Just witnessed your
best live gig?..send us a review!
A CONCERT FOR GEORGE
DVD Film Premiere,London,8 October 2003
I was lucky enough to get an invite to see the screening of the film from
last year's tribute concert to George Harrison, held last year at the
Royal Albert Hall in London. After running the gauntlet of TV & newspaper
cameras, who told them I would be there?! George Harrison's widow,
Olivia gave a brief and emotional thank you speech and then the film
started.
It is a mixture of songs from the event, plus rehearsal footage and
interviews with some of the musicians appearing including Eric Clapton (the
event's instigator), ELO's Jeff Lynne, a frail looking Tom Petty, Ravi
Shankar and George's son, Dhani, who is the spitting image of his father.
Excellent sound quality throughout and there are many song highlights,
including Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne on the Travelling Wilburys 'Handle
With Care', the gorgeous vocals of Sam Brown on 'Horse To The Water',
with Jools Holland on piano and Ringo Starr singing the poignant
'Photograph'. George Harrsion's spiritual side was represented by a
special composition by Ravi Shankar featuring traditional Indian music
blended with Eric Clapton's acoustic guitar work.
Amazing array of backing musicians as well including Traffics Jim
Capaldi, Ray Cooper, Jim Horn, Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather Low, Procul
Harum's Gary Brooker and Jim Keltner to name but a few! Billy Preston put
some real heart 'n soul into 'My Sweet Lord', a sterling version of
'Something' and Joe Brown (Sam Brown's dad) closed the proceedings
with 'I'll See You In My Dreams' - simply superb. Monty Python also
did two numbers 'Sit On My Face' and 'The Lumberjack Song' (with
actor Tom Hanks in the chorus line), and Neil Innes (the Rutles) standing
in for John Cleese.
But what of the celebs and musicians in attendance? Musician-wise you had
the two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, plus Eric
Clapton, Jeff Beck, ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman (with a girlfriend whose
bedtime it was way past!), Albert Lee, percussionist Ray Cooper and Pink
Floyd's Dave Gilmour. Others there included former Formula One driver
Damon Hill (who bizarrely left the cinema on foot as opposed to racing away
in a car!) and Rowan Atkinson (who kept getting heckled by shouts of
It's Mr. Bean! by some drunken Russians!). Needless to say us mere
mortals were kept well away' although my new claim to fame is that Ringo
Starr 'Hello mate!' in the gents toilet!
Big thanks to Noble PR and Warner Music.
Superb concert, just wish I had been there! The double DVD is out at the
end of November, which will feature the full concert plus extras like
backstage footage, etc. More at www.concertforgeorge.com
Review by Jason Ritchie
|
