Page One

Key dates in the life of George Harrison

Staff
Saturday December 01, 2001

• Feb. 25, 1943 – Harrison is born in Liverpool, England, to Harold and Louise Harrison. 

• August 1958 – He joins the Quarrymen, a group that includes schoolmate Paul McCartney and John Lennon. 

• 1959 – He joins McCartney, Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe in a band called the Silver Beatles. 

• August 1960 – The band, now called the Beatles, goes to Germany, quickly becoming a popular local act. 

• May 9, 1962 – Producer George Martin, of EMI subsidiary Parlophone, signs Beatles to first record contract. 

• October 1962 – Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do,” becomes a top-20 hit in Britain. 

• February 1963 – “Please Please Me” becomes the Beatles’ first chart-topping song in Britain. The band’s first album, also called “Please Please Me,” is released the following month. 

• Dec. 23, 1963 – “I Want to Hold Your Hand” becomes the band’s first U.S. release; weeks later, it is their first song to top the Billboard charts. 

• February 1964 – Beatles appear on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and immediately become the biggest band in America. 

• Jan. 21, 1966 – Harrison marries model Patti Boyd. 

• Aug. 29, 1966 – Beatles play last live show, at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park. 

• November 1968 – Harrison releases “Wonderwall Music,” an experimental, all-instrumental film score, his first solo recording and first LP for Beatles’ Apple label. 

• 1969 – Harrison’s song “Something” is No. 1 hit in United States for the Beatles. 

• April 10, 1970 – McCartney announces he is leaving the Beatles, prompting the band to split up. 

• 1970 – Harrison releases solo album “All Things Must Pass.” 

• Aug. 1, 1971 – Concert for Bangladesh is held at Madison Square Garden with friends including Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan and Ravi Shankar. Three-LP live recording produced. 

• Nov. 2, 1974 – Harrison becomes first Beatle to stage solo world tour. 

• June 9, 1977 – Harrison divorces Boyd, who later marries Eric Clapton. 

• Aug. 1, 1978 – His son Dhani born. 

• Sept. 2, 1978 – Harrison marries Dhani’s mother, Olivia Arias. 

• 1979 – He establishes Handmade Films to produce Monty Python’s “Life of Brian.” 

• June 1998 – Harrison discloses that he has been treated for throat cancer. 

• Dec. 30, 1999 – He suffers a collapsed lung as he is stabbed several times by deranged man who breaks into his home near London. 

• July 9, 2001 – He confirms that he had radiation treatment in Switzerland for a tumor. 

• Nov. 29, 2001 – Harrison dies of cancer.