Rolling Stone Interview with Eric [Archive]

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Siobhan

Oct 10, 2003, 05:11 AM

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=18802

Clapton Talks Harrison Tribute

New DVD features all-star concert for George

Remembering George

On November 29th, 2002, exactly a year after his death, George Harrison was honored at London's Royal Albert Hall. Concert for George, in theaters now and available in November on DVD, documents the performances of Harrison's songs by his closest friends, including Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Paul McCartney. Harrison's twenty-five-year-old son, Dhani, plays acoustic guitar through most of the performance.
"It was [Clapton's] idea," says Harrison's widow, Olivia. "He phoned me not long after George died and said, 'I'd like to do something.' Eric was a very deep friend of George's, so I felt confident and relieved that it was Eric coming to me."

"Olivia had given me this job of being musical director," says Clapton, "to single out people for certain songs, and I found that really hard. We were all quite protective of our relationships with George."

Over the years, the two guitarists shared a unique bond -- always brotherly, even after Clapton married Harrison's first wife, Patti Boyd. "A lot of times during our relationship, I found it very difficult to communicate my feelings toward George -- my love for him as a musician and a brother and a friend -- because we skated around stuff," says Clapton. "I was probably dealing with that, too, making amends."

For weeks, Harrison's friends rehearsed at London's Asylum Studios. Clapton was impressed with McCartney's demeanor: "Those guys' inability to express love for one another was classic," he says of the Beatles. "The exception is Ringo, who says [in the film], 'I love George, and George loved me.' That wouldn't have been so easy for Paul."

McCartney shines, playing ukulele and duetting with Clapton on "Something," and singing lead on "All Things Must Pass." In rehearsals, says Clapton, "Paul had to admit that he didn't know 'All Things Must Pass,' and that was an awful thing to confront. It was huge humble-pie stuff for Paul to be among these people who he may have thought had a better relationship with George than he did. But I believe Paul missed George as much as -- if not more than -- anybody."

The concert's most poignant moment came when Billy Preston sang Harrison's 1970 song "Isn't It a Pity," with Dhani on guitar and vocal harmonies. "That was the most excruciating song," says Olivia. "It was obviously very emotional for me to see him up there paying tribute to his dad. And listening to George's words -- 'Beware of sadness/It can hit you, it can hurt you, make you sore/And what is more, that is not what you are here for' -- feeling so incredibly sad and trying not to be sad -- taking George's advice."

AUSTIN SCAGGS
(October 9, 2003)

FPSHOT

Oct 10, 2003, 05:15 AM

Siobhan, thank you so much for this interview.

It's beautiful.

I won't dare yet to make remarks to what is said about Paul. You know me graemlins/wink1.gif , but it's not the time nor place.

Simply enjoy Eric and Olivia's wonderful touching words.

[ Oct 10, 2003, 05:16 AM: Message Edited By: FPSHOT ]

sourmilkpinky

Oct 10, 2003, 05:21 AM

graemlins/cry2.gif

Feef_The_Hippy

Oct 10, 2003, 06:43 AM

Thank you very much for posting.

Savoy Truffle

Oct 10, 2003, 09:02 AM

Thanks for posting this Siobhan! It's funny, I had just finished reading this myself before I saw you had posted it, haha images/icons/smile.gif

It's quite beautiful. I also won't comment about Paul images/icons/wink.gif , but I think it's quite true (albiet sad) what Eric said about the individual Beatles having trouble expressing their love for each other in the past.

PaulisMine

Oct 10, 2003, 09:50 AM

Thanks for posting this interview! images/icons/smile.gif

Do y'all think that this is something negative toward Paul? I don't see it that way at all. Eric wasn't saying that Paul didn't know George, only that he might have felt strange not knowing the words to ATMP. Well, that's how I read it. I don't think that anyone in the world has the right to question the friendship between Paul and George - I think George was Paul's oldest friend that he was still in contact with (I could be wrong, I'm not sure on this). I could go on about how the friends you make when you're young are those that know you best and so on, but I'll just stop now. *hugs Paul*

FiendishThingie

Oct 10, 2003, 10:08 AM

I'm with you PiM. Eric even says in the film that he's not the emotional type either & that's why he plays guitar. It's his way of dealing with emotions.

I don't think Paul has ever been outwardly emotional. I've seen things that Paul has to deal with right in front of my face & personally, I don't think I'd do as well with keeping such things contained within.

Also, so many of my friends have also had personal experiences with Paul & the stories they've shared... well (you know PiM... I told you about the ice cream one...) I'm impressed by Paul's ablility to still smile with all he deals with. I'm impressed by all four of them for managing to make it though Beatlemania without ending up like Elvis!

