Ex-Beatles Come Together for George

It has been a year since George Harrison lost his painful battle with cancer, but thanks to a little help from his friends, the Beatle is far from forgotten.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited in London Friday night for a fab tribute concert that also featured the likes of Harrison's longtime pal Eric Clapton, fellow Traveling Wilburys Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, sitar master Ravi Shankar, Joe Cocker and Harrison's son, Dhani. The so-called Concert for George packed more than 5,000 fans--Beatles producer George Martin, Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, Annie Lennox and Bob Geldof, among them--into the Royal Albert Hall, where they were treated to a night of Harrisongs and eulogies to the late guitar great.

The charity event (proceeds were earmarked for the Material World Charitable Foundation, which George founded) was organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, who said in a preshow statement, "The tribute for George will resound not only within the Albert Hall but hopefully reach the spirit of the man so loved by his friends who will be performing and attending."

On all counts, the Concert for George achieved her goals.

The show kicked off with Clapton's cover of "I Want to Tell You," followed by "Here Comes the Sun" sung by Cocker and Dhani backed with Clapton on guitar. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers came out for "Taxman."

Then the crowd went wild as Clapton, the night's emcee and musical director, introduced Starr.

"What a band, what a night. George loved me, and I loved George," the drummer said after taking the stage under a giant portrait of Harrison. Ringo then began crooning his 1970s hit "Photograph" (a song he cowrote with George), with the suddenly poignant lyric, "All I've got is a photograph, and I realize you are not coming back any more."

Sir Paul was next up, saluting his "baby brother" by strumming the ukulele (one of George's favorite instruments). He called the evening "a tribute to a beautiful friend." He also glanced at Harrison's son (who looks uncannily like the singer in his prime Fab Four days) and said, "It looks like George stayed younger and we all got older."

McCartney performed "P.S. I Love You" and "Something" backed with Starr on drums. Clapton joined in on another Harrison classic, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Dhani then led a sing-along version of "My Sweet Lord."

The concert also included other special performances, readings and tributes, including appearances by members of Monty Python (Michael Palin recalled George's work as a film producer and his wicked sense of humor, then sang the riotous "The Lumberjack Song") and Harrison's musical mentor Shankar. "I strongly feel that George is here tonight. He was like a son to me," said the Indian sitar virtuoso.

The teary tribute ended with a specially written finale called "I'll See You in My Dreams," sung by all of the evening's performers.

There were also Harrison tributes Stateside, including a small Los Angeles gathering at Harrison's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Peace activist Jerry Rubin called the memorial "a celebration of George's life and his ongoing promotion of peace and love."

In other Harrison news, court documents revealed Friday that Harrison bequeathed a whopping $155 million in his will. Details of beneficiaries and the division of the money were not made public. Several media outlets speculated that the money will be divided between Harrison's wife and son and various charity organizations.

Harrison passed quietly in Los Angeles on November 29, 2001, at age 58. He was the second Beatle to die--John Lennon was assassinated by a crazed fan in New York City on December 8, 1980.