George Harrison Reflects on Bob Dylan
The Beatles first met Bob Dylan in August of 1964. Probably the most historic remnant of this event is Dylan introducing the Fab Four to marijuana. But this was also when the revolutionary troubadour initially encountered the lead guitar player for the Beatles, a 21 year-old kid named George Harrison. The two icons remained tight until Harrison’s premature death in 2001 at the age of 58.
Bob’s relationship with George was by far the strongest with any member of the Beatles. Not only did they share a very similar emotional disposition, but their like temperaments provided a great foundation for friendship. They seldom collaborated but frequently supported one another, especially when dealing with the pressures of stardom. Not many people in the world could relate to the kind of global fame and constant scrutiny that these two had to endure. “I’ve always just tried to be straight with him,” said George. “Because he’s also been surrounded by a tidal wave of bullshit.”
In 1988, George invited Bob to join a band that he had recently put together. The ensuing ensemble was called the Traveling Wilburys. It was perhaps the greatest supergroup of all time. In addition to Harrison and Dylan, the band included fellow rock luminaries Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty. The Wilburys experienced tremendous success until they disbanded in 1991 in the wake of Orbison’s unexpected passing. But through it all, George remained enamored with Bob. According to Petty, “George quoted Bob like people quote Scripture. George could always find a Dylan quote to fit just about any situation.”
Tom Petty was not the only one who took note of Harrison’s admiration for Dylan. Jim Keltner is one of the most prominent percussionists of the last 50 years. Music historian Howard Sounes calls him “the leading session drummer in America.” Keltner was also the drummer for the Traveling Wilburys. Jim sums up their dynamic like this: “George Harrison was Bob Dylan’s biggest fan in the world. There wasn’t anybody that I’ve ever known that was a bigger Bob Dylan fan. He knew the lyrics to every Dylan song, old and new.”
Bob Dylan was already a legend when Harrison first met him, and George never stopped viewing him that way. Although the two became wonderful friends, Bob was always held in rarified esteem by the former Beatle. The following comments from Harrison illuminate the multifaceted and loving relationship between George and Bob throughout the years.
“Some people don’t like him, but I think he’s brilliant”
“I’m a huge Bob Dylan fan and I’ve got all his records, and I’ve always liked him, and I’ll like him and go on liking him regardless…Some people don’t like him, but I think he’s brilliant.”
“Nobody else was going to say them”
“If Dylan hadn’t said some of the things he did, nobody else was going to say them. Can you imagine what a world it would be if we didn’t have a Bob Dylan? It would be awful.”
“Behind That Locked Door”
In 1968, Dylan was recovering from a motorcycle wreck and experiencing a serious bout of self-doubt. It was Harrison who paid him a visit which started him back on the path to creating music. The two also wrote a tune together called “I’d Have You Anytime” which appears on George’s debut solo album All Things Must Pass. Another song from that album is “Behind That Locked Door”. Written by Harrison for Dylan, “Behind That Locked Door” served as a serious source of confidence and encouragement as Bob attempted his 1969 comeback.
“He’s special”
“I heard a funny story from somebody who once toured with Bob. He said, ‘Well, it took four of them, it only took one of me.’ But that’s true, too–just imagine four Bob Dylans! That’d be tough! I’m sure we’ve all enjoyed and influenced each other. I don’t want to embarrass him…but he’s special. And there’s not a lot of people I’d say that about.”
“An observer of The Beatles”
“In a way, I was always like a bit of an observer of The Beatles, even though I was with them. Whereas I think John and Paul were the stars of The Beatles.” Dylan takes this sentiment a step further. He states: “George got stuck with being the Beatle that had to fight to get songs on records because of Lennon and McCartney. Well, who wouldn’t get stuck? If George had had his own group and was writing his own songs back then, he’d have been probably as big as anybody.”
“If Not for You”
When George needed major stars to play the 1971 charity event Concert for Bangladesh, Bob was there for his friend. Among the songs they discussed performing was Dylan’s “If Not for You”, which Harrison also released on All Things Must Pass the year before. Luckily, cameras happened to be rolling as George and Bob rehearsed “If Not for You”. It remains a forgotten gem in the career of each performer.
“He’s my good friend. I love him”
“Bob is still out there and whether you like him or not, he’s Bob. I’ve always listened to his music. I’m thankful there’s people like that… He’s my good friend. I love him, I really do.”
“He inspired love”
The admiration certainly flowed both ways. As Petty stated, “Bob really adored George, too.” After Harrison’s death, Dylan released the following: “[George] was a giant, a great, great soul. With all the humanity, all the wit and humor, all the wisdom, the spirituality, the common sense of a man and compassion for people. He inspired love and had the strength of a hundred men. He was like the sun, the flowers and the moon, and we will miss him enormously. The world is a profoundly emptier place without him.”
“Every Grain of Sand”
In February of 1988, George gave a radio interview with Bob Coburn. Near the end of the piece, Harrison shares his views on the current music landscape. He says: “If it’s not that commercial it doesn’t mean to say, ‘I’m not any good.’ It’s like, Bob Dylan has got all these albums out there and nobody ever buys them. So go out and buy them, because he’s better than the lot of ya!” To end the interview, George commences an impromptu version of Bob’s 1981 masterpiece “Every Grain of Sand”. The performance is like their friendship, heartfelt and sincere.