An Evening in Oakland

Have you ever imagined what it would have been like to go backstage and hang out with George Harrison?   Well in this fan's story that is exactly what happened.   This story comes from the November/December 1975 issue of the Harrison Alliance.   It is written by someone who at the time of submitting it into that fanzine wished to remain anonymous.   The names in the story have been changed.

As I was typing this one up, I have to admit that I found the whole thing hard to believe.   Just way too many amazing things happened!  Since the girl wished to have her name withheld and she did not get any photos (forgot her film....hmmmm?) or get an autograph, it is hard to prove that it is a true story and not a work of fan fiction.    I would LIKE to think that it was true and these fans were just extremely lucky and that George was truly a kind man.   Well I do believe that George was kind from everything I know about him, but I am not 100% convinced that all of this really happened this way.   But I will post it and leave it up to you all to decide.   Like I said, I really WANT this to be a true story.   Maybe the girl who sent it into the Harrison Alliance all those years ago (yes that is a pun) will come out and say that it was her.  That would clear things up a bit.

The photos do not go with the story but are two photos I recently found on ebay from the 1974 North American Dark Horse Tour.

It all started Friday afternoon (November 8, 1974); we (my friend Leigh and I) started on our way to the Oakland Coliseum early to be sure to get good seats.  It takes an hour to get there.  When we arrived I discovered I’d forgotten to bring the early show tickets.  (I was nervous).  So we had to go back to get them, then we were on our way to the Coliseum again.  When we arrived for the second time there was no one there, so we peeked into the Coliseum windows and as we looked, a guard at the entrance door asked if we’d like to wait inside as it was very windy that afternoon.   We certainly weren’t going to refuse this offer, so we went in.  We found our places behind the stage section that was being roped off.  As we made ourselves comfortable we noticed on the stage a lot of equipment, and people wearing Dark Horse sweatshirts and badges.  We came to the conclusion they were the tour stagehands.  Nobody paid any attention to us, so we sat and watched.  The most nerve-wracking thing to watch was the hanging of the Dark Horse scroll that was to hang above George and the band,.  That thing must have weighed tons because those poor guys were sweating and cursing it all the while they tried to hang it so it wouldn’t fall on anything or anyone.  After 2 ½ hours it was up to stay, everyone prayed!  AT 4:00pm sharp George and company were to arrive to test the mikes out.  At 5 to 4 in walked Ravi Shankar, behind him tom Scott, then Billy Preston.  By this time we were all prepared to see George.  It was now 2 minutes to 4; then with not even a minute away 2 new guards caught us and asked us to leave.  We argued politely for a few seconds, more like begging them just for a few more minutes, but the answer was no.  So out we went and in came George.  That was the saddest and sickest feeling, being so close to seeing him.  We then entered at 5:30 with hundreds of other people.  As we entered now we knew we had to look for our assigned seats.  To our disappointment they were too far away from the stage to take any decent pics.  So we waited til the show started and then off we went to the seats behind the stage.  There was no one there, only one of the tour people.  He gave us a “no-no” look but didn’t do anything about it.  After George sang awhile a guard came to us and we thought, “Well here goes.”  He was very nice; he told us as long as no one else joined us we could stay where we were, if we were super quiet.  We almost went on our knees with thank-yous.  So, we enjoyed Harrison from behind.  He’s great all around.  We then noticed a door opened next to us and out came 14 or 15 people taking off their shoes.  They were the Shankar people waiting for George’s introduction.  It was so funny to see 15 pairs of shoes sitting in front of us.  We knew from this little event that George  would have to pass us to get to the dressing room.  We got so excited and starting looking out for guards.  The music stopped and then began with Shankar alone.

