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The 2 bands that George Harrison was not a big fan of
George Harrison was one of the most influential musicians of all time, and although he was overshadowed by Paul McCartney and John Lennon in The Beatles, he was a fundamental part of the band’s sound. During his successful solo career, he proved that he was also a very talented songwriter who could have contributed much more during his years in the Fab Four if Lennon and McCartney had given him more space. The musician didn’t always talk about other artists, but when he did, he was very candid about his opinions. In the late ’90s, a few years before his death, he criticized two groups.
The 2 bands that George Harrison was not a big fan of
Oasis
Back in 1997, MTV reported (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) that George Harrison told the French newspaper Le Figaro, that Oasis was a “not very interesting” band. At that time, the Manchester group had released only two albums: “Definitely Maybe” (1994) and “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” (1995) but already were the most successful new band from England.
One year before that interview, Harrison had criticized the vocalist Liam Gallagher, saying Oasis would be better without him. The Beatle said that during a conversation with Independent Radio News. (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) “He is like a bit out of date, you know. I mean, he’s a bit, he’s just silly.”
He continued:
“I feel a bit sorry for him, really. Because I think he’s totally missed the bus. I think it was proven when you see the band without him singing. You know, they’re more in tune. I mean, he is just excess baggage, I think. All he does is make people think what a bunch of prannies they are,” George Harrison said.
Liam obviously was not happy with George’s comment and in an interview MTV News replied with his opinion. “If that is his personal opinion, fair enough. I still love the Beatles. I still love George Harrison as a songwriter in the Beatles. But as a person I think he’s a fucking nipple.”
“If I ever meet him I will fucking tell him. If you’re watching, nipple! He doesn’t even know me. So what’s he on about? You know what I mean? So it goes to show, all that time in the Beatles and all that fucking stuff that he’s still fucking stupid. He’s the silly one because he reads the press. How’s he know I am silly? I’ve got four GCSEs, mate. I’m not silly,” Liam Gallagher said.
What Noel Gallagher said about those comments
That wasn’t the only time that Harrison criticized the Oasis frontman, since in an interview featured in the French documentary “Derrière le Miroir” (Behind The Mirror – 1997) he also talked about Liam. (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) “The one who writes the songs, Noel. He is ok. But they don’t have that much depth. The other bloke, he is just pain. I don’t think they need him. The one who writes the songs he can sing them just as well, you know. Maybe because it’s his brother, he’s got to keep him in the band.”
In the same documentary Noel talked about Harrison’s comments and said that the Beatle never met Liam and if he had only read in the newspapers about him, he certainly wouldn’t like him. Many people compared Oasis with The Beatles and the Manchester group always praised the Fab Four. The title of their biggest hit “Wonderwall”, for example, was inspired by the name of Harrison’s first solo album. During their career, the group also covered some songs by the Liverpool group, like: “I Am The Walrus” and “Helter Skelter”.
U2
The other group that George Harrison was not a fan of and believed no one would care about them a few decades later was U2. He criticized them also during the interview with Le Figaro, saying: “Will anyone remember U2 in 30 years? I doubt it. The Spice Girls? I doubt it. The advantage they have is that you look at them and cut off the sound.” Harrison also thought that U2 was an egocentric band, as reported by the Independent in 1997. “Look at a group like U2. Bono and his band are so egocentric. The more you jump around, the bigger your hat is, the more people listen to your music,” George Harrison said.
Like almost every Rock and Roll band from the past six decades, U2 was also influenced by The Beatles and were big fans of their music. In an interview with CNN in 2001, U2’s vocalist Bono talked about Harrison’s comments. “Well, he didn’t like U2 very much. But we loved him. We really did love him. I mean, The Beatles, you know, wrote the map for a group like U2. And he was a quintessential part of it. You know, brought a special songwriting genius that’s easily overlooked.”
Bono continued talking about George Harrison and The Beatles
“I think there’s a sort of unknowable quality. A kind of mysterious quality about his music which made him a very attractive character. (Also) gave The Beatles an extra dimension, really,” Bono said. Like Oasis, U2 also covered a few Beatles tracks during their career, like “Helter Skelter” and in 2005 they performed “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at the Live 8 with Paul McCartney.
Harrison was obviously wrong when he said that in 30 years people wouldn’t remember U2. They have released 15 studio albums and have sold an estimated amount of 150 to 170 million records worldwide. That number makes them one of the best-selling artists of all time. The U2 360° Tour had an attendance of 7.3 million fans and made 736.4 million dollars.
