When most people think of George Harrison, they picture “The Quiet Beatle”—calm, spiritual, and gentle. But behind that peaceful persona was someone who had strong opinions, especially when it came to music. Even though he wasn’t as outspoken as John Lennon, Harrison didn’t hold back when a musician’s style didn’t match his taste.
Throughout his life, Harrison commented on a few artists whose music he simply couldn’t stand. Some of these musicians even considered The Beatles huge influences, which makes his criticism feel even harsher from their perspective. Below is a simple look at the artists he famously disliked, and why.
1. Neil Young
Out of all the musicians George Harrison spoke about, his comments on Neil Young are the most well-documented. In a 1992 studio session, Harrison was asked about Young’s music — and he didn’t mince words. He said plainly, “I’m not a Neil Young fan… I hate it, yeah I can’t stand it.” He even mocked Young’s guitar playing, saying it was “good for a laugh.”
He later added that he didn’t enjoy Young’s singing voice either. Even though both were respected guitar legends, Harrison simply didn’t connect with Young’s raw, distinctive style.
2. Oasis (Especially Liam Gallagher)
In the 1990s, Harrison also spoke harshly about the Britpop band Oasis. He felt their music lacked depth, and he especially disliked their frontman, Liam Gallagher. Harrison once said the band didn’t need Liam at all, calling him “a pain.”
Liam didn’t take this well. He fired back in interviews, even threatening to punch Harrison if they ever met. This turned into one of the more surprising musical feuds, considering Oasis often praised The Beatles as heroes.
3. The Sex Pistols and Punk Music
Harrison also wasn’t a fan of punk rock. In a 1979 interview, he said punk bands lacked musicianship and were mostly “just a lot of noise.” But he didn’t totally dismiss the movement — he understood it came from social frustration. Still, his main point was clear: he didn’t enjoy the music itself and believed negativity in music only created more negativity.
4. The Hollies
Back in the 1960s, Harrison criticized The Hollies’ cover of his song “If I Needed Someone.” He said they had “spoilt it,” describing their version as too clean and mechanical, lacking the spirit of the original Beatles recording. He thought they sounded like session musicians rather than a real band connecting with the song.
5. Elton John
Harrison didn’t have anything personal against Elton John, but he wasn’t a fan of his music. In a 1976 interview, he said Elton’s songs felt formulaic — like they were created using the same pattern every time. He thought Elton’s music was catchy but lacked the deeper feeling he valued so much.
Final Thoughts
Even though George Harrison was known as “The Quiet One,” he clearly wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. His criticisms were often blunt, surprising, and sometimes even harsh. But they also showed how seriously he took music. For Harrison, music needed to have soul, sincerity, and purpose. If it didn’t, he wasn’t interested — no matter how popular the artist was.