George left the stage and was headed our way, one hand on his stomach.  Al we could do was smile.  He didn’t look too happy.  As he slowly walked past us, Leigh yelled, “What’s wrong?”  He just turned, looked, and went in the door.  We didn’t care; he had to come out sometime before the show was over.  After a few minutes he came out and came straight towards us.  Half smiling he asked, “What are you ladies doing back here?  The show is over there.”   All we could explain was it was too dark and difficult to find our seats and I’m too small to see anything out there anyway (I’m only 5’ tall).  He laughed and said, “I’m not feeling well.  The medication I’ve been given for my Dark Hoarse throat is making my stomach upset.”  He then looked down at my shoes and I began to laugh.  He looked and me and smiled, then said, “I’ve got to go back in.  See you ladies in a bit.”  He turned slowly and went through the swinging doors.  After Ravi Shankar’s set was finished a man went to get George and they both walked past us, George still with his hand on his stomach, not looking at all well.  But on with the show he went.   

As it was time for intermission, we got prepared to take pictures.  But stupid me forgot the film!  That really killed me.  I mean, how dumb can one be?  At least Leigh took some good film.  I sat so still waiting to get his attention for an autograph at least.  He came towards us being hugged by Bill Graham, both of them smiling, followed by the whole band.  Everyone was talking and wiping their faces.  As George walked past us he looked our way and said, “Well c’mon then if you’re comin’” We both jumped over the low railing like cattle in a stampede and joined everyone to walk through those swinging doors.  WE could not believe this was happening.  When we reached the room one of the Shankar people offered us chairs.  George wanted to know our names.  I told him I was Ann.  He introduced us to the band, he said, we wouldn’t know who’s who from behind.  He then offered us some juices to drink from a table with all types of fruit juices, and then something to eat from a table full of breads, pastries, candy, fruits, and vegetables.  He had a glass of orange juice so we said we would take orange juice too.  He then offered us a bag of chocolate cookies he said he helped make.  They were really good!  I tried to save one but it didn’t work!

As we sat there starting at George we listened to everyone talk about who messed upon what song and who made a good riff on another, and how George is going to break his neck if he tried to dance on Billy’s number again.  Everyone started laughing, especially George,; he thought that was very, very funny.  He got up and kicked both his legs high.  He landed by sitting down hard on the floor on purpose.  I think it was Robben Ford who said, “I’d like to see you do that and land in the front row of seats!”  Then Emil said, “No, Gosh!  No!”  That’s how he’s going to break his neck, then all the beads will go all over and we’ll all fall!”  George cut in and said, “They’ll think we’re really wailing then.”  Everyone laughed again.  Bill Graham went over to George and poured a little vodka in his glass, then orange juice.  George said, “Oh!” and sipped it at first, then drank it.  He looked at us as if asking our approval.

“Time to get the Express rolling and rockin’” said Billy.  Everyone started out the door.  George grabbed our hands and walked between us.  He kept looking down at me; then, before I went up to the rail, he said, “Are you going to make it?”  I said, “Sure I will!”  I went to the bar and looked at it.  Being only 5’ tall, things can become difficult, but to my advantage!  George said, “Let’s get over then” and put his hands on my waist and helped me over the bar!  I can’t describe the feeling that gave me!  Almost a numbness!  He turned and ran to the stage.  WE kept saying, “No one will believe us, no one!”  Don’t worry about George picking me up; I only weigh 92 pounds; I don’t think that’s too much for him to lift!  The show was coming to an end.  He left, then waited to go back on for the encore.  I said, “You look and sound great back here.”  He said, “Hare Krishna!”  and went back on.  He did this thing and the show came to an end.  We waited, but this time he just put his hands together toward us and said, “God bless you both!”  I just sat there amazed, and thought “we’ve got to sit here for the next performance!  I still haven’t gotten his autograph!”

We waited outside again and when I went back to my van, it was gone!  I panicked!  I looked all over for it.  It couldn’t miss it.  It had the AUM signs painted on each side of it.  WE looked all over for the parking lot for it.  I was really worried now.  It was only a few minutes before the doors opened for the second show.  Leigh said, “We’ll find it after the show.  If it’s stolen, it’s stolen.  We’ll get it back.  Don’t worry.”  I figured “Well if it’s gone now, looking for it and missing the show and not finding it will really make me upset, and I did lock it.”  On we went to the second show, me biting my nails thinking how were we going to get home, and what was I going to do?  I wanted to scream for help!

