George Harrison Hated Receiving Awards: ‘Get Some Other Monkey’

George Harrison couldn’t stand receiving awards for his work. He didn’t want them to make his profession value something. George didn’t even see what he did as a profession. Out of the whole lot within the materials world, the previous Beatle solely wanted verification from God, not critics and followers.

George Harrison | Ebet Roberts/Getty Photos

George Harrison obtained many awards in his profession

Throughout his profession, George obtained many awards. In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him and The Beatles MBEs (The Most Wonderful Order of the British Empire). Though, in accordance with the Liverpool Echo, George was confused by the queen’s choice. He informed the press he “didn’t think you got that sort of thing, just for playing rock ‘n’ roll music.”

By 1965, The Beatles had completed rather more than play rock ‘n’ roll. Even royalty couldn’t ignore the impact the band had on society. George mentioned he’d hold his MBE on his wall.

Nevertheless, by 1965, George had already turn into disenchanted together with his profession, fame, and the whole lot else. He additionally grew bored of assembly the world’s dignitaries. Solely spirituality impressed him. George was extra involved with pleasing God than making music that happy followers.

In 1969, George obtained an Ivor Novello Award for Greatest Tune Musically and Lyrically for “Something.” After all, George earned many Grammy awards with The Beatles. Nevertheless, George earned his first solo Grammy for Album of the 12 months for Live performance for Bangladesh in 1973. In 1990, he and his bandmates in The Touring Wilburys earned a Grammy for Greatest Rock Efficiency by a Duo or Group with Vocal for his or her debut album, Touring Wilburys Vol. 1.

George attended The Beatles’ Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame induction in 1988. Then, in 1992, George obtained a Billboard Century Award. Once more, George’s look was stunning. When Tom Petty welcomed him on stage, the group cheered, however after a time, he informed them to take a seat down as a result of he “couldn’t take it.”

In his acceptance speech, George joked that he felt 100 years previous, however then he acquired severe. “All this flattery is difficult for me to take without saying that I’ve been very fortunate to have such good friends and influences on my career, if you would call it a career, because I haven’t really dealt with it as some people deal with their careers. It’s been quite haphazard in many ways.”

Beneath all of it, although, George felt awkward with flattery.

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George turned sick of accepting awards

George saved incomes awards and nominations. Nevertheless, he rejected one of the best one, an OBE, from the queen.

In accordance with Smooth Radio, journalist Ray Connolly, who knew The Beatles nicely, claimed George rejected the OBE as a result of he was insulted by not receiving a knighthood as Paul acquired in 1997.

Connolly informed the Mail on Sunday, “Whoever it was who decided to offer him the OBE and not the knighthood was extraordinarily insensitive. George would have felt insulted – and with very good reason.”

Nevertheless, it’s plain that George rejected the award as a result of he was sick of all of the flattery. George had been sick of it and some other type of adulation as soon as he turned religious.

It was all faux to him. If he have been going to get any appreciation from anybody, it might be from God. He solely performed music to be nearer to his maker. George didn’t like when followers handled him like a deity, giving him choices.

In Martin Scorsese’s 2011 documentary, George Harrison: Dwelling within the Materials World, George’s widow, Olivia, defined that George gave awards and honors little thought.

“George had maximum amount of diversion in life,” she mentioned. “In the direction of the tip of his life, I’d say, ‘Oh, they want to give you this award thing.’ He mentioned, ‘I don’t need it. Inform them to get one other monkey.’ I’d say, ‘Yeah, but you know, it’s a very nice one. You must have this.’

“And he’d say, ‘Well, if you want it so bad, you go and get it. I’m not going. I’m not doing that anymore.’ Because it’s just a big diversion… He really did draw the line, and I really admired him for that.”

George didn’t dwell within the materials world the place awards have been necessary anyway. He needed most in life to ascend to the subsequent airplane of existence.

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Olivia Harrison mentioned her husband would’ve gotten a kick out of her and their son’s Grammy win

On the 2022 Grammy Awards, Olivia, the couple’s son, Dhani, and Darren Evans took dwelling a Grammy for Greatest Boxed or Particular Restricted Version Bundle for his or her work on All Issues Should Go: fiftieth Anniversary Version.

Olivia mentioned George would have gotten a kick out of his household receiving the glory.

“I think music is all out there in the great Akasha,” Olivia mentioned. “We will faucet into it, and I feel his is enduring. He appreciated the album, you recognize. He by no means talked about his music an excessive amount of, however from time to time, would say I like that music, or I feel this was a very good album.

“I think he’d be really chuckling that this is happening. For us, really. It’s for us because it’s an expression of our love and our respect and what we think about his legacy and his music. Really, that’s what we poured into it. It’s always bittersweet when George is recognized, but it’s all wonderful. It’s always emotional.”

George has obtained many posthumous awards, however his response to them would’ve been the identical whether or not he was within the materials world or not. He solely wanted the love of God; the whole lot else was secondary.

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