His publicist has been denying it for months, but now George Harrison has revealed the truth. He has been battling throat cancer, brought on, he believes, by smoking cigarettes. The full story from Associated Press:
Sunday June 28 2:26 PM EDT Ex-Beatle Says He's Beating Cancer LONDON (AP) - Former Beatle George Harrison disclosed Sunday that he has been battling throat cancer since last summer - and is winning. ``I'm not going to die on you folks just yet. I am very lucky,'' the 54-year-old singer was quoted as telling the News of the World.
Harrison told the Sunday tabloid that he first noticed a lump on his neck last July while he was gardening at his 200-room mansion in Henley, 35 miles west of London. He shares the home with his wife, Olivia, 47, and their 19-year-old son Dhani. He had surgery in August to remove the lump. That was followed by two courses of radiation therapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Britain's leading cancer treatment center. ``I got it pur ely from smoking. I gave up cigarettes many years ago but had started again for a while and then stopped in 1997,'' Harrison was quoted as telling the paper. ``Luckily for me, they found that this nodule was more of a warning than anything else. There are many different types of cancerous cells, and this was a very basic type.''
In January, the singer went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for tests and was told that the cancer had not returned. He returned to the clinic in May for further tests, e paper said. ``I went back and was given the final all-clear - a clean bill of health,'' he said. ``Sometimes, if you say the word `cancer,' everybody automatically thinks it will end in misery, but it's not always the case. I was very lucky because it didn't go anywhere.'' But Harrison said the battle with cancer made him think about the fragility of life. ``It reminds you that anything can happen ... that's the nature of life,'' he said.
Earlier this month, the three surviving Beatles - Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney - were reunited for the first time in years at a London memorial service for McCartney's wife, Linda, who died of breast cancer. John Lennon, the fourth Beatle, was shot to death in 1980 in New York City. Asked by the News of the World if the events of the past year might be reflected in his new songs, Harrison was quoted as saying: ``Maybe I'll record a track called 'Radiation Therapy.'''
(Entered June 28, 1998)
That guest list of 400 did not include Yoko and Sean, who sent flowers anyway.
Yoko told PEOPLE magazine, "Yes, Sean and I were not invited. We were a bit hurt,
but I know that Paul is dealing with a tragedy as best he can, so he is allowed.
We sent flowers for Linda to the memorial." The story appeared on the front page of
the New York Post.
(Entered June 9, 1998)
Paul says goodbye to Linda with Beatles
By Paul Majendie
LONDON (Reuters) - Paul McCartney, flanked by family, friends, fellow Beatles and two Shetland ponies, Monday paid an emotional farewell to his wife Linda after her death from breast cancer.
It was the first time in three decades that Ringo Starr and George Harrison had come together with McCartney in public.
They were there to support him as he paid an emotion-charged tribute to the woman who had only spent one night apart from Paul in 30 years of marriage.
McCartney praised his wife as a great lover, fantastic photographer, passionate rock n'roll fan and fervent crusader for animal rights.
Up the aisle at St Martin in The Fields church were led two Shetland ponies -- Schoo and Tinsel -- which he had given Linda as Christmas presents.
McCartney, who with John Lennon composed so many Beatle classics, said he wanted the service to be a celebration of Linda, a dedicated vegetarian campaigner who died in April.
"I have lost my girlfriend and that is very sad. I still cannot believe it but I have to because it is true," he told the 700-strong congregation packed into the church lined with white roses, peonies and lilies.
He said she was like a bright, shining diamond in his life. Recalling the first time they met, he said: "I caught her eye and thought I cannot let this chance go."
"As a lover she was the best...We had a lot of fun making those babies," he said.
For the service he was joined by his three children, Mary, fashion designer Stella and rock guitarist James, along with Heather, Linda's daughter from her first marriage.
Linda McCartney, who died in the United States at the age of 56, was a photographer and vegetarian who started her own successful food business and was a strong supporter of animal rights.
"She said one day if I could save just one animal, that is all I would like to do. I saw a light bulb come on over her head," Paul said.
"Over the years, she has become the first vegetarian tycoon and I understand they have sold more than 400 million meals. So that is a couple of animals she has saved," he told the congregation.
The guests, a Who's Who of pop music, ranged from Elton John and Sting to George Martin, the producer who used to be known as the fifth Beatle.
Animal rights campaigners staged a candlelit vigil in Trafalgar Square outside the church. They sported "Go Veggie for Linda" badges.
The congregation sang "Let It Be" -- the poignant ballad McCartney wrote for his own mother Mary, who died of breast cancer when he was 14 years old.
The last time the Beatles sang in public together was in 1969 when an impromptu session on the rooftop of their Apple record building in central London brought traffic to a halt.
This is the second time that tragedy has struck the world's most famous pop group. Lennon was shot dead by a deranged fan outside his New York apartment in 1980.
"Lady Linda, we cannot see you but we still hear you," said her fellow animal rights activist, television writer Carla Lane.
"We will complete your journey," she pledged.
The ashes of Linda McCartney had been scattered by Paul over their family estate in southern England.
The service began with the haunting refrain from Sir Paul McCartney's 1977 hit "Mull of Kintyre."
Reading one eulogy, actress Joanna Lumley said it all for so many who packed the church to celebrate a life cut short: "Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room."
