Journalists, writers, fans and commentators often try to explain or understand celebrities by putting labels on them or pigeonholing them based on a few incidents or cherry-picked examples rather than a large swath of time during a career. It seems they want to label someone as good or bad. They often jump to conclusions and can even invent stories (lies) about these celebrities. It’s as if they want to create heroes and villains we can relate to or root for or despise rather than showcase the more compelling story of the complex individual.
A complex individual like George Harrison. He was labeled “The Quiet Beatle.” John was the intelligent one, Paul the cute one, and Ringo was the clown. Right away, these talented, interesting and diverse people were packaged for easy consumption. Pigeonholed. And those stereotypes linger to this day.
All of these men eventually broke out of their individual boxes as well as the Fab Four box they were collectively put in to. They may have lost some fans, but gained many by becoming more interesting in the late 1960’s. After the group broke up, they became even more complex and hard to understand. And the press watched and was hard on them for not being what they, the commentators, writers and many fans, wanted them or expected them to be.
George continues to be the least understood and most difficult to pigeonhole. And I think that’s great. He fought against being defined, labeled or explained for decades, even if it made life harder for him. He wasn’t quiet about his opinions or ideas, and his songs were often filled with his struggles. He was happy to tell you about himself through his words and deeds. Even then, writers rejected this, believing there was something more to it, adding two and two and coming up with nine.
Problem was, he was both saint and sinner, recluse and superstar, lover of people but hater of crowds, grounded yet other-wordly, deep yet supremely goofy, both passionate and very cool. He would close the door to some people and then welcome those same people at another, secret, door meant just for them. He was a big personality that lived a big life.
He was really not that different from you and me. Humans are contradictory creatures by nature.
As fans, we should think; “Wow, good for him! He is living his best life, becoming more interesting, and I support him doing so! I hope he releases an album soon. I am going to go live my life now, and let him live his.” But that didn’t often happen. Unfortunately, his failures were mocked and picked apart, his successes questioned and demeaned, his motives suspect, his music and talent often derided, his words twisted and spread around the world, he was pitted against his fellow Beatles and sued and taken advantage of as often as possible. And people wonder why he didn’t like fame.
I guess it’s fair that celebrities hide behind a label if it helps protect their privacy and reputation. I support whatever they need to do to stay healthy and happy and creative. Unfortunately for George and his bandmates, they were not afforded the chance of anonymity or a sizeable shield from the hot as sun microscope they were under. It cost John his life, and in the end, it possibly cost George a few extra years of his life.
We love stars like George for what they add to the world. We want more. We want to see them and hear about them. It helps us understand ourselves, like all art does. I want to hear the truth, though, and not some embellished angle. I want to hear the whole interview and not a snippet. I think it is infinitely more interesting to hear the stories George’s friends tell about him rather than news stories by writers that have an agenda or want to sell something. The friend may have an angle, but that could add dimension and be another story in itself! All too often, a writer or journalist crafts a story to satisfy themselves, an agenda, their boss and not the truth.
I think George did want to be heard and wanted us to know who he was, warts and all. Like most of us, really. He simply didn’t want it filtered through a news lens that could distort things. His was a big life. And maybe not all that complicated if you think about it. Just stand back, take a moment and look at the big beautiful, relatable picture of George. Admire how each interesting color and unique shape relates to the others to create something stirring, unforgettable and completely satisfying.
More about George’s guitar work.
Jackie's Bower 
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