The Beatles are one of the most important bands in music history. Even more than 60 years after they began, their songs are still loved all over the world. Today, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are the only surviving members of the band. Both continue to make music and appear in public, keeping the Beatles’ legacy alive. However, the story of the Beatles is also a story of loss, especially with the deaths of John Lennon and George Harrison.
John Lennon died in 1980 after being shot outside his apartment in New York City. His death was sudden, violent, and shocking. Fans around the world were heartbroken, and it marked a tragic moment in music history. Lennon was only 40 years old, and his life was taken without warning. For his former bandmates, the loss was deeply personal. They did not get a chance to say goodbye.
George Harrison’s death was very different. His final years were long and painful. In the late 1990s, Harrison was diagnosed with throat cancer, which was treated at the time. In 1999, he also survived a terrifying knife attack when an intruder broke into his home and stabbed him many times. Although he recovered from the attack, many people close to him believed it affected his health.
By 2001, Harrison’s cancer had returned and spread to his lungs and brain. His condition slowly worsened, and he spent time receiving treatment in Europe. Unlike Lennon’s sudden death, Harrison’s passing was a slow and emotional journey for those who loved him.
One of the most touching stories from this time comes from Ringo Starr. In the 2011 documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Ringo shared the last words George ever said to him. When Ringo visited George near the end of his life, George was very weak and could not sit up. Ringo told him that he needed to go to Boston because his daughter was dealing with a brain tumor.
George’s response was simple but powerful. He looked at Ringo and asked, “Do you want me to come with you?” These were the final words Ringo heard from his friend. While remembering this moment, Ringo became emotional and wiped away tears. Even while facing his own death, George was thinking about someone else.
This moment shows the deep kindness and compassion George Harrison was known for. It also highlights the strong friendship between George and Ringo. While the Beatles were sometimes divided by arguments and stress, these two remained close long after the band broke up. George supported Ringo during difficult times, and Ringo never forgot that love.
George Harrison passed away on November 29, 2001, at the age of 58. Though he is gone, stories like this remind us that behind the fame were real people with deep friendships. The Beatles were not just a band — they were family, and that bond still touches hearts today.