“He was never comfortable with it. He wanted a group”: Why George Harrison wasn’t keen on being a solo artist
George Harrison may have been known as ‘the quiet Beatle’, but he much preferred making music with others rather than as a solo performer.
Harrison released several albums as a solo artist, including Wonderwall Music for the accompanying 1968 film, which marked the first solo release from a member of The Beatles. But in 1988, Harrison longed to be part of a band again, and he co-founded the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys.
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The group consisted of Harrison alongside Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty, and came together as a result of Harrison and Lynne dreaming up a new band during the sessions for Harrison’s 1987 album Cloud Nine. In a 2007 Uncut interview, which has recently been republished online, Petty, Lynne, and more looked back on the magic of the supergroup.
“George had those intense moments in his career when it was absolute bedlam, so there were times when he craved solitude, but he also loved being with friends,” said his widow, Olivia Harrison.
Lynne added: “We were three-quarters of the way through Cloud Nine, and every night, as we were relaxing with a few drinks after mixing a big epic or whatever, George and I had the same conversation: ‘We could have a group, you know?’ ‘Yeah, we could.’ He didn’t like the idea of being a solo guy – that’s what he told me. He was never comfortable with it. He wanted a group, and, of course, George could do anything he wanted.”
The group became dormant in the early ’90s. They released their final album – named the Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, despite it being their second record – in 1990, which they completed after the death of Orbison in 1988.
Looking back on the whole experience in the 2007 Uncut interview, the late Tom Petty added: “It was great having George Harrison as our lead guitarist – very convenient. Thank you, God. He was just the best fellow we ever met. We got into an incredible run of music there, and we were havin’ a blast doin’ it. Not one day was like work. It was all just very natural.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
