Frank Beatles interview unearthed

[oldbeatlechick]

Report on BBC News/ Entertainment Friday 21st November

By Georgie Rogers
6 Music news reporter

Details of a revealing interview with Beatles guitarist George Harrison have come to light after 40 years.

The reel-to-reel tapes have been stored by former journalist Miranda Ward since she talked to Harrison in 1967.

Film director David Lambert, who has heard the recordings, said: "It was really the meaning of life according to George Harrison in 1967."

He discussed subjects including Eastern mysticism, politics, Britain's drink culture and drug use, Mr Lambert said.

He heard the tapes while making a documentary about the Magical Mystery Tour film.

He said: "It was only a brief chat about that, but he went on and discussed all aspects of life and the way he viewed it at the time."

Alcohol and drugs

Harrison is often referred to as the "quiet" Beatle and Miranda Ward was a friend of the group at the time.

Mr Lambert said: "He covers all aspects of things, the Eastern mysticism, he was very involved at the time with the Maharishi [Mahesh Yogi].

"Then he goes on to talk about the drink culture of Great Britain which in 1967, from how he describes it, seems exactly as it is today.

"He talks about use of drugs and how certain politicians tend to rule the world and rule our lives."

Mr Lambert only used a small section of the interview in his film, The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour Memories, and said the rest of was "pretty controversial".

But he added: "I think you'll actually look at George and think, 'The guy really is talking a lot of sense and people should have listened possibly at the time'.

"He wasn't one to talk about these things. If you listened to it, you would fully expect someone like John [Lennon] to be doing the interview."

Mr Lambert believes the full interview will see the light of day and could fetch "hundreds of thousands of pounds" at auction.

"At the moment there's a lot of interest in that," he said. "I believe Martin Scorsese, who did the Rolling Stones film is looking to do a 90-minute film on George Harrison.

"So, there is interest from the Scorsese camp for this interview."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7742251.stm

[oldbeatlechick]

It's revealed...

by Jason Gregory
Saturday, November 22, 2008

Director Martin Scorsese has expressed interest in making a film about the late George Harrison following the discovery of a lost interview with the Beatle.

A tape containing the interview was brought forward by journalist Miranda Ward, who spoke to Harrison in 1967.

Harrison, who died in 2001, discuses Eastern mysticism, politics and drink and drugs during his conversation with Ms Ward.

Film director David Lambert, who has listened to the interview, told BBC 6Music that much of the tape was "pretty controversial".

But he added: "I think you'll actually look at George and think, 'The guy really is talking a lot of sense and people should have listened possibly at the time'.

He said Scorsese, who made the recent Rolling Stones documentary Shine A Light, wants to make a 90-minute film of what Harrison said.

"At the moment there's a lot of interest in that. I believe Martin Scorsese, who did the Rolling Stones film is looking to do a 90-minute film on George Harrison,” he said.

"So, there is interest from the Scorsese camp for this interview."

Lambert has used a portion of the interview in a documentary about the Magical Mystery Tour film.

http://www.gigwise.com/news/47705/Martin-Scorsese-Plans-To-Shoot-Beatles-Film

[twovirgins]

I saw that Im very interetsed that Scorsesse may make a film might be very good

[oldbeatlechick]

Miranda Ward is actually a member on here and I went to Beatle Week with her in Liverpool in August!

[Lucy]

So has Miranda sold it on or something?

[oldbeatlechick]

David lambert has heard it but it is still Mirandas by copyright, I must get in touch with her and see what is happening!

[FPSHOT]

We have had a thread about this interview a while ago.

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31362&highlight=Miranda+Ward

Now, a small part of the interview has appeared on a few websites and was taken from a recording which appears on a few Bootlegs

I have talked with Miranda in July this year about it in connection with the copyright and she was okay to have this on Links to share, so again, thank you Miranda for that :smile1:

So this is the small part

In a brief conversation that appeared on the BBC Radio program 'Scene And Heard', George Harrison spoke with reporter Miranda Ward from the set of the Beatles made-for-TV film, 'Magical Mystery Tour.' George talks about the concept behind the Beatles new film project, and also shares his interests in Indian culture and spirituality.

The interview was recorded on September 13th 1967, and would be aired two weeks later on September 30th. 'Magical Mystery Tour' would be telecast on BBC Television on December 26th.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GEORGE: "The contract we signed with United Artists is for three films, two of which we've done. The third one, the thing is, we can do it any time we want. We havent so far done the film because we didn't want to make a film just to make some money. We wanted to do a film that might mean something to either us or to the people who go to watch it. So the thing is, over the last year or two since 'Help', we've had thousands of ideas but they've all been 'Help' and 'Hard Day's Night' revisited. It's no good. We've got to have something good, how we visualize the film. It's got to be at least the difference between the song 'Help' and 'Sgt Pepper,' as the movie has got to be that progressed too. So we haven't made it until we feel it's right... and I think we should start it 'round about next February. And if we do, we'll probably end up by not having a big production team film it all."

Miranda: "Rather like you're doing this one."

GEORGE: "Yeah. This part that we've been doing is mainly just to tie the whole show together, because it's called a Magical Mystery Tour, then this is just a typical coach tour, but anything can happen. You see, that's the difference because it's magic, then we can do anything. So these parts, these sequences, we just had a few ideas. It's mainly just to show the people getting on the coach and a few little things that happen during the course of the coach trip."

Miranda: "How does it feel to be out on the road again as 'The Beatles'?"

GEORGE: "Uhh, yes. I dunno. I've never really known what it's been like as The Beatles. (laughs) Because, you see, The Beatles is still something abstract as far as I'm concerned. You know, it's something that other people see us as The Beatles, and I TRY to see us as The Beatles but I can't."

Miranda : "At the beginning, didn't you feel like a Beatle?"

GEORGE: "Uhh, I suppose I did, yeah. In fact I do sometimes, you see, when it's in the midst of all this and people are saying 'Beatles this' and 'Beatles that,' then I've got to accept the thing that they think I'm a Beatle. I'm willing to go along with it, you know, if they want me to be a Beatle then I'll be one."

Miranda: "When did you first start becoming interested in Indian culture and religion?"

GEORGE: "Probably about two years ago, and uhh... I don't really know exactly when, but when I first noticed that I was interested with the music first of all, I think, and along with that I'd heard stories of people in caves. Yogis, as they're known. People levitating and demateriealizing. (laughs) And doing all sorts of wonderous things. And then, through the music... with meeting Ravi (Shankar), it was great because he's a Braman which is a high sect. And uhh, just all the groovy people are bramans, like the scientists, religious people and musicians, and all those. And then in the end, I'd like to become this myself. I'd just like to have this quality that these people have, which is a spiritual thing. And I think with us having all the material wealth that we need... you know, the average person feels that if they had a car and a telly and a house, and that's where its at. But if you get a car and a telly and a house and even, you know, a lot of money, your life's still empty because it's still all on this gross level. And what we need isn't material, it's spiritual. We need, sort of, some other form of peace and happiness. And so, that's why the Indian people all seem very peaceful and as though they have found something, because they haven't had the material wealth. They've had to look at themselves for some answer, and they've found it inside themselves."

http://www.netrhythms.co.uk/articles_p5.html#darkhorse

That of course is not all of the interview.

Miranda was on the BBC Breakfast News Show to talk about the interview and about the Magical Mistery Tour project

1XZQ4kY4p2c

[oldbeatlechick]

I know about the previous post FP, and I was with her the day before the BBC interview!

I also knew about Scorsese's interest before all this just thought people may have been interested to read what was reported! Keeping things up to date!

[FPSHOT]

Oh I would have posted it too because it is very interesting to read about the unknown parts yet, I only meant to mix it with a part of the interview so not to say "old news" or anything like that :smile1:

[oldbeatlechick]

That's ok FP, I guess I didn't read it properly the first time!

[Miranda Ward]

No way have I sold the interviews! They are in safe storage until I can set up the tape recorder which has not arrived yet and sort them all etc! And also depending on my health! The tape machine was a part of the 'deal' for doing the film and allowing them to use merely the parts of the interviews that directly related to MMT.

The director had the privilege of hearing the whole thing as a necessary factor of deciding what I was prepared to let him use along with what he would like to use! It was totally out of order that he made any public comments on any other part of the contents! :angry1: He had also told me that he had heard that Scorsese now appears to not be doing anything on his GH project. I have a sinking feeling that that 'angle' was used by the journalist as the best 'lead in' and thus Lambert was asked about it when he just thought he was getting another bite at the cherry of publicity for his rockumentary'.

I very much want the tapes to 'hear' the light of day but not until at least Olivia Harrison has had a chance to listen to them, should she wish to and I have been told she does. So we will see. . . .

I am hoping that they can maybe bankroll getting my house adapted for my increased disability along with a new car that would be easier to drive - like one with power steering!! If money were not a critical factor I would love to have been able to just put up on-line to share!

Thank you very much indeed OBC for alerting me to what David was doing.:smoking3::smoking3::smoking3::smoking3:

I have now re-read the post that FP put up and I am pretty certain that it is, indeed, a direct transcript of part of the broadcast (1967) so it is in fact, perfectly OK for it to stay up if people are interested in it.

Once again, my thanks to OBC for being a brilliant PA!! :smoking3: :laugh5:


Miranda

And yes, the interview is fascinating and very profound. I had never heard GH talk so openly on the record before. My 'contribution' was minimal!:smoking2:

[Miranda Ward]

Miranda Ward is actually a member on here and I went to Beatle Week with her in Liverpool in August!

What utter garbage! It was entirely due to OBC that I got to Liverpool - she took me up there! And further more, she then brought me home!

Miranda Ward