George Harrison: Living in the Material World Page #2

to be a musician,

where did you think you'd end up?

There's no justification for it.

We kind of had a feeling that

that's what we were going to do.

And I always felt that something

good was going to happen.

But then, in those days,

something good would just be

getting to do a tour

of Mecca ballrooms.

That was, like, a big deal.

She's got a way

that makes me act like a fool

Spends my money

then she plays me cool

I'm begging for her kisses

on a bended knee

Oh, won't you give me

some a-loving, baby?

Please, please.

Watch out now

Take care

Beware of falling swingers

Dropping all around you

The pain that often mingles...

After wartime,

we still had lots of bombed houses.

Not poverty. I mean,

the Germans were rich quite quick.

It didn't take them long

to pick up on that one.

That particular day,

I had an argument with Astrid.

I was really angry

and I wanted to let steam off.

And I quite often went that

direction, to the harbour.

The Reeperbahn

is really for the sailors,

for the people getting drunk.

For people going to see naked women

or having sex or whatever.

That's what this place is known for.

Klaus was always very laid back.

You know, you couldn't quite

impress him by things.

He always said,

"Yeah, great. Fantastic."

But when he came home seeing

the Beatles for the first time,

I've never seen him like that

before. He just went crazy.

When I came down

to the Kaiserkeller with Klaus,

after, he had to persuade me

for three days. I just freaked out.

Seeing them onstage, faces I always

dreamt of taking pictures of,

because they had so much personality

and were still young, like I was.

Gonna write a little letter,

gonna mail it to my local DJ

It's a rocking little record

I want my jockey to play

Roll over Beethoven,

got to hear it again today.

We didn't really

have that much money.

We only just really

had enough to feed ourselves,

so there was nothing really

to show for it.

But everything else was such a buzz.

You know, being right in the middle

of the naughtiest city in the world

at 17 years old.

It was kind of exciting.

And learning, you know,

about it all.

There's the gangsters

and the transvestites.

And there's the... You know, it was

like that. There's the hookers.

They looked real strange,

teddy boy-like.

They didn't

have the leather gear yet.

The leather thing came

when they met Astrid and me

and the way we were walking around.

We loved this band.

We were knocked out. And we

didn't realise how they lived.

The Bambi Kino was a porno cinema.

The room they stayed in first

was a sort of place where

you'd normally

put brooms and things.

There was no window, there was just

a light bulb on the ceiling.

And they were sort of living

in these little cupboards,

so to speak, right behind

the screen of that cinema.

And it was terrible,

because they were smelly, stinky.

They couldn't

wash their clothes properly.

Klaus introduced me to them,

and John did his, you know,

"I'm a man, I'm a man" thing.

And Paul was doing his, "I'm a good

boy, good education" bit, you know.

Said hello and shook my hand.

And George was just, looked at me

and said, "Oh, hello.

"And you are Klaus's girlfriend?"

But he was ever so sweet.

I came to know George then.

And he was interested in so many

things, but let's say, on the quiet,

because Paul was the one who said,

"Oh, who is that?"

And "who wrote this book?"

And "who is that on that picture?"

George was just sitting there,

looking at my room, which must

have been very strange to them,

because it was completely black,

with leaves and branches

hanging from the ceiling.

I think, at first,

George thought I was a bit mad.

But that became very shortly

a very lovely and nice friendship.

Astrid took them to her house

and she cooked for them.

Astrid's mother was cooking

their favourite meals for them.

So they had their little home,

suddenly,

which Astrid really took care

of them really well.

Yeah, it was really good

for us to meet them, too.

They, in themselves,

were very artistic.

I mean, for us, we started

hanging out with them

and Astrid was so loving.

She really helped us a lot.

You may think it was sexually.

Of course, in a way,

they all fancied me,

because I was quite good looking

and charming, in my own little way,

with my funny English.

When I started

falling in love with Stuart,

it was great

that I was a photographer,

so I could just go up

easily to him and ask him,

"Do you mind

if I take pictures of you?",

because I felt so attracted to him.

A taste of honey

Tasting much sweeter than wine

Do do-dem-do

Do do-dem-do

I dream of your first kiss

and then

I feel upon my lips again

A taste of honey

A taste of honey

Tasting much sweeter than wine.

I always had a vision that I want to

take pictures of outstanding faces,

who can tell a story

behind the mask.

Imagine what is behind this

rough young man, John Lennon.

And what is behind

the funny, joking Paul.

Or the lovely, sweet little George.

George was only 17 years of age,

but he was calm,

he looked you straight in the face,

he was funny

and he was a catalyst in the band,

you see?

Paul and John were so different.

And George was bringing

a certain peace into this set-up.

I mean, Ringo wasn't

with them at the time,

because Pete Best was

playing the drums.

And Stuart was more on the side,

but George was right in the middle,

between those two characters.

After Stuart's death,

John and George

really cared about me.

You know, they used to come

and see me in my home.

And so...

It was actually John's suggestion.

John said,

"Can I see where he used to paint?"

So I said, "Of course, you can."

In that moment,

I had to take a picture of them.

And I just grabbed this old chair

and put it there.

And John was so full of emotion,

being in the same room

where his friend was just painting,

that he nearly burst out in tears.

And George was all...a bit worried.

So I just said to George,

"Well, stand behind him."

You could see how quickly

George understood

what it was all about...

death and being alive.

He was only just turned 18.

And when you look at the picture

and see his eyes,

they're so full of protection

for John.

And John was just falling to bits,

sitting there.

And you could see that in his face.

I gave that guitar away.

Ah, that's the one.

That boy

Took my love away

He'll regret it some day

Doo-da-doo

This boy wants you back again

That boy isn't good

For you

Though he may want you, too...

Good song, though. Good sad song.

This boy wants you back again...

John was as blind as a bat

and he'd never wear his glasses,

so he couldn't see a thing.

Oh, and this boy

Would be happy

just to love you...

Double track.

But oh my-hi-hi-hi

That boy won't be happy

Till he's seen you cry-hi-hi-hi.

It was almost like

we were waiting to get going.

We couldn't go until

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