Hari Scruffs - Chronicle Part 1 of 5

Part 1 of 5, 1909-1967
Part 2 of 5, 1967-1970
Part 3 of 5, 1970-1987
Part 4 of 5, 1987-1993
Part 5 of 5, 1993-Present

May 28 1909 George's father, Harold Hargreaves Harrison, is born.

Mar 10 1911 George's mother, Louise French, is born.

May 20 1930 George's parents, Harold Harrison and Louise French, are married at Brownlow Hill Register Office.

Feb 25 1943 George is born at 11:42 p.m. at 12 Arnold Grove, Wavertree, Liverpool. (In 1992, George stated that recently he had learned his true date of birth is Feb 24. See Dec 5 1992)

Mar 17 1944 George's first wife, Patricia Anne Boyd, is born. (Some sources list Patti's birth year as 1945. However, info on George and Patti's marriage certificate confirms Patti's year of birth as 1944.)

1949 The Harrison family moves to 25 Upton Green, Speke, Liverpool.

Sep 1954 George begins attending the Liverpool Institute. One year his senior, Paul is already a student. They often meet on the bus going home.

Summer 1956 George, his brother Pete and friends form a group called The Rebels. They have one performance.

Sep 7 1957 For the first time, George sees the Quarry Men play.

Dec 20 1958 George's oldest brother, Harry, marries Irene McCann. The Quarry Men play at the wedding.

Feb 6 1958 George's impresses John and Paul with his rendition of Bill Justis' ‘Raunchy.' Perhaps a month later, George is accepted into the Quarrymen.

Jun 19 1959 George drops out of school to pursue a career in music.

Fall 1959 George reluctantly takes a job at Blacklers, a popular Liverpool department store, as an apprentice electrician. He quit to go on tour in Scotland with Johnny Gentle and his backup band, the Silver Beetles (as they were then known).

Nov 21 1960 George is deported from Germany after officials discover he's underage. (see Mar 1 1961)

Mar 1 1961 Now that George has turned 18, Allen Williams, the Beatles' first manager, writes to Germany, requesting that the Beatles be allowed to return. (see Nov 21 1960)

Jun 22 1961 Backing Tony Sheridan, the Beatles record several songs, including George's first composition, an instrumental number called ‘Cry For A Shadow,' co-written with John. (see Sep 12 1963)

Jan 1 1962 The Beatles audition at Decca Records; George sings ‘Sheik of Araby.'

Jun 6 1962 The Beatles audition for George Martin at EMI Studios. When George Martin says, "If there's anything you don't like, just tell me," George Harrison replies, "Well, I don't like your tie for a start."

Aug 23 1962 George attends John and Cynthia's marriage ceremony at the Mount Pleasant Register Office.

May 10 1963 George is a judge at the Lancashire and Cheshire Beat Group Contest in Liverpool.

Jul 30 1963 ‘Roll Over Beethoven' is recorded with George on lead vocal.

Sep 12 1963 ‘Don't Bother Me,' the first song composed by George, is recorded with George on lead vocal. (see Jun 22 1961)

Nov 9 1963 George signs a 5-year music publishing contract with Northern Songs Ltd.

Nov 16 - Oct 3 1963 George and his brother Peter visits their sister Louise at her home in Benton, Illinois. There, George and Louise persuade a local DJ to play ‘From Me To You' and ‘She Loves You,' possibly the first time Beatle records are heard in the US. During this trip, George sat in with a local band, The Four Vests, at a couple of clubs.

Dec 18 1963 George, John and Paul record Rolf Harris' ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport' with Rolf Harris lead singer. The recording has been bootlegged.

Jan 1964 In Paris, during an argument with Brian Sommerville, the Beatles' press agent at the time, George throws orange juice in Sommerville's face. Sommerville retaliates by giving George a box on the ear.

Jan 5 1964 George and Ringo tape an appearance on BBC Radio's ‘The Public Ear.'

