The Beatles’ George Harrison had no desire to participate in the band’s final performance in 1969.
Just before the Fab Four ascended to the rooftop of Abbey Road studio for their last show together, Harrison expressed reservations over performing at all.
The Beatles’ often overlooked songwriter behind hits like ‘Here Comes the Sun’, ‘Something’, and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, shared his lack of desire to perform with his bandmates.
His reluctance was captured in Peter Jackson’s ‘Get Back’ documentary. Despite his initial hesitation, the legendary musician, who later formed The Traveling Wilbury’s with Bob Dylan and Electric Light Orchestra’s Jeff Lynne, was persuaded to join in.
This uncertainty came shortly after Harrison had temporarily left the band. A notorious diary entry from the ‘All Things Must Pass’ genius revealed he had quit the Fab Four due to growing tensions in the studio and frustrations surrounding the creation of ‘Abbey Road’ and ‘Let it Be’.
Harrison even suggested they advertise in the New Musical Express for additional guitarists to complete what he had written for the 1969 album. However, he soon returned and eventually agreed to the rooftop performance.
In a clip from ‘Get Back’, an unconvinced Harrison can be seen agreeing to “do it”, but making it clear he did not want to be on the roof.
He stated: “You know, whatever, I’ll do it if we’ve got to go on the roof. But you know, I mean – but I don’t wanna go on the roof. Of course I don’t wanna go on the roof. “
His perspective shifted when his long-time friend and bandmate Ringo Starr expressed his desire to perform a surprise rooftop gig, which eventually took place on January 30, 1969. This marked The Beatles’ last performance together, despite being offered several lucrative deals to reunite until John Lennon’s death in 1980.
Ringo Starr revealed that they were offered $50million in 1976 – equivalent to £200million today – for a one-off reunion performance. Despite the tempting offer, The Fab Four declined due to a disagreement with the show’s organiser over a peculiar opening act.
Starr and the other surviving member, Paul McCartney, briefly reunited at a concert in London late last year. However, a full Beatles reunion never materialised after their split in 1970.
Although each member of The Beatles believed they would reform and perform live again, their reunion was thwarted by an unusual proposed opening act – a “man biting a shark”.
Thrill-seeker Wally Gibbins wanted the band to play on live TV after he fought a 14ft Great White shark “to the death” in a broadcast from Western Samoa – but the proposal did not exactly appeal to the group.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply