John News 1

I'm quitting, Elton John tells audience

Elton John: quitting December 2, 2001

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Rock legend Sir Elton John is reported to have told an American audience that he will never make another record in protest at the state of the music industry. The superstar told the audience that his latest album, "Songs From the West Coast," will be his last.

"It's the last record that I ever make," the UK's Press Association quoted him as saying on Friday during the sold-out show at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. He added: "I'm fed up with it. I like playing to you guys but I hate the record industry. "I've made 40 albums and it's about time for me to get out."

"Songs From the West Coast," released last month and guest starring Stevie Wonder, saw him return to the bluesy piano-playing style that made his name. He also headlined last week's Royal Variety Performance in London -- his first for nearly 30 years.

Sir Elton ended the concert with a tribute to George Harrison. He said when he first came to the U.S., and his album, "Elton John," was No. 18 on the charts, Harrison sent him a congratulatory telegram. "I've never forgotten that gesture. It was such a mind-blowing gesture," he said. He then dedicated a performance of "Your Song" to Harrison "for all the wonderful music he's given us over the years. Wherever you are, George, be happy. God bless you."

Beatle George Harrison dies

November 30, 2001 Posted: 4:40 AM EST (0940 GMT)

Beatle legend George Harrison LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- George Harrison, the lead guitarist in possibly the most influential pop group of all time, The Beatles, has died aged 58, his spokesman confirmed to CNN. Harrison died in Los Angeles at 1:30 p.m. (2130 GMT) on Thursday after a battle with cancer, spokesman Geoff Baker said, but further details were not available.

"He died with one thought in mind -- love one another," friend Gavin De Becker told The Associated Press, adding that Harrison's wife, Olivia Harrison, and son Dhani, 24, were with him when he died.

His former band-mate Sir Paul McCartney told the Press Association: "I am devastated and very very sad. We knew he'd been ill for a long time. "He was a lovely guy and a very brave man and had a wonderful sense of humour. He is really just my baby brother."

Harrison was known as the quiet one of the Fab Four, which conquered the world with 27 number one hits in the United States and Britain.. His credits with The Beatles include the songs, "Taxman," "Here Comes The Sun" and "Something," the latter described by Frank Sinatra as the greatest love song of all time.

The youngest member of the world's most famous pop group will always be remembered for his devotion to Oriental mysticism. It was he who persuaded the other Beatles to fly to India and sit at the feet of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

After The Beatles broke up in 1970 Harrison produced a few solo albums, and was the first of the four to top the UK singles charts as a solo artist with "My Sweet Lord." Later he helped form the group The Travelling Wilburys.

With Harrison's death, there now remain two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. John Lennon was shot to death by a deranged fan in 1980.

In 1998, when former smoker Harrison disclosed that he had been treated for throat cancer, he said: "It reminds you that anything can happen." The following year, he survived an attack by an intruder at his mansion in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire. He was stabbed several times and suffered a punctured lung.

In July 2001, he released a statement asking fans not to worry about reports that he was still battling cancer.

Harrison's family issued a statement saying: "He left this world as he lived in it, conscious of God, fearless of death, and at peace, surrounded by family and friends. He often said, 'Everything else can wait but the search for God cannot wait, and love one another."'

It wasn't immediately known if there would be a public funeral for Harrison. A private ceremony had already taken place, De Becker said.

Lennon's widow Yoko Ono paid tribute to Harrison, who she said brought magic to the lives of those who knew him. "George has given so much to us in his lifetime and continues to do so even after his passing, with his music, his wit and his wisdom," she told The Press Association. "His life was magical and we all felt we had shared a little bit of it by knowing him.

"Thank-you George, it was grand knowing you."

For my remarks regarding the death of George Harrison, who figured prominately as an alternative to Elton John in the prophecy, view The Elton John Prophecy Page.

Harrison 'resting after cancer surgery'

A frail George Harrison Monday, 12 November, 2001, 12:40 GMT

BBC News

Former Beatle George Harrison is believed to be resting after reportedly being given treatment for cancer at a New York hospital.

Harrison, 58, was reportedly given pioneering cancer treatment last week at the Staten Island University Hospital under the supervision of Dr Gil Lederman, who is known for working with very advanced cancer cases. Dr Lederman offers a treatment called stereotactic radiosurgery, which attempts to attack tumours with high doses of radiation but with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The time each treatment takes varies, depending on the size of the tumour and where it is located in the body.

The Daily Telegraph quoted hospital sources as saying that Harrison was staying there under the name of George Arrias - the maiden name of his wife Olivia. One source was quoted as describing Harrison as "very frail and gaunt".

Harrison was treated for a brain tumour this year and had previously been treated for lung cancer and throat cancer.

But recently there were signs that the musician was becoming more active again. On 1 October he recorded with pianist Jools Holland at his Switzerland home. Harrison wrote the track, entitled A Horse To Water, with his son Dhani. It will appear on Jools Holland's album Small World, Big Friends, to be released in the UK on 19 November.

Harrison was angered by reports in July this year that he was preparing for death due to his illness. He released a statement in July saying that reports he was close to death "were unsubstantiated, untrue, insensitive and uncalled for".

Harrison 'back in hospital'

George Harrison with his wife, Olivia Wednesday, 7 November, 2001, 11:03 GMT -- (BBC News) - Former Beatle George Harrison is reported to be undergoing further treatment for cancer at a New York hospital. The Daily Telegraph reported that the musician, 58, was at the Staten Island University Hospital under the supervision of Dr Gil Lederman, who is known for pioneering treatment of very advanced cancer cases. The newspaper quoted hospital sources as saying that Harrison was staying there under the name of George Arrias - the maiden name of his wife Olivia.

One source was quoted as describing Harrison as "very frail and gaunt". Dr Lederman offers a treatment called stereotactic radiosurgery, which attempts to attack tumours with high doses of radiation but with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. Harrison was treated for a brain tumour this year and had previously been treated for lung cancer and throat cancer.

But recently there were signs that the musician was becoming more active again. On 1 October he recorded with pianist Jools Holland at his Switzerland home. Harrison wrote the track, entitled A Horse To Water, with his son Dhani. It will appear on Jools Holland's album Small World, Big Friends, to be released in the UK on 19 November.

Harrison, the youngest Beatle, was angered by reports in July this year that he was preparing for death due to his illness. He released a statement in July saying that reports he was close to death "were unsubstantiated, untrue, insensitive and uncalled for".

Ex-Beatle strongly denies near-death report

July 23, 2001 -- LONDON, England (CNN) -- Former Beatle George Harrison and his wife issued a written statement Monday denying published reports that he was close to death after recent treatment for cancer. The English newspaper the Mail on Sunday said Harrison had told his friend and former Beatles producer George Martin "that he does not have long to live." The newspaper quoted Martin as saying: "He is taking it easy and hoping that the thing will go away. He has an indomitable spirit, but he knows that he is going to die soon and he is accepting that."

The Harrison statement used strong language to deny the Mail on Sunday's story: "We are disappointed and disgusted by the report," it said. "It was unsubstantiated, untrue and totally uncalled for, when in fact Mr. Harrison is active and feeling very well. It has caused untold distress amongst our family and friends. The original 'story' was conjured up by the National Enquirer, the Globe and the Daily Mail."

A spokesman for the Mail on Sunday told CNN that the newspaper stands by its story and is confident Martin was quoted accurately.

Two weeks ago, Harrison told his fans he was feeling fine after undergoing radiotherapy at a Swiss cancer clinic. Swiss cancer specialist Franco Cavalli confirmed that he had recently treated Harrison. At the beginning of May, Harrison had surgery at the Mayo Clinic in the United States to remove a cancerous growth from one of his lungs. Harrison overcame throat cancer in 1998, which he blamed on smoking. He was given the all-clear after radiation therapy.

Just over 18 months ago, Harrison survived a life-and-death struggle of a very different kind -- with a knife-wielding intruder who stabbed him in the chest. The former Beatle was almost killed in the attack at his home near London in late 1999. He was saved by his wife, Olivia, who hit the attacker on the head with a poker and table lamp.

Ex-Beatle Harrison 'knows he will die soon'

Former Beatle George Harrison - July 22, 2001 July 22, 2001 Posted: 6:58 PM EDT (2258 GMT) -- LONDON (Reuters) -- Ex-Beatle George Harrison has admitted that he expects to die soon from cancer, the group's former producer was quoted on Sunday as saying. The 58-year-old musician has been treated for a brain tumour at a clinic in Switzerland, having already undergone an operation for lung cancer earlier this year. British newspaper Mail on Sunday said Harrison had told his friend and former producer George Martin, dubbed the "fifth Beatle," that he does not have long to live. Martin told the newspaper: "He is taking it easy and hoping that the thing will go away. He has an indomitable spirit but he knows that he is going to die soon and he is accepting that." Spokesmen for Harrison and Martin could not be immediately reached for comment. Martin added: "George is very philosophical. He does realise that everybody has got to die some time. "He has been near death many times and he's been rescued many times as well. But he knows he is going to die soon and he's accepting it perfectly happily."

Two weeks ago, Harrison told his fans he was feeling fine after undergoing radiotherapy at a Swiss cancer clinic. Swiss cancer specialist Franco Cavalli confirmed that he had recently treated Harrison. At the beginning of May, Harrison had surgery at the Mayo Clinic in the United States to remove a cancerous growth from one of his lungs. Harrison overcame throat cancer in 1998, which he blamed on smoking. He was given the all-clear after radiation therapy. Just over 18 months ago, Harrison survived a life-and-death struggle of a very different kind -- with a knife-wielding intruder who stabbed him in the chest. The former Beatle was almost killed in the attack at his home near London in late 1999. He was saved by wife Olivia, who hit the attacker on the head with a poker and table lamp.

Harrison was known as the "quiet Beatle" during the heyday of the "Fab Four" in the 1960s and was rated as a major musician in his own right only after the breakup of the group in 1970. The reserved Liverpudlian lived for many years in the shadow of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but after the group broke up he released a triple album, "All Things Must Pass," which made his name as both a guitarist and songwriter, and enjoyed a worldwide smash hit with "My Sweet Lord."

Hollywood Great Jack Lemmon Dies

Hollywood legend Jack Lemmon June 28, 2001 -- (MSN Entertainment) - Jack Lemmon, the two-time Oscar winner whose uncanny acting skills made him a Hollywood legend, died in Los Angeles Wednesday night. He was 76. The actor had been battling cancer, his publicist said, and the official cause of death was complications related to the disease. His wife and children were at his bedside when he passed. He had been in and out of the hospital over the past few months, coming down with pneumonia and having to have his gall bladder removed in May. At the time, his publicist, Warren Cowan, said Lemmon "was doing great" and was expected "to be out in a day or two." Lemmon leaves behind a celluloid legacy that few could match. Equally adept at comedy and drama, the Harvard-schooled actor earned seven Academy Award nominations during a 50-year career and created some of Hollywood's most indelible roles, usually as a put-upon Everyman. He earned a Supporting Actor Oscar in 1955 for his side-splitting performance as Enisign Pulver in Mister Roberts and a Best Actor Oscar for 1973's Save the Tiger, in which he played a down-on-his-luck dress manufacturer worshipping the glory days of his youth. He played a booze-soaked newlywed in Days of Wine and Roses, a doomed passenger in Airport '77 and a struggling salesman in Glengarry Glen Ross. Other film credits include Missing, The China Syndrome and Short Cuts. But he's perhaps most famous for his comedic roles in such Billy Wilder classics as Some Like It Hot, opposite Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis, The Apartment, with Shirley MacLaine and The Fortune Cookie, his first pairing with the late, great Walter Matthau.

Best pals off the screen, Lemmon and Matthau would continue their collaboration in several more films, including The Odd Couple, The Front Page, Buddy, Buddy and Grumpy Old Men. The duo also costarred in 1996's The Grass Harp, directed by Matthau's son Charles, and both appeared in JFK, Grumpier Old Men, Out to Sea and Odd Couple II. Matthau also starred in Lemmon's first directorial effort, Kotch, in 1973, picking up a Best Actor Oscar nomination. Lemmon was visibly shaken last July, when Matthau died of a heart attack.

In addition to Oscars, Lemmon's trophy case was brimming with every conceivable acting accolade, from Emmys to Golden Globes to British Academy Awards. He received lifetime achievement awards from the American Film Institute, Screen Actors Guild, Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Kennedy Center. Most recently, he won an Emmy last year for his television performance in Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie. One of his most famous trophies didn't even belong to him. In one of the weirdest awards-show moments in recent memory, Ving Rhames insisted on giving his 1998 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Miniseries or Movie to fellow nominee Lemmon. "Being an artist is about giving. And I'd like to give this to you, Mr. Lemmon," Rhames said. "I wouldn't be up here without you."

Lemmon was married twice. He divorced his first wife, Cynthia, in 1956. He married actress Felicia Farr in 1962. He is survived by his second wife and two children, one stepchild and a grandchild.