Concert for George
The Royal Albert Hall in London stood empty on the 29th of November 2002. It waited to host a memorial for George Harrison exactly one year after his death. Olivia Harrison and her son Dhani Harrison organized the event with deep personal intent. They sought to honor their father and husband through music rather than silence. Eric Clapton agreed to serve as the musical director for the gathering. The profits from the ticket sales were directed entirely to the Material World Charitable Foundation. This foundation was originally established by Harrison himself during his lifetime. The planning process required coordinating dozens of musicians who had worked with the late artist over decades. Olivia Harrison took charge of the overall vision while Dhani Harrison managed family affairs. Their collaboration ensured that the tribute remained true to Harrison's spirit.
Anoushka Shankar played sitar on the track Your Eyes at the start of the concert. Her performance opened the evening before any rock band took the stage. Jeff Lynne joined Anoushka Shankar and Dhani Harrison to perform The Inner Light together. Ravi Shankar composed Arpan specifically for this occasion and it lasted nearly twenty-three minutes. Tom Petty sang I Need You and Taxman while leading his Heartbreakers across the floor. Paul McCartney performed For You Blue and All Things Must Pass using an acoustic guitar. Ringo Starr played Photograph and Honey Don't with Jim Horn on saxophone. Eric Clapton delivered vocals on If I Needed Someone and Beware of Darkness. Billy Preston played Hammond organ on My Sweet Lord alongside Paul McCartney. Joe Brown closed the show playing I'll See You in My Dreams on ukulele. The setlist included songs from both Beatles and post-Beatles eras arranged faithfully to Harrison's original versions.
A traditional Sanskrit invocation known as Sarvesham began the ceremony before music started. Ravi Shankar dedicated a prayer during the opening segment that honored spiritual traditions. Tanmoy Bose played tabla while Sunil Gupta added flute sounds to the mix. M. Balanchandar handled mridangam duties throughout the Indian classical portion. Sukanya Shankar provided vocal-shloka contributions to the performance. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt played mohan vina adding texture to the arrangement. Chandrasekhar and Balu Raghuraman played violins within the ensemble. The London Metropolitan Orchestra supported the musicians under conductor Andrew Brown. English Chamber Choir joined Boys and Girls Choir courtesy of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. These elements created a sacred atmosphere distinct from typical rock concerts. The combination of Western instruments and Eastern traditions reflected Harrison's lifelong interests.
Four surviving members of Monty Python appeared on stage including Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam. Terry Jones and Neil Innes also performed alongside them during the comedy break. Michael Palin emerged as an over-the-top announcer who claimed he only ever wanted to be a lumberjack. Carol Cleveland joined the group along with Tom Hanks for a final number. The Fred Tomlinson Singers participated in The Lumberjack Song which lasted four minutes. Sit on My Face opened the interlude before transitioning into the longer finale. This segment broke the solemn tone established by earlier performances. Tom Hanks stood among the comedians and musicians without singing but participating fully. The inclusion of these figures added humor to what was otherwise a serious tribute. Their presence demonstrated how Harrison appreciated both spiritual depth and playful absurdity.
A motion picture version directed by David Leland captured the entire event for posterity. Academy Award-winning cinematographer Chris Menges filmed the proceedings at the Royal Albert Hall. Rhino Records released a Blu-ray edition on the 22nd of March 2011. A compact disc version arrived simultaneously with the DVD on the 17th of November 2003. The CD omitted tracks featuring Monty Python and Sam Brown from its running order. Streaming services debuted the concert film in 2018 to mark Harrison's seventy-fifth birthday. A vinyl LP set appeared for the first time during that same year. Catalogue number 0349702412 identifies the original release package distributed globally. USA Today published reviews shortly after the initial home video launch. Looking Back at the Concert for George review offered retrospective analysis years later. These releases ensured the performance reached audiences beyond those who attended live.
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Common questions
When was the Concert for George held at the Royal Albert Hall?
The Concert for George took place on the 29th of November 2002. This event occurred exactly one year after the death of George Harrison.
Who organized the Concert for George and what was their role?
Olivia Harrison and her son Dhani Harrison organized the event with deep personal intent. Olivia Harrison managed the overall vision while Dhani Harrison handled family affairs to ensure the tribute remained true to Harrison's spirit.
Which musicians performed at the Concert for George in London?
Eric Clapton served as musical director alongside Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Anoushka Shankar, Billy Preston, Joe Brown, and members of Monty Python. The London Metropolitan Orchestra and English Chamber Choir also supported the performers throughout the evening.
What happened to the profits from ticket sales for the Concert for George?
All profits from ticket sales were directed entirely to the Material World Charitable Foundation. This foundation was originally established by Harrison himself during his lifetime.
How many years did it take to release the home video versions of the Concert for George?
A compact disc version arrived simultaneously with the DVD on the 17th of November 2003. Rhino Records later released a Blu-ray edition on the 22nd of March 2011.