Something I find neat about George Harrison is that even though he's a Beatle, he still feels like someone you can discover on your own. He's a mystery. The downside to this is that he's probably the most difficult Beatle to find information about, and I personally don't feel his story has ever been done justice. He was an amazing, unique, and complex person who had an even more incredible life than many people realise. I started this blog in 2013 so that I could put all these stories about him in one place for anyone who happens to be interested, and it's also my way of keeping the memory of him alive. Hope you enjoy! Excerpts from Michael Palin's The Python Years: 1969-1979 (final part)
Thursday September 6th 1979This evening all the Pythons meet at Anne’s…. As we sit around, it’s John who asks, ‘Isn’t there someone missing?’ We all agree that we have this sensation whenever the Python group assembles nowadays. The unknown Python. The present ‘seventh’ Python (taking over from Neil Innes) arrives a moment or two later in the person of George Harrison. To Odin’s for a nice meal and too much wine. George tells tales of the Beatles – of the hugely dominant Yoko who has reduced J Lennon to a housewife, of George’s liking for Paul and his ‘ego’, and Ringo who’s….’You know, very simple’. Other little glimpses into the lives of the rich and famous - like the fact that George admits (with a smile acknowledging the absurdity) that he doesn’t buy clothes any more. Clothes come to him. And, having once again outlasted all other diners, we meander back to Park Square West. It’s a full moon and the entire kerb is taken up with Python cars – George’s little black Porsche, John’s dirty Rolls, my Mini, Terry J’s yellow Volkswagen Polo, Gilliam’s mighty yellow Volkswagen tank and G Chapman’s rented Mercedes. Loud farewells, door slams, car tyres reversing on the road and the Python fleet heads off in the moonlight to find a way out of Regent’s Park.Thursday September 13th 1979, New YorkBack to the Navarro – this in itself quite an exciting little trip, as The Who’s fans are thick outside the hotel, and word has gotten around that Pythons and George Harrison are also in there. George walks with practised skill, firmly ahead and steadfastly refusing to even see anybody. ‘Pretend they’re invisible, it’s the only way.’Friday September 14th 1979, New YorkFinish reading TG’s Brazil script. Rather dull characters complicate an otherwise quite striking visual feel. Later in the evening, when we are all taken to Elaine’s by Denis and George, TG and I talk about it. He’s near desperation on the script – knows what needs to be done, but can’t do it himself. Champagne in my suite with Al Levinson and Claudie, the French lady to whom he has lost his heart. She is indeed lovely – slim, long dark hair framing a small face with lively eyes. She is obviously quite taken aback by the champagne and Plaza style – and when George H comes down to join us for a drink, her smashing eyes widen to 70 mill. George, so nice and so straight, disarms her. He brings a tape of some Hoagy Carmichael songs – one of which he’s thinking of recording. – whilst the remains of Hurricane Frederick finally reach Manhattan with a brief but impressive display of lightening and sheeting rain outside.Saturday October 6th 1979Drop in on George at Friar Park. He’s about to have his breakfast (onions, egg and peppers (green)). I apologise for arriving too early, but George (half-way into a new beard) assures me that he’s been up a while, and out planting his fritillaries. He takes the gardening very seriously and has a bulb catalogue, which he refers to now and then in between telling me of the $200 million suit the Beatles are bringing against the management of Beatlemania, a live show in the US using their look-alikes. He hasn’t heard that Brian is No. 1, but is greatly chuffed at the news and shakes my hand. ‘Now you can all have one of these,’ says George, nodding round at Friar Park. ‘The trouble is,’ I have to say, ‘I’m really happy where I am.’ ‘Nonsense, Palin,’ replies the Quiet One, ‘you’ll have a mansion and like it!’ I enjoy George’s company and I think he mine. Despite all his trappings he’s a down-to-earth, easy-to-please character.Friday November 30th 1979Collect Terry and Maggie and we drive out in the Citroen to George H’s for a Python dinner. George scuttles around putting records on the juke-box, playing silly pieces on the piano and generally trying to make everyone feel at home – whereas all the guests are of good bourgeois stock and far more ill at ease with George’s unpredictable caperings than with standing sipping champagne and making polite conversation. Cleese and I decide that the house would make a superb set, for a period film. we agree to write a farce together set in Friar Park. ‘Ripping Towers’ suggests JC’s blonde and lovely girlfriend (whom I’ve not seen before). The table in the dining room is set splendidly. Table seating has been worked out by Olivia, who clutches a piece of paper as nervously as George earlier pottered with the juke-box. I end up sitting next to George, with Joan and Derek (Taylor) and Eric up our end. Excellent food, especially the salmon, and 1966 claret which was virtually on tap. George confesses to feeling uncomfortable with a ‘posh’ evening like this, which I find reassuring – all the glitter and glamour that money can buy, all the success and adulation, has only affected our George very superficially.