George Harrison died peacefully on November 29, 2001, with his wife Olivia and son Dhani at his bedside, surrounded by close friends and family chanting and praying, including his dear friend Ravi Shankar, at Paul McCartney's home in Beverly Hills. His final moments were filled with the spirituality he embraced, as he was conscious of God and fearless, surrounded by loved ones.
Harrison's wife, Olivia Harrison, and son Dhani, 24, were with him. ”He left this world as he lived in it, conscious of God, fearless of death, and at peace, surrounded by family and friends,” the Harrison family said in a statement.
Because he didn't want to die in the hospital. He could not fly back home. So, as Paul had rented a house in Los Angeles where he used to stay while there, and it was empty, he gave the keys to George. The place he died is not a mistery, as some people spread. He really died in Paul's house. Some pa...
George's death and aftermath
Olivia and Dhani were at his bedside when he died in Los Angeles on November 29, 2001. She later remembered him in a Sunday Times interview: "George was the funniest man I knew. When he died, I felt 'Oh, no, the party's over' … He didn't put up with any crabbiness – other than his own."
George Harrison's last words to Paul McCartney were a heartfelt message of love and peace. He told McCartney, "Everything else can wait, but the search for God cannot wait, and love one another."
Held at London's Royal Albert Hall, the momentous evening featured George's songs, and music he loved, performed by artists including Eric Clapton, Joe Brown, Dhani Harrison, Jools Holland, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Monty Python, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, Ravi & Anoushka Shankar, Ringo Starr and more.
George Harrison's greatest love, and most significant muse, was Pattie Boyd, a model and photographer he married in 1966; she inspired some of his most famous songs, including "Something," but their marriage ended due to fame and infidelity, leading her to marry his best friend, Eric Clapton, who also wrote iconic songs for her, like "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight".
A memorial service was held at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, which was attended by George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Billy Joel, Elton John, David Gilmour, Peter Gabriel, and other celebrities among a congregation of 700.
Their reconciliation came after years of tension following the Beatles' breakup and Paul's 1970 lawsuit to dissolve their business partnership. “You've got to remember, I sued him in court — I sued his friends from Liverpool, life-long friends. There's a lot of getting over that has to be done,” he said.
While all the Beatles had friction with {!nav}Yoko Ono's constant presence, especially {!nav}Paul McCartney and {!nav}George Harrison, George was arguably the most openly critical, feeling she disrupted the band's sacred studio space, with Paul later admitting discomfort and Ringo trying to keep peace but feeling Yoko was possessive and isolating John.
However, McCartney was prevented from attending the funeral due to his strained relationship with Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. At the time, the two were not on the best of terms, and McCartney's absence from the funeral became a topic of public interest. For McCartney, this must have been an incredibly painful moment.
John Lennon refused to sing lead vocals on his own song, "Good Night," a tender lullaby written for his son Julian, ultimately giving the part to Ringo Starr because he felt it wasn't his style and might be too "soft" for his public image, despite singing it beautifully during teaching sessions, as noted by Paul McCartney, and Far Out Magazine,.
George Harrison's one request of Paul was for Paul to “forgive Yoko”. Paul knew that Yoko did not cause the breakup of The Beatles, as he stated in The Beatles Get Back series.
George was unfaithful to both of his wives. Olivia called Georges hiccups in her marriage.
The Beatles didn't attend Brian Epstein's funeral to respect his family's wishes for privacy and to prevent the event from becoming a media circus, which would have drawn overwhelming crowds and press away from the solemn occasion. Instead, they honored him at a later, private memorial service, where they wore yarmulkes to show respect for his Jewish heritage.
George Harrison's last words to Ringo Starr, as recounted by Ringo in the documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World, were a poignant offer of support: "Do you want me to come with you?" when Ringo was leaving to see his daughter in Boston, who had a brain tumor. Despite being very ill himself, Harrison's concern for his friend's family demonstrated his incredible spirit, even as he was lying down, unable to move.
As a fan, I was surprised to learn that Paul had been unfaithful during this period—something rarely acknowledged during The Beatles' golden years. The scandal broke in 1968 when Jane returned home early from an acting job and found Paul with another woman. She ended their engagement shortly after.
George, with his calm and steady presence, looked at him and simply said, “I'll see you around, mate.” The words were simple, understated, and yet deeply profound. They carried both peace and a quiet farewell. Those final words remained with Paul long after George's passing later that month.
One of the most enduring friendships in John Lennon's life was with Pete Shotton, his childhood friend from Liverpool. As a devoted fan, I find their relationship fascinating because it reveals the loyal and grounded side of John beneath his rockstar image.
"He was a giant, a great, great soul, with all of the humanity, all of the wit and humor, all the wisdom, the spirituality, the common sense of a man and compassion for people." - Bob Dylan on George Harrison.
Paul's last words to Linda: "You're up on your beautiful Appaloosa stallion. It's a fine spring day. We're riding through the woods. The bluebells are all out, and the sky is clear-blue".
It was purely palliative care, attempting to strike the tricky balance between pain relief and maintaining awareness: he wanted to be conscious and alert at the moment of his death. He spent his final days at 9536 Heather Road in Beverly Hills, at a house owned by Paul McCartney.
Best George Harrison Songs: Essential Tracks
Eric Clapton has praised many guitarists, but he repeatedly called Albert Lee the greatest he'd ever seen, citing his extraordinary skill and virtuosity, while also expressing immense admiration for Prince, famously telling a reporter to "Ask Prince" when questioned about being the best. Other guitarists he holds in high esteem include Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, John Mayer, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and Roy Buchanan, often listing them as favorites.
The song was further inspired by Clapton's secret love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend and fellow musician George Harrison. After Harrison and Boyd divorced, Clapton and Boyd eventually married.