Watched HBO Documentary and now George Harrison has become my least favorite Beatle

[mediocreplayer]

I am a huge Beatles fan like many on here and just watched Scorcese's documentary on GH, "Living in the material world". It actually made me like George less. I have always thought that his brilliant (absolutely brilliant) flashes of songwriting kind of covered his weakness as an inconsistent writer. Not unlike Ringo, I think George was a great musician who got lucky joining a group with John and Paul and has had his stature elevated as a result.

In addition to the music, I am troubled by the contradictions between his projected persona and his actions. I don't care at all nor will I be judgmental towards a drug-using rockstar with what seems like a major infidelity problem that is even mentioned by his own wife, but if that rockstar has cultivated a persona of spirituality and absolving oneself from material things and the pleasures of the flesh, then it becomes hard to listen to or take most of his 'spiritual' output seriously. In that sense, he seems to be like Lennon, who also cultivated a peace and love persona when he was by all accounts a violent man. This leads me to the somewhat surprising/shocking conclusion that Paul has been the most consistent and honest person of the three main writers in the group. He was always clear that his main interest was music and the business aspects of it, which taken at face value seems shallow compared to how the other two portrayed themselves, but ultimately it seems he was the one who kept it real the most.

That said, Lennon remains my fave Beatle and the solo in 'Something' remains the most lyrical solo in the history of pop music

[A-Bone]

All this proves is that people are complicated and often contradictory, and George Harrison was no exception.

What is that famous Whitman quote?

"Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)"

[Dave2512]

Personally I don't think one negates the other. Some of the most spiritual people I know were also really deviant people at some time in their lives. That's usually what leads them down that path.

[Ocelot]

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)

[Ocelot]

Evidently, much love for Walt Whitman. lol

[John H]

Couldn't disagree more about George.

Personally, I'd prefer to dwell on his mortgaging of his home to finance his friends' movie, or his deathbed comment to Ringo (who was about to fly to see his very ill daughter) as indicators of his qualities as a human being.

Yes, The Beatles were just four young men who made pleasant noises and went from rags to riches before our very eyes. We elevated them to their mythological heights. Forty years later, they're still able to straddle their humanity and their deity.

[popinvasion]

I think it was cool that the man had flaws.. and I think he recognized his flaws and tried to better himself but it was a constant battle. To me that is human. That was my take.

[A-Bone]

Originally Posted by Ocelot

Evidently, much love for Walt Whitman. lol

[AJ Love]

George was human. And if his human mistakes or challenges make you less of a fan, I don't think George would care about that in the slightest. Oh well, he'd say, hope you enjoy the music. And for that I'm a bigger fan of his, as opposed to all the musicians out there who are desperate to appeal to as many people as possible.

The concept that we really "know" any celebrity through the TV or books or the internet or the concert stage or movie screen is extremely flawed

[rhinocaster]

I think that the information age really should have us realizing that investing in the morality or image of any celebrity ultimately leads to disappointment.

Every day I work at being the person I want to be. I may NEVER get there but I try. It would be a shame if people choose to remember me for my flaws rather than for the good things that I've done, but that will be their choice. The question at that point becomes, "Are THEY the person they want to be?"

[RussB]

Originally Posted by mediocreplayer

I am a huge Beatles fan like many on here and just watched Scorcese's documentary on GH, "Living in the material world". It actually made me like George less. I have always thought that his brilliant (absolutely brilliant) flashes of songwriting kind of covered his weakness as an inconsistent writer. Not unlike Ringo, I think George was a great musician who got lucky joining a group with John and Paul and has had his stature elevated as a result.

In addition to the music, I am troubled by the contradictions between his projected persona and his actions. I don't care at all nor will I be judgmental towards a drug-using rockstar with what seems like a major infidelity problem that is even mentioned by his own wife, but if that rockstar has cultivated a persona of spirituality and absolving oneself from material things and the pleasures of the flesh, then it becomes hard to listen to or take most of his 'spiritual' output seriously. In that sense, he seems to be like Lennon, who also cultivated a peace and love persona when he was by all accounts a violent man. This leads me to the somewhat surprising/shocking conclusion that Paul has been the most consistent and honest person of the three main writers in the group. He was always clear that his main interest was music and the business aspects of it, which taken at face value seems shallow compared to how the other two portrayed themselves, but ultimately it seems he was the one who kept it real the most.

That said, Lennon remains my fave Beatle and the solo in 'Something' remains the most lyrical solo in the history of pop music

He lived his life on his terms, NOT yours and your misconceptions of how someone should "be". I reckon you'd be real disappointed in most folks if you actually knew more about them. But that's your problem, not theirs

[CharAznable]

Suprise, the Beatles are people too.

I'm a good person, I think, but I have my flaws and my regrets.

[pete692]

Originally Posted by mediocreplayer

I am a huge Beatles fan like many on here and just watched Scorcese's documentary on GH, "Living in the material world". It actually made me like George less. I have always thought that his brilliant (absolutely brilliant) flashes of songwriting kind of covered his weakness as an inconsistent writer. Not unlike Ringo, I think George was a great musician who got lucky joining a group with John and Paul and has had his stature elevated as a result.

In addition to the music, I am troubled by the contradictions between his projected persona and his actions. I don't care at all nor will I be judgmental towards a drug-using rockstar with what seems like a major infidelity problem that is even mentioned by his own wife, but if that rockstar has cultivated a persona of spirituality and absolving oneself from material things and the pleasures of the flesh, then it becomes hard to listen to or take most of his 'spiritual' output seriously. In that sense, he seems to be like Lennon, who also cultivated a peace and love persona when he was by all accounts a violent man. This leads me to the somewhat surprising/shocking conclusion that Paul has been the most consistent and honest person of the three main writers in the group. He was always clear that his main interest was music and the business aspects of it, which taken at face value seems shallow compared to how the other two portrayed themselves, but ultimately it seems he was the one who kept it real the most.

That said, Lennon remains my fave Beatle and the solo in 'Something' remains the most lyrical solo in the history of pop music

First, you can't hold a person's beliefs, especially ones espousing peace and selflessness against somebody, even if they are jumbled up into their public personae and maybe not 100% genuine 100% of the time. I mean, he was not a MONK for chrissake. BUT, I do agree with you that at times Harrison was definitely annoying with the whole thing- I just learned to tune out the stuff that bothers me.

Secondly, you are spot on about Paul.

I would also like to add that these four guys lived a lifestyle so far from "normal" for nearly all of their existence that it's a wonder all of them didn't wind up in a mental institution. From their 20's on, they lived in a bubble of adulation and fame the likes of which had maybe only been experienced by Napoleon or the Pope or something. So for George to have some schisms in his personal beliefs and personality seems entirely understandable.

[zestystrat]

Some great responses here.

The OP reminds of some of the Steve Jobs news stories after he died - picking apart his personal life, charitable donations etc.

Sadly, our heros are human...nothing more nothing less.

I also agree about Paul...maybe thats why he has always been my fav Fab.

[DaGlenster]

When Fame is involved, the "image" that George cultivated and the "image" that the public created or misinterpreted for/of him is often hard to discern. Who are we to say what "image" George was trying for or that he was actually trying to portray an "image". Maybe George/John were just trying to live their life and had the same problems and weaknesses that we all have.

I have to take my hat off to them all for just surviving that level of fame; sorry John didn't survive it, a judgmental fan murdered him. Maybe we need to really think about our judgements before we jump to them.