George Harrison

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the death of The Beatles's George Harrison. To mark the occasion, you would do well to read Andrew Ferguson's story on George Harrison's religious faith in the Novemember 21 issue of THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Here's the opening:

As a reader who has compulsively consumed the ever-expanding body of Beatles literature for 40 years, I have trouble picking out a favorite anecdote or most memorable quote. Is it John’s “If there is such a thing as a genius, I am one”? Or the note Paul sent John one day in the waning days of the group: “You and your Jap tart think you’re hot s—”? Or maybe it’s the time an airline stewardess offered George a glass of wine, not knowing he was deep in meditation. “F— off,” the spiritual Beatle replied.

I don’t know. I could go on with stories like this all day. None of them involve Ringo, by the way.

But wait! There's more! In the November 28 issue, Ferguson writes of the time he got up close with Harrison:

A side door opened. George Harrison emerged into a meteor shower of exploding flash bulbs. He stood dressed in a richly colored silk jacket adorned with Hindu symbols. It turned out that Beatles not only had bodies, they really did wear clothes like that. I remained lost in reflection. Reluctantly I began to persuade myself that, yes, George Harrison was a material being, for here he stood, right before my .  .  .

You can read the rest here.