John Lennon Was Less Than Impressed With 1 George Harrison Concert

Shortly after The Beatles split, John Lennon was publicly critical of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. He dismissed their solo efforts and work in The Beatles. By the mid-1970s, Lennon’s attitude towards his former bandmates had softened considerably. Still, he wasn’t afraid to share his honest opinion when asked about a former Beatle’s music. He said one of Harrison’s concerts hadn’t impressed him.

John Lennon said he wasn’t thrilled with a George Harrison tour

In 1975, Lennon reflected on a recent Harrison concert he attended. It hadn’t impressed him.

“It wasn’t the greatest thing in history,” he told Rolling Stone. “The guy went through some kind of mill. It was probably his turn to get smacked.”

Harrison embarked on a 45-show tour of North America with Ravi Shankar in 1974. The critical reception was mixed, with many lambasting the shows. Lennon believed this was a part of the typical cycle of approval for the Beatles.

“When we were all together there was periods when the Beatles were in, the Beatles were out, no matter what we were doing,” Lennon said. “Now it’s always the Beatles were great or the Beatles weren’t great, whatever opinion people hold. There’s a sort of illusion about it. But the actual fact was the Beatles were in for eight months, the Beatles were out for eight months. The public, including the media, are sometimes a bit sheeplike and if the ball starts rolling, well, it’s just that somebody’s in, somebody’s out.”

While Lennon hadn’t liked the show, he didn’t think anything Harrison could have done would have won everyone over.

“George is out for the moment,” he said. “And I think it didn’t matter what he did on tour.”

He said the tour made him want to stay home

After The Beatles broke up, Lennon rarely performed live. The band’s touring days had been exhausting, and he wanted a long break from the grind of live performances. Still, he wouldn’t say he’d quit touring forever.

“I’ve stopped making flat decisions,” he said. “I change me mind a lot.”

Ultimately, though, live concerts did not appeal to him, particularly after seeing Harrison’s ill-received tour.

“My idea of heaven is not going on the road,” he said. “And this was before George’s tour.”

John Lennon said he’d happily play with George Harrison and the other Beatles again

After The Beatles broke up, Harrison said he wouldn’t play with McCartney again, but he’d be willing to collaborate with Lennon. While Lennon had harsh words for McCartney following the split, he said he would have worked with him again.

“I could play with all of them. George is entitled to say that, and he’ll probably change his mind by Friday,” he said. “You know, we’re all human, we can all change our minds. So I don’t take any of my statements or any of their statements as the last word on whether we will.”

Lennon said that if the band did reunite, they’d do it for themselves, not for publicity.

“[I]f we do, the newspapers will learn about it after the fact,” he said. “If we’re gonna play, we’re just gonna play.”