Jan 12 1964 George and Ringo's appearance on BBC Radio's ‘The Public Ear' is aired.

Jan 28 1964 George dines with record producer Phil Spector and The Ronettes.

Feb 9 1964 The Beatles, including a very sick George, perform on Ed Sullivan.

Feb 25 1964 On his 21st birthday, 60 postal sacks containing 30,000 cards and presents arrive for George.

Mar 1 1964 ‘I'm Happy Just to Dance With You,' written by John expressly for George, is recorded with George on lead vocal.

Mar 2 1964 George meets his future wife, Patricia Anne Boyd, on the set of ‘A Hard Day's Night.'

Mar 20 1964 George takes actress Hayley Mills to a charity showing of ‘Charade' at the Regal Cinema in Henley-on-Thames where Friar Park, George's future home, is located. (On Jul 18 1986 George will write a letter to protest plans to tear down the Regal Cinema.)

Mar 27 1964 John, Cynthia, George and Patti spend Easter weekend in Dromolan Castle in Ireland.

Apr 30 1964 During an interview, George jokingly tried to strangle John.

May 2 1964 John, Cyn, George and Patti go to Honolulu where they are forced to leave by the relentless press. They then fly to Papeete in Tahiti where the press continue to hound them.

May 8 1964 George, Patti, Ringo and Hayley Mills attend a party at the Pickwick Club to celebrate Anthony Newley and his wife Joan Collins' return home from the US.

May 12 1964 George, Patti, John and Cynthia leave for a vacation in Papeete (Tahiti) and Polynesia.

Jul 2 1964 Upon the Beatles' return to England from Sydney, Australia, George is fined £30 import duty on a Pentax camera he had bought in Hong Kong.

Jul 12 1964 On his way to perform with the Beatles at the Hippodrome Theatre, George sustains minor injuries in an accident involving his Jaguar. Passersby collect pieces of broken glass as souvenirs.

Jul 17 1964 George buys a bungalow in Esher ("Kinfauns") for £20,000.

Jul 20 1964 ‘Don't Bother Me' is released as a single, with George on lead vocal.

Jul 25 1964 George's appearance on BBC TV's ‘Juke Box Jury' is aired.

Aug 25 1964 George and Paul visit Burt Lancaster at his home for a private screening of Peter Sellers' ‘A Shot In The Dark.'

Aug 25 1964 At Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, after having warned a photographer not to take his picture, George is photographed throwing a highball into the photographer's face. (see Jan 1964)

Aug 30 1964 At the Lafayette Motor Inn in Atlantic City, New Jersey, George plays a game of Monopoly with singer Jackie de Shannon who was also on tour as a backup act for the Beatles.

Sep 11 1964 George forms his own publishing company, Mornyork Ltd., later called Harrisongs Ltd. (see Dec 7 1964)

Oct 18 1964 ‘Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby' by Carl Perkins, George's idol, is recorded with George on lead vocal.

Nov 29 1964 George and John go to the Crazy Elephant nightclub with 2 members of the Miracles.

Dec 7 1964 George changes Mornyork Ltd. to Harrisongs Ltd. (see Sep 11 1964)

Dec 8 1964 George visits Ringo at University College Hospital where Ringo had just had his tonsils removed.

Dec 9 - 19 1964 George and Patti vacation in the Bahamas.

Dec 31 1964 George, Patti, Paul and Jane attend a New Year's Eve party at the apartment of EMI producer Norman Newell.

Jan 15 1965 George and Ringo attend a party given by Melody Maker journalist Bob Dawbarn.

Jan 27 1965 George is a witness to his brother Pete's wedding.

Jan 28 1965 George and Patti vacation in Europe.

Feb 11 1965 George attends Ringo and Maureen's marriage ceremony.

Feb 15 1965 ‘I Need You' is recorded with George on lead vocal.

Feb 17 1965 ‘You Like Me Too Much' is recorded with George on lead vocal.

