George Harrison, famously known as the “Quiet Beatle,” had a whimsical side that often took people by surprise.
Despite being the youngest member of The Beatles, he possessed a unique, dry humor that was perfectly complemented by the larger-than-life personas of his bandmates.
His charm was evident not just in the beloved films A Hard Day’s Night and Help!, but also in the often frenetic press events surrounding the band.
Even after The Beatles disbanded in 1970, Harrison’s influence in the entertainment world continued to grow, as he produced the iconic Monty Python film The Life of Brian in 1979.
The Prank on Phil Collins
In one of his last acts of mischief before he passed away in 2001, Harrison orchestrated a clever prank on Phil Collins, demonstrating just how far the “Here Comes the Sun” singer would go for a laugh.
The story takes us back to 1970, during the vibrant sessions for his landmark solo album, All Things Must Pass.
Among the notable musicians were Ringo Starr on the drums, Billy Preston on keyboards, and Eric Clapton on guitar, all under the keen production eye of Phil Spector.
Harrison’s team sought a conga player for the session and reached out to Phil Collins’ manager.
At the time, Collins was an up-and-coming artist on the cusp of joining Genesis.
Despite being only 18 years old, he was eager to impress and gave his all, pushing himself to the point of developing painful blisters on his hands.
Unforgettable Studio Moments
After several challenging hours of rehearsal, Phil Spector wanted Collins to demonstrate his conga skills.
Disappointingly, however, he discovered that his microphone had been switched off.
As the session came to an end and everyone drifted off to pursue other interests, Collins received the message that he could pack up and leave.
Months later, upon purchasing the sprawling triple album, he was shocked to realize that his contributions were completely absent from the final track.
Initially, Collins believed there had been a mix-up.
However, he soon faced the reality that he wasn’t included in any version of the song.
Years later, when Collins rented Jackie Stewart’s home—a close friend of Harrison’s—Stewart casually mentioned that Harrison was remixing All Things Must Pass.
The mention stirred a flood of memories for Collins, prompting him to reflect on his earlier experience in the studio.
Shortly after, Collins received a tape from Harrison alongside a note asking if he recognized the sound.
As he listened, he immediately identified “The Art of Dying,” but was taken aback when he heard the excessively loud and somewhat clumsy conga playing.
At the end of the recording, to his shock, Harrison’s voice suggested they try it again without any conga.
A Legendary Anecdote
The comedy unfolded further when Stewart managed to connect Collins with Harrison over the phone.
It was in this light-hearted conversation that Collins made a startling discovery—he had been unceremoniously edited out of a session by a Beatle! As they chatted casually about other topics, Harrison couldn’t help but burst out laughing, revealing the whole ordeal had just been an elaborate joke.
In truth, he had brought in a different percussionist, Ray Cooper, and asked him to play badly to poke fun at Collins.
This delightful prank is a testament to the joy that humor can bring to the music industry.
Harrison’s ability to weave laughter into the fabric of his artistry stands out as a memorable anecdote in rock history.
For those intrigued by more stories of playful antics in music, the legendary tale of “The Ring,” recounted by Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz of the Beastie Boys in Beastie Boys Story, offers yet another captivating glimpse into how humor can blend creativity and camaraderie.
Source: Upworthy