By
Charlie McGroarty
This memorial concert for one quarter of Liverpool’s finest musical export took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November 29th 2002.
However unlike most tribute shows where celebrities come out and play the hits one more time, this show is a rarity.
The reason is because the stars on stage all got together for a communal love and respect for the man and his music.
This is a feeling that becomes very apparent when the Master of Ceremonies Eric Clapton comes out and sets out what the packed audience has waiting for them.
Everyone knows that George Harrison was one of the first Western musicians to introduce Indian music to a Western audience so what better way to start the show than by a piece especially written for the occasion by his mentor Ravi Shankar.
The piece called Arpan is played rather well by Ravi’s daughter Anoushka.
This first part of the show is well worth checking out especially if you are an Indian music novice
The second half of the show is aimed more at the western side of George’s career and it really is an eye-opener.
As mentioned earlier it’s all done with love and affection and covers virtually everything he was involved with.
If you think his solo career only consisted of the song My Sweet Lord, then you are wrong.
The backing band led by the aforementioned Mr. Clapton leads us through tracks from such albums as “All Things Must Pass” songs he wrote in his Beatles days and even a Traveling Wilburys section.
The second half of the show is memorable on a few levels.
Firstly, with a nod to his film producing days (he had a film company called Handmade films), The Monty Python team make a rare live appearance to show the more musical sides of their talents.
They do two songs, one of which has a title which we can mention here (it’s too rude) and secondly a very funny version of the Lumberjack Song.
It is true to say not all the Python team were there, no John Cleese but if you look closely enough at the line of Mounties on stage you will see a well known actor by the name of Tom Hanks, he looked like he had a great time. I guarantee you will too.
Now, it was all down to the music.
And on stage you will see performing together McCartney, Starr and Harrison. However its George’s son Dhani that joins Paul and Ringo along with such other luminaries as Tom Petty,Jeff Lynne, Jools Holland, Joe Brown and many more.
Dhani looks so much like his dad it’s quite scary.
Now the big question is this disc worth it????? The answer is YES, most definitely.
George was undoubtedly the quietest of the Fab Four but this 2 disc DVD is a superb tribute to the man through his music the sense of fun on stage shown by everyone.
The highlights for me is Paul McCartney’s unique version of “Something”on ukulele.
George Formby would have been so proud(maybe Macca got his Georges mixed up) and a finale of I’ll See You In My Dreams by Joe brown which brought the house down.
It was a simple song with a strong emotion felt by everyone on stage, Eric Idle looking especially choked as they came off stage at the end.
Its worth while checking out the extras on this DVD. The behind the scenes footage showing the artists preparing to go on and the interviews from most of the participants are worth a look. They are very entertaining not something you could say about all DVDs.
So if you consider yourself even remotely a fan of the Fab
Four............then buy this set, I can give it no more higher recommendation.
