George Harrison, the Beatle behind some of the most prevalent songs like "Here Comes the Sun" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" always seemed to be in the shadow of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Even after Lennon was killed, McCartney's solo work got much more praise than Harrison's.
The Daily Mail has reported that through the Freedom of Information laws, The Mail on Sunday obtained records via the Cabinet Office that indicate that before his death in 2001, Harrison, then 56, turned down the honor of OBE in the New Year Honours List of 2000. OBE is an honor in Britain that is lower ranked than that of knighthood, which McCartney received in 1997.
Journalist Ray Connoll knew The Beatles and he said that Harrison would have regarded the offer of the OBE as a snub. "Whoever it was who decided to offer him the OBE and not the knighthood was extraordinarily insensitive," he said. "George would have felt insulted - and with very good reason."
According to Daily Mail: "The OBE was suggested by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to recognise his four decade-long career in showbusiness. But the citation for Harrison did not highlight his creative contribution to The Beatles' success, stating simply: 'He was a member of a band that many people would say is the best thing that Britain has ever produced, and possibly the best in the world, The Beatles.'"
It's unfortunate that Harrison continued to feel less-than at the end of his life, especially considering he was a master songwriter and artist in his own right, beyond just being one of The Beatles.
