Little can be said about George Harrison: countless magazines, photographs, interviews, forums, documentaries, and more have reached the public since the breakup of The Beatles and his passing in 2001. And yet, there is so much to remember, so much to learn again.
After the breakup of The Beatles, Harrison continued with his peculiar style: without or with very few pedals, a Vox amplifier, and a Fender Telecaster were enough to achieve ‘the fine sound’ – in the words of Keith Richards, Rolling Stones guitarist – that characterizes him during an interview back in 2004:
Harrison’s guitar tune with the Beatles was diverse and soft, although not swift or showy, his lead guitar was thick and exemplified the style of the early 1960s. As a rhythm guitarist, he was as innovative, such as working with a capo to reduce the strings on an acoustic guitar, as on the Rubber Soul record and “Here Comes the Sun”, to form a clear, rich sound.
Eric Clapton knew that Harrison was “clearly an innovator” as he continued “taking certain elements of R&B and rock and rockabilly and creating something unique”.
Rolling Stone Magazine founder Jann Wenner portrayed Harrison as “a guitarist who was never showy but who had an innate, eloquent melodic sense. He played exquisitely in the service of the song”.
Harrison’s buddy and former bandmate Tom Petty admitted: “He just had a way of getting right to the business, of finding the right thing to play.”