Why George Harrison Shut Down a Potential Beatles Reunion Pitched by John Lennon in the 1970s

After the Fab Four called it quits for good in 1970, fans around the world were anxiously waiting for the announcement of a proper reunion. Before the sad passing of John Lennon in 1980 and George Harrison in 2001, fans were hoping that at least some semblance of a reunion would happen. It never really did.

However, in the 1970s, a Beatles reunion was apparently on the table. And we can thank George Harrison (not exclusively, but partially) for it not actually taking off. Whether that’s a good or a bad thing, I’ll leave up to the diehard fans. Still, it’s an interesting story if nothing else.

Shortly after The Beatles broke up in the early 1970s, the possibility of a reunion was not even considered. The Fab Four were beefing with each other, there were lawsuits being thrown around, and Paul McCartney and John Lennon had taken to writing a few beef tracks about each other. It was a mess.

Eventually, things died down, and each member of the former band went on to produce excellent solo works. As things settled further, rumors of a potential reunion began to circulate. However, they would never come to fruition. And guitarist George Harrison was pretty dead set on a reunion never happening.

Lennon, however, was open to the idea and pitched it pretty publicly.

Why George Harrison Refused a Beatles Reunion in the 1970s

“If we record, we record,” said Lennon a few years after The Beatles disbanded. “I don’t know. As long as we make music.”

Similarly, McCartney would say that “anything could happen.”

However, Harrison shut it down pretty directly.

“They’ve got lots and lots of songs they can play forever,” said Harrison, referencing what the fans wanted in 1979. “But what do they want? Blood? […] People used us as an excuse to trip out, and we were the victims of that. That’s why they want the Beatles to go on, so they can all get silly again. But they don’t have consideration for our well-being when they say, ‘Let’s have the Fab Four again.’”

When asked if he’d “want to go through it again,” Harrison gave a very clear answer: “Never.” Not in this life or any other life.”

Later in 1986, after the death of Lennon, Harrison would appear on TV where he was asked about a potential partial reunion of the remaining three members. He shut down the possibility of a reunion pretty quickly.

“It’s best left as it was,” said Harrison. “With all those nice memories and the records are there. You know, you don’t want to see three old men hobbling around the stage pretending to be the Fab Four.”

I get it. Harrison clearly wanted the legacy of The Beatles to be kept as it was. And ahead of that, he was likely still dealing with the trauma of the band’s breakup and wanted nothing to do with a reunion. If anything, we should be thanking him for keeping a reunion from happening. It could have dampened The Beatles’ image. Though, I can understand why fans were bummed out about it.

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