Mar 18 1965 John's childhood friend Pete Shotton, John and George are made directors of Hayling Supermarkets Ltd., run by Pete. The venture is funded by the Beatles.

Apr 16 1965 George and John are interviewed live on ‘Ready Steady Goes Live!' on British TV.

Apr 16 1965 George and John appear on UK TV's ‘Ready Steady Goes Live!' to promote the Beatles new single, ‘Ticket To Ride.' There, they sang backing vocals for Adam Faith on ‘I Need Your Lovin'.' The recording is available on the Beatles' bootleg ‘Free As A Bird.'

May 21 1965 George and Patti spend the day shopping.

Jun 3 1965 John, Cyn, George and Patti attend Allen Ginsberg's 39th birthday party. Appropriately, Ginsberg wears nothing but his birthday suit. Fearing photographers, John and George make a hasty departure.

Jul 7 1965 George, Patti, Paul and Jane attend a party given by the Moody Blues.

Jul 14 1965 George, John, Ringo and their wives attend the Bastille Night party at the Scotch St. James.

Aug 8 1965 George and John attend the Richmond Jazz Festival to see The Animals in concert.

Aug 9 1965 George, John and Paul participate in a recording session for The Silkie's cover of John's ‘You've Got To Hide Your Love Away.'

Oct 12 1965 For the first time, George plays sitar on a Beatles recording, ‘Norwegian Wood,' which at the time was called ‘This Bird Has Flown.' His sitar is a cheap model bought at Indiacraft.

Oct 16 1965 George's ‘If I Needed Someone' is recorded with George on lead vocal.

Nov 8 1965 George's ‘Think For Yourself' is recorded with George on lead vocal.

Nov 17 1965 George and Patti spend the day shopping.

Nov 30 1965 George and John tape BBC interviews syndicated abroad on the ‘Pop Profile' series.

Dec 2 1965 One of George's guitars falls off the back of the car en route to Berwick-on-Tweed and is smashed by oncoming traffic.

Dec 23 1965 George proposes to Patti. (different sources give slightly different dates)

Dec 26 1965 Chauffeur Alf Bicknell drives George to his mother's new bungalow for a surprise visit. George and Alf have to sleep on camp beds in the attic.

Dec 31 1965 George, Patti, Paul and Jane attend a New Year's Eve party with EMI executives.

Jan 8 1966 George, John and Ringo attend a party at Mick Jagger's home.

Jan 13 1966 George and Patti, and Mick Jagger and Chrissie Shrimpton dance at Dolly's nightclub in London's West End.

Jan 21 1966 George and Patti get married at the Leatherhead and Esher Register Office in Surrey. Paul and Brian are best men. (John and Ringo were in Trinidad.) Later there's a party at George's villa in Esher.

Jan 22 1966 George and Patti hold a press conference.

Feb 4 1966 George and Patti see the play ‘Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs' at the Garrick Theatre. (see late 1974)

Feb 8 1966 George and Patti fly to Barbados for their honeymoon.

Feb 25 1966 George and Patti return from their honeymoon.

Mar 24 1966 George, Patti, Paul, Jane and Cilla Black attend the premiere of ‘Alfie' at the Plaza Cinema, Haymarket, London.

Mar 28 1966 George and Ringo see Roy Orbison perform at the Grenada Cinema.

Apr 11 1966 George's ‘Love You To' is recorded. Its working title is ‘Granny Smith.'

Apr 13 1966 George's ‘Love You To' has overdubs added.

Apr 18 1966 George and John see The Lovin' Spoonful perform at The Marquee.

Apr 20 1966 The first recording session for George's ‘Taxman.'

May 5 1966 George's guitar solo on ‘I'm Only Sleeping' is worked on for 5 ½ hours. The solo was recorded regularly, then overdubbed onto the tape backward.

May 27 1966 George and John attend Bob Dylan's concert at the Royal Albert Hall. This is the infamous show where Bob was booed when midway through he went electric.

