From the premiere Beatles biographer--author of the New York Times
bestseller John Lennon: The Life and the million-copy selling Shout!:
The Beatles in Their Generation--a rare and revealing portrait of
George Harrison, the most misunderstood and mysterious Beatle, based on
decades-long research and unparalleled access to inside sources.
Despite being hailed as one of the best guitarists of his era, George
Harrison, particularly in his early decades, battled feelings of
inferiority. He was often the butt of jokes from his bandmates owing to
his lower-class background and, typically, was allowed to contribute
only one or two songs per Beatles album out of the dozens he wrote.
Now, acclaimed Beatles biographer Philip Norman examines Harrison
through the lens of his numerous self-contradictions. Compared to
songwriting luminaries John Lennon and Paul McCartney he was considered
a minor talent, yet he composed such masterpieces as "While My Guitar
Gently Weeps" and "Here Comes the Sun," and his solo debut album "All
Things Must Pass" achieved enormous success, appearing on many lists of
the 100 best rock albums ever. Modern music critics place him in the
pantheon of sixties guitar gods alongside Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix,
Keith Richards, and Jimmy Page.
Harrison railed against the material world yet wrote the first pop song
complaining about income tax. He spent years lovingly restoring his
Friar Park estate as a spiritual journey, but quickly mortgaged the
property to help rescue a film project that would be widely banned as
sacrilegious, Monty Python's Life of Brian. Harrison could be fiercely
jealous, but not only did he stay friends with Eric Clapton when Clapton
fell in love with Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd, the two men grew even
closer after Clapton walked away with her.
Unprecedented in scope and filled with numerous color photos, this rich
biography captures George Harrison at his most multi-faceted: devoted
friend, loyal son, master guitar player, brilliant songwriter, cocaine
addict, serial philanderer, global philanthropist, student of Indian
mysticism, self-deprecating comedian, and, ultimately, iconic artist and
man beloved by millions.