But he & Ringo (as well as George & John) are all different & dealt with things differently. Ringo has always worn his heart on his sleeve. It doesn't make him right & Paul wrong. It just shows their individuality. & joining this concert may have been a healing thing for him, too, as it was for Eric.

I think Eric brings up a point true for so many of us. How many people could die today & you would wish that you told them you loved them? Are you like Ringo & are able to tell everybody you love them all the time? Or are you more like Paul & possibly have trouble expressing things &/or possibly not outwardly emotional?

You know, Paul lost his mum at an early age & Eric never knew his father & his mother dumped him off at his grandmothers when he was a baby. Sometimes things like this have an affect on people who hold more things within.

Just some thoughts to ponder.

FT images/icons/wink.gif

FPSHOT

Oct 10, 2003, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted By PaulisMine:
Do y'all think that this is something negative toward Paul? I don't see it that way at all. Eric wasn't saying that Paul didn't know George, only that he might have felt strange not knowing the words to ATMP.Don't think that is the way to see it.

Maybe Clapper means the album, whereas Paul played on the early versions of the song.

Rellevart

Oct 10, 2003, 11:23 AM

Gee, I didn't read any of that as negative towards Paul either....to my mind it was just that in recent years, all these other guys were sort of part of a gang, a clique, if you will, and Paul just wasn't part of it - he'd known George better when they were younger, but in the last 10, 15, 20 years, these other guys were his closer friends. I just think Paul may have felt a little out of place since he wasn't "part of the gang", that's all. images/icons/smile.gif

FPSHOT

Oct 10, 2003, 11:25 AM

Rellevart graemlins/thumbsup2.gif well put.

Magill

Oct 10, 2003, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted By Rellevart:
I just think Paul may have felt a little out of place since he wasn't "part of the gang", that's all. images/icons/smile.gif This is the way I perceived it, also. At least Ringo was there to lean on. images/icons/smile.gif I felt a bit sad that Paul wasn't referred to as "Uncle Paul" by Dhani. images/icons/frown.gif

Legs

Oct 10, 2003, 11:33 AM

Very well put, in fact I am going to repeat it.

Originally Posted By Rellevart:
Gee, I didn't read any of that as negative towards Paul either....to my mind it was just that in recent years, all these other guys were sort of part of a gang, a clique, if you will, and Paul just wasn't part of it - he'd known George better when they were younger, but in the last 10, 15, 20 years, these other guys were his closer friends. I just think Paul may have felt a little out of place since he wasn't "part of the gang", that's all. images/icons/smile.gif

FPSHOT

Oct 10, 2003, 11:35 AM

I actually wanted to say ; these words go together well, but then I thought that may keep you away here, Legs.

Savoy Truffle

Oct 10, 2003, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted By FiendishThingie:
<blockquote>Quote:<hr />Originally Posted By Magill:
[QUOTE]This is the way I perceived it, also. At least Ringo was there to lean on. images/icons/smile.gif I felt a bit sad that Paul wasn't referred to as "Uncle Paul" by Dhani. images/icons/frown.gif I thought the same thing, Magill. But then I know Ringo was around more than Paul in Dhani's life. It's not anything against Paul or Dhani... it's just the way some things go. Still I'm touched that both Paul & Ringo were there!

FT images/icons/wink.gif <hr /></blockquote>In one of Dhani's interviews he mentioned that he thought of both Ringo and Paul as his uncles and that he loved them. images/icons/smile.gif

So it's obvious he thinks of Paul this way too. I hope this makes you guys feel a little bit better. images/icons/smile.gif

Savoy Truffle

Oct 10, 2003, 03:22 PM

Oh, I agree with you too Rell. I actually feel a little bit sorry for Paul in this regard. And I believe he does miss George as much if not more than anyone, as Eric says.

FPSHOT

Oct 10, 2003, 04:00 PM

The remark that Paul does not know/remember the words to All Things Must Pass seems a bit odd when we read how well prepared the show was.

However, even George himself said in various interviews that he forgot his own lyrics.

No big deal.

And as for the love between Ringo, Paul and George (and John) and their families, I believe whatever has happened, that never left/leaves.

Paul maybe have felt uncomfortable between these artists, not being the #1 that night, oh well I think even that is a big ?

onosideboards

Oct 10, 2003, 06:50 PM

Thanks for posting this article. It was very revealing!

old_moon_shining

Oct 10, 2003, 09:43 PM

Thanks Siohban. Eric was in an expressive mood.

Just to say something not mentioned yet - was Patti there? With both of her ex-husbands being so involved in this (and her being on good terms with them) I just wondered!

bobdude

Oct 10, 2003, 09:45 PM

This article reminds me of lyrics from a Lennon song...........You don't know what you got.... until you lose it. I guess maybe Sir Paul should have paid closer attention to the rehearsals in Jan of 1969 when The Beatles were attempting ATMP during the Get Back sessions.

[ Oct 10, 2003, 09:47 PM: Message Edited By: bobdude ]

FiendishThingie

Oct 11, 2003, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted By Magill:
[QUOTE]This is the way I perceived it, also. At least Ringo was there to lean on. images/icons/smile.gif I felt a bit sad that Paul wasn't referred to as "Uncle Paul" by Dhani. images/icons/frown.gif I thought the same thing, Magill. But then I know Ringo was around more than Paul in Dhani's life. It's not anything against Paul or Dhani... it's just the way some things go. Still I'm touched that both Paul & Ringo were there!

FT images/icons/wink.gif

FiendishThingie

Oct 11, 2003, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted By FPSHOT:
Rellevart graemlins/thumbsup2.gif well put.I agree, Rell! Thanks for your thoughts!

FT images/icons/wink.gif

Rellevart

Oct 11, 2003, 12:45 AM

Wow....I just may burst from all this praise. images/icons/wink.gif Glad I'm not the only one who saw it that way. images/icons/smile.gif

sourmilkpinky

Oct 11, 2003, 05:03 AM

How can you love someone so much whom you have never known?
How do you grieve for someone you have never known?
How can you feel so much for the souls left behind?
How can you really not 'know' those whom you've known and loved?

'It's All Too Much' for this mind to take.

Savoy Truffle

Oct 12, 2003, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted By FPSHOT:
The remark that Paul does not know/remember the words to All Things Must Pass seems a bit odd when we read how well prepared the show was.

However, even George himself said in various interviews that he forgot his own lyrics.

No big deal.Exactly. Also wasn't Paul just coming off the 2nd part of his US tour? That could explain why he hadn't brushed up on the lyrics yet.

And too, why would he have known/remembered all the words to ATMP anyway? I'm sure the Beatles didn't make a point of knowing all the words to each other's songs.

sourmilkpinky

Oct 12, 2003, 05:01 AM

besides Paul has a hard time remembering the words to his own songs sometimes. images/icons/smile.gif

Hari's Chick

Oct 15, 2003, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted By sourmilkpinky:
How can you love someone so much whom you have never known?
How do you grieve for someone you have never known?
How can you feel so much for the souls left behind?
How can you really not 'know' those whom you've known and loved?

'It's All Too Much' for this mind to take.I think maybe it is like George said talking about Within You Without You..."the space between us is buzzing as well"...so our souls reach out to each other, meaning we kind of do 'know' him? Ya know?

Hari's Chick

Oct 15, 2003, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted By old_moon_shining:
Eric was in an expressive mood.

Yes! That is just what crossed my mind as well.

Thanks from me too, Siobhan! It was nice to read. I feel a bit sorry for Paul...just because he is kind of singled out (again) to be evaluated by Eric? I think that reflects a bit more on Eric than Paul. EC should not be poking into Paul's grief or speculating because it is no one's place to...even to acquiesce to say nice things. Just IMO. Still, it was very nice to read. images/icons/smile.gif

beatlemad

Oct 16, 2003, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted By Savoy Truffle:
And too, why would he have known/remembered all the words to ATMP anyway? I'm sure the Beatles didn't make a point of knowing all the words to each other's songs.[/QB]That's exactly what I was going to say after reading all the posts.Paul has absolutely no reason to know the words to ATMP.Sure,he rehearsed the song years ago but that means nothing.I bet George didn't know most of Pauls solo stuff and that doesn't matter.

sourmilkpinky

Oct 21, 2003, 03:29 AM

Originally Posted By Hari's Chick:
<blockquote>Quote:<hr />Originally Posted By sourmilkpinky:
How can you love someone so much whom you have never known?
How do you grieve for someone you have never known?
How can you feel so much for the souls left behind?
How can you really not 'know' those whom you've known and loved?

'It's All Too Much' for this mind to take.
I think maybe it is like George said talking about Within You Without You..."the space between us is buzzing as well"...so our souls reach out to each other, meaning we kind of do 'know' him? Ya know?<hr /></blockquote>very well put. Thank you. Does make me think I'm not out of my mind.