Jun 1966 George and Paul meet Ravi Shankar at the home of actor Peter Sellers.

Jun 1 1966 George sees Ravi Shankar perform at the Royal Albert Hall.

Jun 2 1966 George's ‘I Want to Tell You' is recorded with George on lead vocal.

Jun 7 1966 The day is spent rehearsing at George's home in Esher, "Kinfauns."

Jun 23 1966 The official opening of Sibylla's, a new London nightclub in which George has a 10% shareholding.

Jun 30 1966 George is made director of Kevin Macdonald Associated Ltd., the company that runs Sibylla's.

Jul 8 1966 George and Ringo appear on the BBC Home Service's radio show ‘Today.'

Aug 2 1966 George and Patti drive to Devon to visit Patti's mother, Diana Jones.

Sep 14 1966 George and Patti travel to India so George may begin serious study of the sitar with Ravi Shankar and Ravi's protégé.

Sep 19 1966 After the press discovers that George and Patti are in Bombay, George is compelled to give a press conference at the Hahal Hotel. He explains that he's in Bombay to study and get some peace and quiet.

Oct 21 1966 George tapes an interview with BBC Bombay correspondent Donald Milner.

Oct 22 1966 George and Patti return to London from Bombay.

Oct 26 1966 At London Airport, Ravi Shankar, dressed in a western suit, is greeted by George, dressed in Indian clothes.

Oct 31 1966 Donovan begins a week's stay with George and Patti in Esher.

Nov 20 1966 George and John attend a party Brian gives for The Four Tops.

Dec 11 1966 The BBC Home Service radio show, ‘The Lively Arts,' broadcasts an interview George did in India where he talks about philosophy and Indian music. (see Oct 21 1966)

Dec 31 1966 George, Patti, Brian, Eric Clapton and others are not allowed into Annabel's Night Club because George is not wearing a tie; he refuses the tie offered by the doorman. Instead, they see in the New Year at Lyon's Corner House Restaurant.

Jan 15 1967 George and Paul see Donovan perform at the Royal Albert Hall.

Jan 21 1967 George gives Donovan his first sitar lesson.

Jan 28 1967 George and Paul see The Four Tops at the Royal Albert Hall.

Feb 13 1967 The main recording session for ‘It's Only A Northern Song.'

Feb 19 1967 George and Patti visit Keith Richards. After they leave, the police arrest Mick, Keith and Robert Fraser for drug possession. It's claimed that the police deliberately waited for George and Patti to leave so an MBE holder would not be arrested. (They waited 2 more years for that.)

Mar 15 1967 Recording begins on ‘Within You Without You.'

May 20 1967 George, John, their wives and Brian take afternoon tea with Ringo, Maureen and Zak at "Sunny Heights," Ringo and Maureen's new home in Weybridge.

May 25 1967 The Beatles begin recording George's ‘It's All Too Much.'

Jun 4 1967 George, Patti, Paul and Jane see a show headlined by The Jimi Hendrix Experience at Brian's Saville Theatre.

Jun 14 1967 George is recorded on violin in this recording session for ‘All You Need Is Love.' However, this recording was not used in the final mix.

Jun 28 1967 George is fined £6 for speeding in his black Mini Cooper.

Jul 20 1967 George, Patti, Ringo and Neil fly to Athens to visit Alex Mardas ("Magic" Alex).

Jul 29 1967 George and Patti return from Greece.

Aug 1 1967 George, Patti, Alex Mardas and Neil fly to Los Angeles where they rent a house on Blue Jay Way. That evening, George calls Derek Taylor to visit, but Derek gets lost. While waiting, George writes ‘Blue Jay Way.'

Part 1 of 5, 1909-1967
Part 2 of 5, 1967-1970
Part 3 of 5, 1970-1987
Part 4 of 5, 1987-1993
Part 5 of 5, 1993-1999