George Harrison's final album, Brainwashed, was released fifteen years after his second-to-last one, almost one year after his passing and it had been ten years in the making. Some of the work on it had to be completed by his son Dhani and his friend Jeff Lynne, but in the end it turned out to be a genuine George Harrison record and ultimately one of his best.
Brainwashed was being created at the same time when Harrison was battling throat, lung and brain cancer, going under surgeries and radiotherapy, so he had to charge his songwriting and recording until he could do it no more. When he died, he had already planned out everything that had to be done so that Brainwashed would be finished and out in the world.
The album's liner notes include a quote from the Bhagavad Gita: There never was a time when you or I did not exist. Nor will there be any future when we shall cease to be.
On July 24th, 1997 George went on John Fugelsang's show on VH1, alongside his friend and collaborator, Ravi Shankar. On the show he talked about his songwriting, spirituality, The Beatles, the Concert For Bangladesh and he performed Any Road from the yet unfinished Brainwashed and All Things Must Pass. It turned out to be his last interview and live performance.
The show was edited and broadcast on the day of George Harrison's death, November 29th 2001, fifteen years ago today.
ZR