. 3 | Supergroup with Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan, showing George’s humorous, collaborative side. |
| 1991 | Japan tour with Eric Clapton | Rare late-period tour, documented on the "Live in Japan" album. |
| 2002 | Brainwashed | Posthumous album completed by Dhani Harrison and Jeff Lynne, a thoughtful closing chapter. |
George’s solo work is packed with songs that show off both his melodic sense and his distinctive slide guitar sound. Here are some fan-favourite entry points.
- My Sweet Lord – The biggest solo hit, mixing pop, gospel and mantra-like repetition.
- What Is Life – Driving, upbeat track with a huge horn arrangement and joyful feel.
- Beware of Darkness – Moody, spiritual ballad that rewards close listening, especially the chord changes.
- Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) – Intimate prayer set to graceful slide lines and acoustic guitar.
- This Song – A witty response to the "My Sweet Lord" court case, packed with musical in-jokes.
- Cloud 9 and When We Was Fab – Two highlights from the Cloud Nine era, the latter winking directly at Beatles history.
- Any Road – From Brainwashed, a late-career gem capturing George’s philosophy in a catchy, rootsy setting.
For guitar fans, listen out for George’s slide tone: vocal, singing and never showy. Tracks like Marwa Blues and his work with the Traveling Wilburys are perfect examples.
George’s guitar in pictures
Deep Dives & Blog Highlights
George was the most studio-shy Beatle in the 1970s and 1980s, which makes his major live appearances especially interesting.
- Concert for Bangladesh (1971) – Two benefit shows at Madison Square Garden featuring Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar and more. A landmark in rock activism.
- Dark Horse tour (1974) – Ambitious North American tour blending rock and Indian classical segments. Vocals were rough, but the setlists were adventurous.
- Prince’s Trust and guest spots – Occasional charity concert appearances through the 1980s, often sharing the stage with old friends.
- Japan tour with Eric Clapton (1991) – Rare late-period tour with a tight band, captured on the Live in Japan album.
- Tribute and memorial events – After his passing, concerts like the Concert for George celebrated his music with an all-star line-up.
On our Films & Concerts page you can see how these shows fit into the bigger Beatles and solo live story.
One way to explore George’s solo work is to trace it back to his Beatles songs. Themes of spirituality, satire and inner struggle were already there in tracks like Taxman, Within You Without You and While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
This guide connects to our main Beatles Albums and Singles pages, where you can follow George’s growth as a writer and guitarist. From there, jumping into All Things Must Pass and beyond feels like a natural continuation rather than a hard break.
Use this page alongside the band discography to see how ideas, sounds and even specific musical motifs evolved from Beatles-era demos into fully realised solo recordings.
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