“George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle” (Scribner), Harrison’s reaction wasn’t out of character — if anything, it displayed his “tactless gene” at its worst.Critically, argues Norman, it was the also culmination of years spent in the shadow of Lennon and McCartney, The Beatles’ principal songwriters.Soon after Harrison finally woke up, he issued a more reasoned statement about Lennon’s passing. “I am shocked and stunned.
To rob life is the ultimate robbery in life.”Harrison’s response to Lennon’s death came at a time when the pair were on the outs.
Throughout the Beatles years, their relationship had rarely been straightforward, largely because of Lennon and McCartney refused to allow Harrison the song-writing freedom he demanded.Indeed, the only time that Harrison and Lennon became close was when they experimented with LSD.The drug, Norman writes, had an immediate impact on Harrison.
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