Bye, George
  Alex the Destroyer | Links | Skydiving | Musings | About | Random Photos | Parrot Love | Kiwi the Terrible | Dante the Diminutive | Photo4 Page  

All things must pass.
He wasn't my favorite Beatle.

I couldn't stand some of his songs; they seemed to me to stand out glaringly amid albums full of Lennon-McCartney jewels. "Savoy Truffle" -- yuck.

But he was a Beatle, and the Beatles would have been something entirely different without him.

I look at old photos, from when they were in Hamburg. George was just a kid, a 15-year-old, sweet-faced little boy. Angelic Paul (who IS my favorite) looks hard and mean next to him.

Being in the band wasn't wholly fair to him as an artist. He started to come into his own groove just as things were starting to end -- he practically dominates Abby Road. Here comes the sun, do do do do. George the gravedigger, if you believe the popular interpretation of the cover. White-clad John in his Jesus beard leading the way; he's the preacher. Ringo behind in his undertaker's suit. Barefoot Paul, cigarette loosely held in his right (aha!) hand...the corpse. And George. All George needs is a shovel for the final macabre touch.

George was a steadying force. Any professionalism in sound the early Beatles exhibited is owed him. The good guitarist, steadily riffing and licking to John and Paul's imaginations and voices and pains. It had to hurt, to be as creative and smart and talented as he was, to be in the shadow of the demigods. For Ringo, it was different maybe -- I think he knew he didn't deserve to be there. For George, I imagine it was like being the quiet -- but very smart -- kid in a classroom of overachievers. Knowing the answer, perhaps even thinking of a NEW way to do things...but too shy to raise his hand.

Thank you, George, for having the strength to put ego aside, and for being what you were. Have fun in that crazy afterlife.
That's my cryptic George.
George and Stuart Sutcliffe in Hamburg.
Nice hairdo, George.
George and Ravi.
Aw yeah, play that sitar!!!