Diverse perspectives blossomed inside a band as iconic as The Beatles, which is not surprising. Despite John Lennon’s reputation for candor, his fellow Beatles, especially George Harrison, dubbed “The Quiet One,” had moments when their criticisms made headlines, adding to the band’s complex tapestry of internal debate.
Contrary to popular belief, Harrison was a reticent, introspective character who rarely spoke up, instead allowing his bandmates to lead conversations. Under his calm exterior lay a storm of emotions. At the appropriate moment, Harrison could unleash a barrage of words, his remarks slashing through the air with accuracy.
While Harrison was best known for his cutting judgments on social and political issues, he did not mince words when it came to other performers. His criticisms could be harsher than one might imagine, much more so than those of his bandmate Lennon. Whether it was peers from his day or new musicians reinventing music, Harrison did not hesitate to express his displeasure if they did not share his musical vision.
Below is a list of five musicians George Harrison did not like.
1. Neil Young
Despite Neil Young’s popularity and influence, George Harrison did not share the admiration many people had for the Canadian singer-songwriter’s guitar abilities. This was unusual given Harrison’s reputation as a guitar inventor.
In a 1992 studio session film in which Harrison contributed vocals to Dave Stewart’s interpretation of his 1975 solo album ‘This Guitar,’ Harrison publicly professed his distaste for Young’s work during a talk with Bob Geldof and Chuco Merchan. When Geldof expressed admiring Young’s guitar work, Harrison responded with apparent dislike, “I hate it, yeah, I can’t stand it,” even ridiculing Young’s guitar approach amusingly.
2. Oasis
Many artists throughout the classic rock era criticized Manchester’s Oasis, but George Harrison’s condemnation was especially powerful, given his influence on Oasis‘ lead singer, Noel Gallagher. In 1996, Harrison criticized Oasis’ music for lacking depth and specifically targeted Liam Gallagher, prompting a fierce reply from Liam, who was ready to defend his dignity against Harrison’s comments.
3. The Hollies
Despite their Merseyside beginnings, The Hollies fell out with Harrison, particularly after recreating his Beatles song ‘If I Needed Someone‘ in an unacceptable manner. His critical critique in a 1965 NME interview provoked a verbal exchange between Harrison and Graham Nash of The Hollies, revealing the music scene’s fierce rivalry.
4. Sex Pistols
While The Beatles may have anticipated punk’s rebellious mentality, the genre’s pioneers, such as the Sex Pistols, mainly rejected them. In a 1979 Rolling Stone interview, Harrison was critical of punk musically, citing its lack of refinement and overall hostility. Despite acknowledging the socioeconomic issues that drive punk, Harrison argued for happiness above more hate.
5. Elton John
Despite having personal regard for Elton John, Harrison did not love his music, believing it lacked the uniqueness and depth of the inspirations that produced The Beatles’ style. In a 1976 interview with India Today, Harrison stated that he preferred the music of his early influences over John’s, which he found predictable and repetitious.
This list exemplifies Harrison’s candor and discernment, demonstrating his great devotion to musical authenticity and his distinct viewpoint on the enormous panorama of popular music.
1 comment
The hollies were not.from Merseyside.