Remembering George Harrison: The Beatles 1988 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction

By Nate Todd Nov 29, 2019 • 9:58 am PST

George Harrison Rock & Roll HOF

George Harrison died on this date — November 29, 2001 — 18 years ago. Known as the quiet Beatle, George probably didn’t particularly relish in the hullabaloo around his inevitable induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of The Beatles in 1988 (he was also posthumously inducted as a solo artist in 2004). But as he always did with matters pertaining to music, George took his acceptance speech seriously with a dash of that wry Harrison wit, “I don’t have to say much cause I’m the quiet Beatle.”

Harrison and Ringo Starr — along with Yoko Ono, Julian Lennon and Sean Ono Lennon — gave acceptance speeches. After Ringo’s speech, and in Paul McCartney’s absence, George quipped, “It’s unfortunate that Paul’s not here because he’s the one who had the speech in his pocket,” before he reflected on John Lennon, who was murdered only eight years prior, and also on why they were on that stage in the first place.

Harrison was sure to impart the fact that The Beatles stood on the shoulders of giants. He mentioned Little Richard and Lead Belly, who was inducted that year along with George’s friend and Traveling Wilburys bandmate Bob Dylan among others. George brought a little contemplativeness to a somewhat over-the-top affair. Check out George, Ringo, Yoko, Julian and Sean’s speeches below:

But The Beatles entrance into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame had to be over-the-top. Mick Jagger gave the induction speech and inductees including Harrison, Ringo and Dylan as well as Jagger, Bruce Springsteen and many more jammed on The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There.” The Rolling Stones and the gang also performed “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Scroll down to watch those performances as well as Jagger’s induction speech.

I Saw Her Standing There

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Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (See 279 videos)
George Harrison (See 4 videos) , Bruce Springsteen (See 560 videos) , Mick Jagger (See 3 videos) and Bob Dylan (See 61 videos)

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

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Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (See 279 videos)
The Rolling Stones (See 94 videos) , Bruce Springsteen (See 560 videos) , John Fogerty (See 43 videos) , Bob Dylan (See 61 videos) , George Harrison (See 4 videos) and Billy Joel (See 62 videos)

Mick Jagger Inducts The Beatles

For a bit of bonus content, check out this interesting anecdote behind one of Harrison’s early guitars as part of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame’s “Story Of Rock” series.

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