On July 24, 1997, George Harrison — the quiet Beatle, the spiritual seeker, and one of rock’s most beloved guitarists — gave what would become his final public performance. There were no stadium lights, no roaring crowds, no festival hype. Just George, a stool, a guitar, and the intimate space of VH1’s studio in New York City.
He wasn’t there to promote himself. He was accompanying his dear friend and sitar master Ravi Shankar to support the release of Chants of India, an album Harrison had lovingly produced and played on. But when asked if he’d sing something, George obliged with quiet grace — and made history without even trying.
Two Songs, One Legacy
Harrison performed two songs that day:
-
“All Things Must Pass” – the title track from his legendary 1970 solo debut. It was a tender, stripped-down version, heavy with meaning, as if George was already aware of the finality that surrounded him. “All Things Must Pass,” the title track from his 1970 triple album, was performed live on television for one of the few times in his career. “Any Road,” a song he had begun writing in 1988, was performed publicly for the first and only time during this session. The song would later be released posthumously in 2003 on his final studio album, Brainwashed.
-
“Any Road” – a song he had begun writing in 1988 but never released during his lifetime. This was the only time he ever performed it publicly. After his death, the song would become the opening track of his final album Brainwashed (2003).
With simple acoustic accompaniment, Harrison’s performance was raw, warm, and heartbreakingly beautiful. When he finished, he joked modestly, “I could go home and practice a bit and do it properly.” But to those watching, it was already perfect.
A Final Public Moment
This appearance on VH1’s The George & Ravi Show, hosted by John Fugelsang, would be the last time the world saw George Harrison perform in public. He died four years later, in November 2001, after a long battle with cancer.
The intimate setting featured Harrison seated on a stool, playing his guitar and sharing his music with a small audience, including host John Fugelsang, Shankar, and a few others. After his performance, Harrison humbly remarked, “I could go home and practice a bit and do it properly,” reflecting his modest nature.
Yet in just two songs, George managed to capture the essence of everything he stood for: peace, humility, introspection, and a quiet kind of genius that needed no fanfare.
Watch the Performance
You can watch this historic moment here:
