George O'Hara Smith
May 04, 2004, 08:57 AM
Since I was asked, here are some thoughts on the times I've been lucky enough to have seen George perform. Always happy to share some memories of The Fabs with you all!
Forest Hill Tennis Stadium - August 1964
After missing out on getting tickets for Ed Sullivan (I kept the rejection letter as a souvenir!) and their show at Carnegie Hall, I was thrilled when I finally got a chance to see the boys in August. It was so exciting to watch as they landed on the field in a helicopter. Since it was a Tennis Stadium, the venue was intimate by most standards, seating only 10,000 or so, but it was outdoors and they had such tiny speakers you could barely hear them above the screams. Heck if you wanted to hear them you could play their records - LOL! The popped back into the helicopter at the end of the show and took off. They were on stage for only a half hour or so, but what a thrill it was to finally see them in person.
Shea - August 1965
Beatlemania was still in full swing this summer and they sold out all 56,000 seats in Shea. The stage was set up on 2nd base, and they drove from the dugout in an ambulance. You always had to sit through such crummy acts before you finally got to see the boys. The crowd was impatient and it must have been very difficult to be one of the opening acts knowing 56,000 people couldn't wait for you to get off the stage! The show didn't last much over a half hour. I think the only thing I actually heard was John singing the first few words of "If I Fell." There was a constant din of non-stop screams which was deafening. I was so hoarse from screaming myself I couldn't speak for several days after this show!
Shea - August 1966
With the backlash from John's "more popular than Jesus" remark Beatlemania seemed to be winding down at this point. Shea didn't sell out this time around, I believe there were about 10,000 unsold tickets, but there was still an enormous crowd and it was still wonderful to see them. We made a huge banner on a bedsheet that said "WE LUV THE BEATLES!" and hung it across the trunk of our car. People in other cars were honking at us all the way there giving us the thumbs up sign. This show lacked the intensity and energy level of the '65 show. The boys were seemed burnt out touring, only going through the motions by now, and it was bittersweet to see them this way. After the show I remember feeling a bit sad as I wondered if this was the last time I'd see them.
Bangla Desh, Madison Square Garden - August 1971
I was vacationing in Canada when I heard tickets were going on sale for this show. I drove back to New York in 12 hours without stopping, got an hour or two of sleep and went to camp out overnight at Madison Square Garden. There were so many people on line they had to open the box office earlier than planned. As soon as the box office opened the line surged forward and I was knocked under a police barricade. I was almost trampled by the mob, but my friend pulled me up by the arm and we ran towards the box office. I wanted to buy tickets for both shows, but the second show had sold out already. There were rumors John would be at that one and I was heartbroken thinking I'd miss him. We didn't know for sure if Dylan would show up until George actually introduced him from the stage. This was not only the precursor to the Live-Aide shows, but the first rock show with a superstar lineup. George came out to introduce Ravi as the opening act. He was wearing jeans and a jeans jacket and looked wonderfully scruffy. What a surprise when he came out for his set in his white suit and orange shirt! He was a little nervous at first, but after a while you could see he was really enjoying himself. Well you've all seen the video - George's guitar and singing were fab. I kept thinking how lucky I was that he decided to hold the show in New York.
Dark Horse (a/k/a Dark Hoarse) Madison Square Garden - December 1974
This time I was lucky enough to be able to buy tickets to both shows at Madison Square Garden. The air was heavy with smoke from all the pot the audience was smoking, and when he came out to introduce Ravi, George chided us that we should think a bit more about God and a little less about our reefer! As you all know, George was really worn down on this tour and could barely sing, but I thought his voice had a sexy edge to it raw like that. He sang "In My Life" and I was so pleased he decided to sing a Beatle tune (especially that one), because he was a little sour on the Fabs at this point in his life. He was still married to Patti and had already started his relationship with Olivia, but it was a surprise to hear him change the words to the song when he sang, "In my life…Olivia more." I was sad to see the show got poor reviews in the press because I didn't want George to get discouraged and not tour again.
"Bob Fest" Madison Square Garden - October 1992
Columbia Records held a 30th anniversary celebration for Bob Dylan, and all his friends were invited. I'd always been a huge Dylan fan, and that along with not knowing if I'd ever get to see George again made me decide to get the best seats I could for this show. I paid several hundred dollars for scalped tickets and sat in the 6th row. It was worth every penny - George and his purple suit were almost close enough to touch! Was anyone else on stage with him? I can't remember - I stared at him the whole show - LOL! George really had fun this evening. I think he enjoyed it best being part of a band rather than the center of attention, and he was surrounded by some wonderful musicians - Eric Clapton, Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn Booker T. Jim Keltner, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Roger McGuinn, George Thorogood, Lou Reed, Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Tracy Chapman, Johnny Cash, June Cash Carter, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Ron Wood, Richie Havens, The Clancy Brothers, Chrissie Hynde, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm and more. Chrissie Hynde introduced George for one of his solo numbers. As she worked up the crowd she referred to him as a former Beatle, and I wondered if that pissed George off! After the show I made my way to an exit door off the side of the stage, and walked right into Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready! Darn why couldn't it have been George - LOL!
George has given me some wonderful memories, and his music will live on and on. I've also been fortunate enough to have seen John, Paul and Ringo solo - but enough reminiscing now - I've got to get back to work!
~Susan
Forest Hill Tennis Stadium - August 1964
After missing out on getting tickets for Ed Sullivan (I kept the rejection letter as a souvenir!) and their show at Carnegie Hall, I was thrilled when I finally got a chance to see the boys in August. It was so exciting to watch as they landed on the field in a helicopter. Since it was a Tennis Stadium, the venue was intimate by most standards, seating only 10,000 or so, but it was outdoors and they had such tiny speakers you could barely hear them above the screams. Heck if you wanted to hear them you could play their records - LOL! The popped back into the helicopter at the end of the show and took off. They were on stage for only a half hour or so, but what a thrill it was to finally see them in person.
Shea - August 1965
Beatlemania was still in full swing this summer and they sold out all 56,000 seats in Shea. The stage was set up on 2nd base, and they drove from the dugout in an ambulance. You always had to sit through such crummy acts before you finally got to see the boys. The crowd was impatient and it must have been very difficult to be one of the opening acts knowing 56,000 people couldn't wait for you to get off the stage! The show didn't last much over a half hour. I think the only thing I actually heard was John singing the first few words of "If I Fell." There was a constant din of non-stop screams which was deafening. I was so hoarse from screaming myself I couldn't speak for several days after this show!
Shea - August 1966
With the backlash from John's "more popular than Jesus" remark Beatlemania seemed to be winding down at this point. Shea didn't sell out this time around, I believe there were about 10,000 unsold tickets, but there was still an enormous crowd and it was still wonderful to see them. We made a huge banner on a bedsheet that said "WE LUV THE BEATLES!" and hung it across the trunk of our car. People in other cars were honking at us all the way there giving us the thumbs up sign. This show lacked the intensity and energy level of the '65 show. The boys were seemed burnt out touring, only going through the motions by now, and it was bittersweet to see them this way. After the show I remember feeling a bit sad as I wondered if this was the last time I'd see them.
Bangla Desh, Madison Square Garden - August 1971
I was vacationing in Canada when I heard tickets were going on sale for this show. I drove back to New York in 12 hours without stopping, got an hour or two of sleep and went to camp out overnight at Madison Square Garden. There were so many people on line they had to open the box office earlier than planned. As soon as the box office opened the line surged forward and I was knocked under a police barricade. I was almost trampled by the mob, but my friend pulled me up by the arm and we ran towards the box office. I wanted to buy tickets for both shows, but the second show had sold out already. There were rumors John would be at that one and I was heartbroken thinking I'd miss him. We didn't know for sure if Dylan would show up until George actually introduced him from the stage. This was not only the precursor to the Live-Aide shows, but the first rock show with a superstar lineup. George came out to introduce Ravi as the opening act. He was wearing jeans and a jeans jacket and looked wonderfully scruffy. What a surprise when he came out for his set in his white suit and orange shirt! He was a little nervous at first, but after a while you could see he was really enjoying himself. Well you've all seen the video - George's guitar and singing were fab. I kept thinking how lucky I was that he decided to hold the show in New York.
Dark Horse (a/k/a Dark Hoarse) Madison Square Garden - December 1974
This time I was lucky enough to be able to buy tickets to both shows at Madison Square Garden. The air was heavy with smoke from all the pot the audience was smoking, and when he came out to introduce Ravi, George chided us that we should think a bit more about God and a little less about our reefer! As you all know, George was really worn down on this tour and could barely sing, but I thought his voice had a sexy edge to it raw like that. He sang "In My Life" and I was so pleased he decided to sing a Beatle tune (especially that one), because he was a little sour on the Fabs at this point in his life. He was still married to Patti and had already started his relationship with Olivia, but it was a surprise to hear him change the words to the song when he sang, "In my life…Olivia more." I was sad to see the show got poor reviews in the press because I didn't want George to get discouraged and not tour again.
"Bob Fest" Madison Square Garden - October 1992
Columbia Records held a 30th anniversary celebration for Bob Dylan, and all his friends were invited. I'd always been a huge Dylan fan, and that along with not knowing if I'd ever get to see George again made me decide to get the best seats I could for this show. I paid several hundred dollars for scalped tickets and sat in the 6th row. It was worth every penny - George and his purple suit were almost close enough to touch! Was anyone else on stage with him? I can't remember - I stared at him the whole show - LOL! George really had fun this evening. I think he enjoyed it best being part of a band rather than the center of attention, and he was surrounded by some wonderful musicians - Eric Clapton, Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn Booker T. Jim Keltner, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Roger McGuinn, George Thorogood, Lou Reed, Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Tracy Chapman, Johnny Cash, June Cash Carter, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Ron Wood, Richie Havens, The Clancy Brothers, Chrissie Hynde, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm and more. Chrissie Hynde introduced George for one of his solo numbers. As she worked up the crowd she referred to him as a former Beatle, and I wondered if that pissed George off! After the show I made my way to an exit door off the side of the stage, and walked right into Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready! Darn why couldn't it have been George - LOL!
George has given me some wonderful memories, and his music will live on and on. I've also been fortunate enough to have seen John, Paul and Ringo solo - but enough reminiscing now - I've got to get back to work!
~Susan