OTHER STORIES:
(Entered May 28, 1998)
If you live in the United States and have been wondering why you can't find
Julian's album in your local CD stores...it's because it hasn't been released
in the States yet. When the big fuss over Julian and Sean's CDs both coming
out on the same date was in full swing a few weeks ago, there was no mention
that I remember seeing that Julian's album was being released in Europe only.
Lucy at Revolutions says that a friend of
Julian's told her that "Photograph
Smile" won't be released in the USA until possibly November. You can order
the album through the online CD service AB-CD.
(Entered May 22, 1998)
LONDON (Reuters) - A memorial service and a separate
candlelight vigil will be held in June in honor of Linda
McCartney, who died last month of cancer, the press office of
Beatles legend Paul McCartney announced Thursday.
Close friends and family plan to "gather in remembrance of
Linda" on the evening of June 8 in St. Martin's in the Fields,
one of London's most famous churches, the statement said.
"It is understood that animal welfare groups and other
people who wish to honor Linda are planning to gather in
Trafalgar Square at the same time for an informal candlelight
tribute," the statement said.
"Due to the tremendous amount of letters of condolence that
the family has received, Paul and the children are placing
newspaper advertisements to thank all the people who are
thinking of them," it added.
Linda McCartney, an outspoken vegetarian who developed a
successful line of non-meat meals, died April 17 in Arizona at
age 56.
(Entered May 13, 1998)
Sean will appear live on a radio show - "Modern Rock Live" - on May 17 at 10:30PM Eastern
time. Fans can phone in their questions at 1-800-223-7625 or fax them at
1-818-906-9736.
Sean will also appear on MTV Live at 6PM Eastern time on May 19.
See the Grand Royal web site for updated info
on Sean's appearances.
(Entered May 12, 1998)
George Harrison was chosen by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono to represent
the Beatles' interests in a court case involving a tape that was going to be released
of a very early Beatles. George made the statement in court, "One drunken person
recording another bunch of drunks does not constitute business deals." E!Online
has the whole story here.
Billboard Daily news also has a description of the court case.
(Entered May 11, 1998)
It may not only be the media that makes some kind of duel out of Sean and Julian
Lennons' albums being released on the same day. Julian is reportedly unhappy about it,
although Sean is calling it a coincidence. Julian also apparently accused Sean's
people of trying to ruin his career. IK! hasn't seen any actual quotes from Julian
from any reputable news organizations on this subject. Since the press can blow up
comments or create controversy, we're in a wait-and-see mode here.
ENews! carried the following story about the
Lennon brothers' so-called "battle."
"The sons of John Lennon to release albums on same day, battle begins...
Julian Lennon and half brother Sean Lennon are about to do battle for record sales.
The two are releasing new albums on the same day. Julian Lennon, 34 years old son of
John and first wife Cynthia will release his new album on May 18. On that same day Sean Lennon,
John's son with wife Yoko Ono, plans on releasing his new album. Sean insists that
the release dates are just a coincidence and nothing more. However Julian feels differently,
he claims that whatever he is doing, Sean is doing but a week earlier. Julian also feels
that you can only live on the name for so long and that at some point the music will decide
if you survive or go.
The jury will be the fans as the hype over both albums will probably lead to brisk album
sales for both the Lennon boys."
(Entered May 6, 1998)
Dot Music, an online music resource for reviews, news
and more, had a brief article about the release of Sean and Julian Lennon's Cds this
month. Dot gave Sean's album a four-star rating, while Julian's received three.
Dot felt that Julian was doing the same type of music as before, while Sean was
experimenting and trying new ideas. It's actually a bit unfortunate that both
of the Lennons' albums are being released on the same day, as this will inspire
even more comparisons between the brothers, in addition to the obvious comparisons
that will be made to their father. And, no, their father is not actor Jack Lemmon
as Sean said on "Indie Outing" Monday!! :-)
(Entered May 4, 1998)
Sean's new video, "Home" from the CD "Into the Sun" (set for release on Grand Royal
May 19) aired on MTV's program, "120 Minutes" (Midnight to 2AM May 4). The video
was shot using a digital video camera that Sean was able to carry which taped him
from a 360-degree angle. The video began with Sean's back to the camera, but then
as he walked along the streets, the view kept changing, from the side, front and
back. After a trip to a pet shop to buy two goldfish, the scene then changed to
a seemingly underwater Sean, still walking along the streets. When he arrived at
his apartment (where his friends were waiting, including girlfriend, Yuka Honda),
Sean told them that he'd bought two fish - and proceeded to knock them out of his
ear into a fishbowl. A clever video (and worth sitting up for so late when there's
work at 8AM the next morning!).
(Entered May 3, 1998)
Sean's video for his song "Home" from the new "Into the Sun" CD will premiere at
midnight tonight (May 3, 1998) on MTV's program, "120 Minutes."
And don't forget to watch "Indie Outing" tomorrow in the noon hour (12:30 PM) for
a performance by Sean.
Interviews and / or CD reviews are upcoming in Elle magazine, PEOPLE ,
Entertainment Weekly and US.
Only 400 of Paul McCartney's "close friends and family" were invited to the
New York City memorial service for his beloved wife, Linda, who died of breast cancer
a few months ago.
Today's (June 9, 1998) cover of New York Post;
The story inside;
Today's USA Today Life front page;
The story inside;
CNN's SHOWBIZ