2001
Jan. 2: Paul announces plans to publish a book of poetry. Called "Blackbird Singing," it includes both song lyrics and original poems, including one about Lennon's murderer, called "The Jerk of All Jerks."
Jan. 23: A remastered version of George's first solo album, "All Things Must Pass," arrives in stores. The set, in CD and limited edition vinyl, contains bonus tracks of unreleased material, including "My Sweet Lord (2000)," a redone version of the hit song. George promotes the album with webchats and interviews. A website, http://www.allthingsmustpass.com, is also opened.
Mid-February: Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that George and Paul, long rumored to have been on the outs, had been together at Las Vegas' Cirque du Soleil's "O," George with wife Olivia and Paul with Heather Mills. They went backstage and signed a couple of autographs, the report said.
February: Paul begins recording sessions in Los Angeles for a new album, later said to be called "Blue Skies." The sessions, produced by David Kahne, are held at Henson Studios, formerly A&M Studios.
April 8: The UK Mail reports that George Harrison, uncomfortable in his Friar Park home since his near-fatal attack in December, 1999, may be planning to sell it. 'He is quite paranoid at the moment,' the paper quoted an unnamed "friend." 'It is a difficult thing to forget and the memory of that night is stuck in his head. He was a worried, reclusive kind of man already, but this attack has just made things a whole lot worse. ... He is a great believer in karma and has started to think the only solution is to put Friar Park on the market. He has been making a lot of noises about selling it recently." The report is later refuted by a Harrison spokesman.
May 5: The Associated Press reports that George Harrison is in Tuscany, Italy, recovering from surgery for lung cancer. The surgery, to remove a cancerous growth from one of his lungs, was performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., according to information from his lawyers. ``"George Harrison recently underwent an operation on one of his lungs at the Mayo Clinic in the US. He is in the best of spirits and on top form - the most relaxed and free since the attack on him in 1999. He is now enjoying a holiday in Tuscany," said a statement released by the lawyers. ``Although All Things Must Pass Away, George has no plans right now and is still Living In The Material World, and wishes everyone all the very best, God Bless and not to worry.''
May 8: "Wingspan" (the album) is released in the U.S. The two-disc set, which differs slightly in the UK, includes 40 songs. It's priced low, although a deluxe version with a hardcover book is priced higher.
May 11: "Wingspan" (the TV show) has its world premiere on ABC in the U.S. and is subsequently shown around the world. The two-hour film is more the story of Paul and Linda rather than the band. It was put together by Paul's son in law, Alistair Donald.
June 5: "The Beatles Live at the BBC" is reissued after being out of print for about two years. The new version is nearly the same as the old, though the new one corrects spelling errors in the original booklet.
June 11: An interview of Paul by Charlie Rose is aired. It was taped April 24 before a live audience. In the show, Paul read poems and talked about his work. At one point, Rose calls Paul "John," though this is trimmed from the show when it airs.
June 12: Paul and Heather appear on "The Larry King Show." Larry is his usual cloying self, but the interview goes fairly well. Heather Mills, however, appears to bristle when asked about her love life with Paul.
June 13: Paul makes a surprise appearance at the Paul Simon-Brian Wilson show at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. As Brian introduces "God Only Knows," he says, "Paul McCartney once told me was one of his all-time favorites". Just as it begins, Paul and his entourage (including Heather Mills) come into the theater to take their seats complete with spotlight! Paul later performed "I've Just Seen a Face" with Paul Simon.
June 14: Paul performs with Paul Simon at a $500 a plate black-tie benefit for "Adopt-A-Landmine," his favorite cause. He plays "Yesterday," "The Long and Winding Road," "Driving Rain" (an unreleased song from his forthcoming album), and "Let It Be," then joins Paul Simon for "I've Just Seen a Face." Accompanying him were the musicians who recorded the new album. During the evening, Paul and Heather Hills also gave an award to the recipient of the "Adopt-A-Minefield Humanitarian Award, Radosav "Zika" Zivkovic, a landmine survivor.
July 8: According to a report initially in the Swiss newspaper Sonntagszeitung and later confirmed by the UK's Press Association and reported by Reuters, George Harrison underwent more cancer treatments in a Swiss clinic in May and June, this time for a reported brain tumor. In a statement to his fans, George said: "I am feeling fine and I am really sorry for the unnecessary worry which has been caused by the reports appearing in today's press. Please do not worry." Sonntagszeitung said Harrison had rented a house in Luino in Italy, a 40-minute drive from Bellinzona, during the treatment.
Oct. 23: Health authorities apologize to both the Harrisons and his assailant, Michael Abram, for missteps in Abram's care that presumably led to the 1999 attack. A statement issued by the St. Helens and Knowsley Health Authority and St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust said, "We wish to make a full and formal apology to George Harrison and his family and to Michael Abram and his family for the failures in Mr Abram's care and treatment prior to the appalling events of December 1999. Had there been better integration between the mental health services in Knowsley, Merseyside Drugs Council and the Criminal Justice Liaison Service and, indeed, better communication with Michael Abram's mother, Mr Abram may have received more appropriate treatment. We wish to reassure the Harrison and Abram families that lessons have been learned."
Oct. 30: The New York Post carries a short item Tuesday that George was seen over the weekend at Staten Island University Hospital, which has a world renowned cancer facility. A hospital spokesman admits receiving several calls about George, but would not confirm or deny the story, saying only, "There is no patient by that name staying here." As days pass, other newspapers and wire services pick up the report, and by Thursday, a media frenzy takes hold. One radio station reportedly spread false rumors that Harrison had died. His sister-in-law told one British newspaper, "We are all very concerned...He is very ill but putting up a real fight. We send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery."
Nov. 29: George Harrison passes away quietly at a private home in Los Angeles, though his death isn't announced until the next day. In a statement, the Harrison family said, ``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.' '' Ringo Starr, at a friend's home in Canada, released a statement saying, ``George was a best friend of mine. I loved him very much and I will miss him greatly. Both (wife) Barbara and I send our love and light to Olivia and Dhani. We will miss George for his sense of love, his sense of music and his sense of laughter.'' Paul McCartney, who had been in contact with Harrison's widow, Olivia, and told her his death was a "great blessing" and a "very peaceful golden moment," told reporters, "He was a lovely, lovely man. We know he's been ill for a while and we've just praying been for some kind of miracle. It wasn't to be, but I understand from his wife that he went peacefully which is a great blessing and it was a very peaceful golden moment apparently. I will just miss him but rather than just dwell on the sadness, I'm tending to start remembering all the silly little stories of where we went, all the things we did, and the laughs we had together. He was a very lovely man who didn't suffer fools gladly and didn't like interferences in his private life. He was a great man, a loving man, and I would like to ask people, particularly the media, to be very kind to Olivia and Dhani at the moment and to try and support them this time, because they need support." It is later revealed that the Harrisons had developed an intricate plan to keep George's final days private involving staying away from his home at Friar Park and any hospitals. However, a controversy erupts almost immediately because the death certificate lists the place of death with an address that doesn't exist. One report, later refuted, says the house was owned by Paul McCartney and was loaned to George for use to have some privacy. California officials said they would look into the matter, but it wasn't being given high priority. Another report had his widow Olivia and son Dhani scattering George's ashes in India, though this never took place. Additional rumors said Olivia and Dhani were actually to scatter them in Switzerland.
Dec. 12: EMI announces George's "My Sweet Lord" will be reissued as a charity CD single in early January (Jan. 14 in the UK). The single will also include "Let It Down" and "My Sweet Lord 2000."