We waited again for the lights to go down and the show to begin, then off we went to our favorite seats.  The guard saw us and said, “again?”  We just smiled and nodded.  When George came offstage after his numbers with the Shankars, he was so surprised to see us again.  He clapped his hands and laughed.  He then said, “What happened, did you miss something the first show?,”  still laughing.  We said, “We came back to see if you’re feeling better.”  He then leaned over the bar and hugged us both!  Boy was that something!  He said, “I feel fine now; as long as Krishna is by my side and there are beautiful people like you!”  He then turned and sat on the rail and really got into the Indian music.  So did we.  I thought, “Now would be a good time to  ask for his autograph.”  Just as I got the nerve to ask he turned and told us to go into the back room and help ourselves to food and drink.  He’d join us later.  He left for the stage; we went into the room.

In there was this big fat guy with a black and yellow sweatshirt on and the number 1 on it, with a Dark Horse badge on.  He looked at us and said, “Hello, can I help you?”  We told him George had said we could come in to have something to drink.  He said, “Sure you can.  Help yourselves.”  We talked and told him about my missing van with the AUM signs painted on each door.  He told us if we could stick around he’d have security look out for it after the show.  This man they called “The Big 1” was George’s bodyguard.

Intermission time again and in they all came, joking around and surprised to see us.  George said, “They’ve returned to see if I break my neck this time.”  They all laughed.

Billy Preston took off his Dark Horse badge from his coat which was hanging up and pinned it on Leigh.  George took off his badge from his black silk shirt which was also hanging up and pinned it on me.  Billy said, “If we needed them they’ll have to stop the show to make sure they’ve got the right performers,” or something like that.

George told us the doctor had come in and had given him a strong penicillin shot and that he was feeling no pain, but that it was a waste of time, as long as he kept singing.  He doesn’t like shots or any strong medication he said, therefore he’d have to try harder to stay healthy.  We agreed.

Big 1 told George and everybody about the missing van  George seemed to take great concern and said he’d help look for it after the show.  We thought he was joking.

The show finally came to an end.  We were sitting in our “private” seats and hated to leave.  We sat for awhile and waited for the crowd to leave.  George peeked out of the door and called to us, but he said not to come where he was but to go to the backstage entrance where the equipment trucks were.  We nodded OK.

We ran out of the place and down the ramps to the garage.  We saw the trucks and behind the trucks was sitting so peacefully my van!  I was so shocked I just couldn’t figure it out!  Nothing was stolen and it was still locked.  We heard some people coming and turned to see Big 1, George, Billy, and Robben laughing, coming our way.  We just could not believe this night!  Big 1 said security had towed it in there because of the AUM signs (thinking it belonged to the tour), as it half blocked the exit way.  They thought that out of towners such as they would do something like that.  I was amazed!  I just apologized for all the trouble and thanked them all.

George looked in the van and touched the paintings and chanted, “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare.”  I asked if he’d like to sit in it.  He excitedly agreed.  That made me so proud!  He opened the door and in he went.  I asked him if he’d like to back I tout.  I gave him my keys.   He looked like a pro, backing I out slowly, then facing it towards the exit.  He got out and complimented me on my artwork.  I told him I planned to put the Dark Horse on it.  He said, “I’ll be looking for it if you take a trip to L.A.”  I told him I’d be down there someday.    He then told us to wait one more minute and ran back to the door.  A few seconds later he came back with two boxes of Krishna incense and gave us each a box.  He told us it was his pleasure talking with us and he enjoyed our company very much because during that time we did not take pictures or want autographs.  He really doesn’t mind it, it’s just that it happens constantly and he wanted a time when it didn’t, so that stopped me from asking!

I gave him a kiss on the cheek good-bye and said Hare Krishna and so did Leigh.  He ran back with the others and off he went.  We were quiet all the way home, too shocked to do a thing.  I love George so very much; he’s worth every minutes of my life!