Thursday, July 14, 2011

Scorsese biography of George Harrison to air on HBO in October

For fans of the Beatles, there was good news recently when it was announced that a documentary produced by Martin Scorsese about ex-Beatle George Harrison will air on HBO in October.

Scorsese is one of the best filmmakers of his generation and has a successful track record when it comes to documentaries involving rock and roll figures. He directed The Last Waltz that recorded the farewell performance of the Band (though they resurfaced in various forms after that). He was also involved in a well-received documentary about Bob Dylan in 2005 titled No Direction Home: Bob Dylan.

As for Harrison, the 'quiet Beatle' may finally get the attention he deserved during his life. The other three Beatles had more extroverted personalities and that guaranteed he would be lost in the shuffle somewhat.

However, one of the most interesting aspects of the Beatles' story was how Harrison began to flower as their career progressed. Early on, he seemed almost content to stand in the background. Slowly, he began to help shape their sound by introducing instruments like the sitar.

By the time the band was nearing its break up, he was writing songs that were as good as John Lennon's and Paul McCartney's. On the Abbey Road album, how many of their songs measure up to Harrison's 'Here Comes the Sun' or 'Something'? Not many. Certainly, Lennon's 'Come Together,' but Harrison's songs hold up better than just about any other song on the album.

Hopefully, this documentary will give Harrison the treatment he deserves.

No comments: