News about George Harrison

For a frantic year after being thrown together on The X Factor, One Direction were hailed as the new Beatles - besieged by hysterical fans, triumphant in the States, with a succession of impossibly catchy hits. And if 1D were the Fab Four (or Five) reborn for the 21st century, Liam Payne appeared to be their George Harrison. Moody, introverted, sardonic and often uncomfortable with his fame, he was the Quiet One. But unlike The Beatles, One Direction were a wholly manufactured boyband, a collection of teenage strangers moulded into an artificial gang for a TV talent contest. Payne was not yet 17 when the show made all five instant celebrities in 2012. The intense pressure of global mega-fame proved overwhelming for each of them, but it was Payne who suffered worst. He quickly began drinking hard to cope with the isolation.

Having grown up in a rare bookshop, the son of an antiquarian dealer, many interesting things have crossed my path. From maps showing South American giants, to witch-hunting manuals, to shipwreck diaries written in penguin blood, every kind of oddity crosses the rare-book counter at one time or another. I began by recording them in a box labelled 'Interesting Things'. I had no agenda other than to record the existence of these things before they disappeared again behind the closed doors of private collections. My interests even led me to a job as a researcher and script writer on the BBC TV show QI, as a so-called 'QI Elf'. So, it's fair to say, I've got a few 'fun facts' up my sleeve. Here is a selection of the best ones I've collected. So, how many did you know?

Soryy Mick and Keef, the Beatles are top of the charts... again.The Fab Four have been named as the ultimate British group by BBC Radio 2 listeners, beating some of the most legendary bands in UK music history. The Fab Four finished ahead of Queen in second, The Rolling Stones in third, and fourth-placed Pink Floyd.

He catapulted into fame following his role as Eddie Munson in the fourth season of Stranger Things. And now, Joseph Quinn is reportedly set to take to screens as George Harrison in a series of Beatles biopics. The actor, 30, will be undertaking a role that is worlds away from the eccentric Hawkins High School student, as he steps into the shoes of the legendary guitarist for four films.

An iconic 60s rock star has been forced to cancel their tour over 'serious heart condition' after doctor warnings.

The British rock band - which consisted of Sir Paul McCartney , Ringo Starr , John Lennon and George Harrison - took the US by storm after a televised concert pulled in 73 million viewers. The majority of their releases across the pond hit the top spot on the charts, and now insiders have claimed that a new doc will explore how they Hey Jude hitmakers 'paved the way' for other successful acts from the UK.

British bass guitarist legend Herbie Flowers, who played with some of the world's biggest music icons has died aged 86, as heartfelt tributes have been paid to the 'beautiful soul'. Born Brian Keith Flowers, but known as 'Herbie' throughout his career, Flowers grew up in Isleworth, Middlesex and was a member of the bands Blue Mink, T. Rex and Sky. Throughout his career he played with the biggest names and contributed to recordings by Elton John, David Bowie, Lou Reed, David Essex, Bryan Ferry, Cat Stevens, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, among others.

Hi again, Margaret. I bet you have been waiting for the latest update on my affairs. I don't suppose you get much gossip up there in Heaven. I am telling myself that Miranda, the artist who came to my book launch on the Isle of Wight a few days ago, could be my new Best Friend. Which is a bit presumptuous as I have only just met her.

In the late 1950s, John Lennon formed a skiffle group called the Quarrymen, named after his school. The line-up featured John on guitar with Paul McCartney and George Harrison, John 'Duff' Lowe on piano, and Colin Hanton on drums. After rehearsing at McCartney's house, they booked a recording session at Percy Phillips' studio at 38 Kensington, Liverpool, in July 1958 and recorded In Spite Of All The Danger, a song credited to McCartney and Harrison. They could afford only one copy of the 10in disc, so they agreed to share it, with each member keeping it for a week. Lowe ended up keeping it for 23 years. When he rediscovered it in 1981, he contacted McCartney, who bought it from him for an undisclosed fee. It was eventually released on The Beatles Anthology 1 in 1995. After several changes in their line-up, the Quarrymen evolved into The Beatles. Over recent years, McCartney has played In Spite Of All The Danger on concert dates, much to the delight of his fans.

The world-famous drummer, 84, compared the singer's music industry domination to that of Beatlemania, which transfixed the globe in the 1960s. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Ringo shared his beliefs that Taylor has got what it takes to surpass the historical milestones than he achieved alongside John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison.

Rumours have begun to swirl about who could be playing the famous four in Sam Mendes' Beatles Biopic.  The 58-year-old director announced earlier this year that he would be directing four separate films about the legendary band and has now reportedly cast the leading quartet.  According to The InSneider, Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan is to portray Ringo Starr, Harris Dickinson is to star as John Lennon, and Charlie Rowe will take on the part of George Harrison. 

Sir Paul McCartney looked like he needed some Billy Shears on Wednesday after revealing his increasingly long hair during an appearance in London. The Beatles legend was in typically high spirits as he left an office building with his hair - which is almost shoulder-length - neatly tucked behind his ears. Perhaps the barber was busy showing photographs of every head he's had the pleasure to have known, but Sir Paul, 81, dodged the local salon on this occasion - opting instead to climb into a waiting car.

