How George Harrison lost his voice
HE was dubbed the “quiet Beatle” throughout his career with the band but George Harrison’s older sister has now shattered the myth.
Louise Harrison says the “quiet” nickname only came about due to a severe throat infection from which her late brother was suffering when the Beatles made their US debut in February 1964 on the Ed Sullivan Show.
With interest in the group reaching fever pitch Stateside, she says their manager Brian Epstein was adamant that the US press should not be told there was anything wrong with George so he simply remained silent during public appearances.
“Him being quiet is a myth,” insists Louise, 79. “When he came to do the Ed Sullivan Show he had just come in from Paris and had a 104-degree temperature and a terribly bad throat. Brian Epstein said ‘you can’t let the press know there’s anything wrong’.”
And George, who died at the age of 58 in 2001, lived with the “quiet” tag for the rest of his life.