Tuscon Takes George to it's Heart

 

Ravi and George in Tuscon, Arizona

Tuscon Takes George to It's Heart

By Larry Fleischman

Tuscon Citizen

November 15, 1974

        When I was 13 and just crawling with adolescents, I went to the school dance. The record player in the auditorium was playing the Beatles with George Harrison on lead, singing" Roll Over Beethoven". I had never heard of The Beatles before, but I knew even less about dancing, so all I did was sit on the floor in a corner, listening to this incredible music played over and over again. It was the only record our school had, and it played steadily for three hours. I sat there listening for every minute.

     Someone might find it hard to understand what George Harrison means to so many millions of people. Aside from all of the publicity, all of the pressures, and show biz glitter that surrounds one of his stature, the simple fact remains that he is loved by the young and old alike. In his two sold out performances in the Tucson Community Center Arena last night, we were treated to a concert of wondrous proportions. The first show went on for almost three hours and it was divided into three parts.

     First came Harrison, Billy Preston, and the rest of the phenomenal band out for a few brief songs, including "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", which George changed to "While My Guitar Gently Smiles" and "Will it Go Round in Circles," by Preston, who acted as the head "get 'em up and clapping" man of the evening.

     George's voice was somewhat hoarse, but according to Producer Bill Graham, the hoarseness is disappearing as a 47-city tour goes on. Last night was his 11th performance.

     After the first few songs came the Indian music portion of the night. Ravi Shankar and a group of 15 Indian musicians presented a mellow contrast to the rock music. Although tour officials were somewhat worried about the reception of Indian music, the crowd at the first show greeted Ravi warmly. A highlight of his performance was a haunting raga called "Romance" and a song with the rockers called "I Am Missing You", which was an interesting fusion of raga and middle Beatle.

     For the rest of the evening, it was rock. "What is life?" "Give Me Love" "For You Blue" and John Lennon's "In My Life", which Harrison said was written "by a friend, old and new."

     Billy Preston, the heartbeat of the show, got the crowd to its feet with "Nothing from Nothing" and "Space Race." By this time, Harrison's voice was much stronger, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. The band did an instrumental called "Tomcat", and George encored with "My Sweet Lord."

     The very fact that George is George makes it hard to evaluate the show objectively. The man has done so much already for music of all types. He is a teacher and a listener. There was a special feeling, a very different type of excitement surrounding his show last night, much different from the sort of thing you often get at a rock concert.  Last night, there was a sincerity in the crowd that was almost as nice to see as Harrison himself.

     One man in his late 50s said he missed the Beatles in 1964, but "I'd have to be crazy to pass up even one of them again."  Graham the producer, said after the concert that he decided to come to Tucson instead of the originally scheduled Tempe, because there were too many restrictions put on the performers at Tempe, "our staff worked very well with the community center people here." Graham said George was happy to be here.

     There have been books written about the influence and power of the Beatles, and a newspaper could be filled with speculations concerning the reasons for their success. But the worth of a Beatle or a Paul Simon or a Dylan or the other very special performers in the world is the fact that they are the real creators. The rest is so much xeroxing. These two performers are the ones who do it every time, and they are the ones who do it with class. 

Harrison Mania Means Hectic Night for Ushers

By Anne Fisher

Tucson Citizen

November 15, 1974

"May I see your stub?"

"I'm sorry, this is for a football game."

"Oh, does that mean I can't sit here?"

"Please, can I move up closer? George Harrison and I are old friends, and I know he'd remember me if he saw me."

" I washed my tickets by accident, but I know my seats are front row center."

     The George Harrison concert sold out immediately after the tickets went on sale, gathered rock listeners throughout Arizona, and hardened 34 ushers against their own generation.

     Working as an usher for one of the few sell-out crowds at a community center rock concert doesn't mean simply donning a little red blazer, a blue scarf, and a smile. It involves telling a six-foot ticket holder he can't stand in the aisle and trying to maintain balance as a crowd of a few 1000 decide they want to move closer to the singer all at once.

 Those who plunk down $9.50, $8.50 and $7.50 for the yellow pieces of cardboard worth a couple of hours of vibrating fun range from those who are just discovering the nostalgia of Beatles songs to those who remember when the first tunes came out. 

    Formality for the occasion wasn't an entrance prerequisite. Some women found it appropriate to paste sequins on their foreheads, wrap themselves in white sheets, or wear clear blue plastic high heels. Seen on men were patched blue jeans with coordinating frayed jackets and the shiniest single earring to express appreciation for George's music.

     The audience stood up on the community center folding chairs to cheer and clap, charging the stage for a better view, which only occurred if you were in the front of the rush, not the middle, and consumed at least 300 pints of spirits which ranged from Seagram seven to Mogen David. 

 The camera flash bulbs completed the theatrical atmosphere. Everything from Instamatics to Nikons were focused and firing at singing George. Aware of the apprehensive throng at his feet. The ex-Beatle took a few minutes to criticize the ushers' actions against an individual photographer and also to thank all for coming.

     Slightly raspy, Harrison led the stomping fans in a singing rendition of a few old Indian prayer chants (only he knew the words), complete with clapping and finger snapping.  Clad simply in a black silk Western-type shirt, covered in his familiar Beatle bangs, Harrison smiled and waved at the fans. (sometimes) The evening climaxes with the entertainer's request for everyone to get up and dance. The imposing presence of the ushers, red jackets, and white skirts was swept away with mass sustain. The only business yet to complete was a pickup afterwards, split popcorn boxes, a few overextended watchers and some shattered nerves.