Sir Paul McCartney was spotted leaving an office in London on Thursday after becoming the first ever UK billionaire musician. The Beatles legend, 81, was sporting a head of long grey locks and a smattering of grey stubble during the outing in the capital city. The singer cut a casual figure in a blue hooded jacket, which he wore over a blue shirt and trousers, while finishing the look with a pair of lace-up shoes.

Olivia Harrison, who married the guitarist in 1978, unveiled the plaque today at 12 Arnold Grove in Wavertree, Liverpool. Harrison, who died in November 2001 at the age of 58 following a battle with cancer , was born on February 25 1943 at the two-up two-down Victorian terraced house and lived there until he was nearly seven years old.

The 81-year-old Beatles star's wealth has risen by £50 million to hit the £1 billion figure this year. Paul claimed the musician top spot in 2023 when he had £950 million, and again in 2022 when his fortune was put at £865 million.

An 'exceptionally rare' copy of the Beatles ' first single Love Me Do signed by the Fab Four just a day after its release is set to sell for a staggering £20,000. The Parlophone UK record for Love Me Do/PS I Love You was autographed by each member of the iconic band in ballpoint pen when they met fans inside Dawson's Music Shop in Widnes, Cheshire, on October 6, 1962. The band were still relatively unknown at the time and had added Ringo Starr to the line-up two months earlier, who replaced drummer Pete Best. Six decades on, the pressing, in its original multicoloured 'Type 1' Parlophone record sleeve, is set to spark a bidding war at RR Auction, of Boston, US. It has been consigned by a private collector. An RR Auction spokesperson said: 'This is an exceptionally rare and desirable Parlophone UK first pressing of the band's debut single, Love Me Do/ P.S.. I Love You, signed on the label in black ballpoint by John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison , and Ringo Starr.

The Beatles fans' went wild as Disney+ released their trailer of the band's iconic documentary Let It Be on Tuesday. Released in May 1970, amidst the swirl of the band's breakup and in tandem with their final LP, with the same name, the film has finally been restored to light.  Helmed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the original 1970 film will be on the streaming platform from May 8 after decades of fans struggling to watch it and having to make do with bootleg versions.

A traditional Indian instrument used by George Harrison to record a Beatles song has sold for over £53,000. Harrison bought the 4ft long sitar from a small Oxford Street shop named Indiacraft between August and October 1965. He later used the instrument to record the song, Norwegian Wood, in October 1965, launching 'the Great Sitar Explosion' in rock music. Harrison took the sitar to Barbados on his and Pattie Boyd's January 1966 honeymoon and then gifted it as a thank you to his friend, George de Vere Drummond, after he let them stay at his house on the island.

Sir Paul McCartney allegedly had a threesome with two female fans for a full three days during The Beatles' heyday. The musician's romp ended when his future wife turned up at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, according to a book. In All You Need Is Love: The End of the Beatles, late record label executive Ron Kass said: 'There was this, bungalow. Paul was just in there for three days and three nights with these girls.'

The TV chef has fallen for beautiful personal trainer Kim Johnson, (left and inset) after splitting from his girlfriend of 12 years, Louise Davies. And it seems as though these two have the recipe for potential success having been pictured looking very loved-up together, with James wearing a big smile on his face following a tumultuous year. On Saturday, the normally-private couple didn't mind who saw them when they had their arms around one another, placing their hands just above their bottoms, (right). James, 51, and Kim, 38, were first spotted looking at jewellery store in Tiffany's in London's Old Bond Street in April, which led to their relationship coming to light.

Sir Paul McCartney has revealed he was left 'so embarrassed' when he tried to play lead guitar with the Beatles as he 'totally froze' on stage.  The music legend, 81, was part of the iconic rock group alongside John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr but explained when he tried playing lead guitar during an early gig instead of bass, he 'could not move my fingers'. Speaking on the Paul McCartney: A Life in Lyrics podcast, he explained: 'Mind you, when I first met John. He didn't play guitar, because I had to show him guitar chords because he'd been taught by his mum [Julia], and she only knew banjo chords.

The gruesome family heirloom was worth a staggering five-figure sum, according to an Antiques Roadshow visitor. The repeat episode of Sefton Park in Liverpool on Sunday unearthed some shocking antiques, including a collection of items that had previously belonged to an executed Earl. Following the Battle of Worcester, James Stanley, the 7th Earl of Derby, came to a tragic conclusion. Despite the fact that the collection of items relating to the Earl's tragic conclusion was expected to be worth between £18,000 and £22,000, the owner believed selling the items would be a "travesty."

The Beatles returned to the BBC on Sunday evening, at least in a demeanor, after the initial pencil drawing of their first band logo appeared on Antiques Roadshow. Mark Hill was ecstatic to learn that the drawings were made for one of Ringo Starr's drums in 1962, just before the band became one of the world's most influential and profitable organizations of all time. Hill, the band's hometown city, was given a fascinating run on the artwork by its owner, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Starr, who signed their first album contract.

According to a recent biography about his band the Beatles, Yoko Ono allegedly told the late John Lennon how to get heroin. The Sunday Times has published a number of new excerpts from the book All You Need Is Love. The book includes interviews with former Beatles members Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, as well as John's widow Yoko.