WSM CELEBRATES THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF GEORGE HARRISON

WITH DVD AND CD RELEASE OF CONCERT FOR GEORGE



All-Star Tribute Features Performances by

Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr, and More



2-Disc DVD and 2-CD Sets in Stores November 18

LOS ANGELES – On November 29, 2002—one year after the passing of music legend George Harrison—wife Olivia Harrison and longtime friend Eric Clapton organized a performance tribute in his honor. Held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the momentous evening featured George’s songs, and music he loved, performed by an all-star lineup that included Clapton, Jools Holland, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Monty Python, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, Ravi and Anoushka Shankar, Ringo Starr, and many more.



Warner Strategic Marketing (WSM) celebrates that magical night with the DVD release of CONCERT FOR GEORGE, a double-disc set highlighting the gala event, which was beautifully filmed for posterity and recently released in a limited theatrical run. Also being released the same day is a 2-CD soundtrack consisting of nearly two hours of music from this historic tribute.



CONCERT FOR GEORGE will be available November 18 at all retail outlets and at www.onlyhitmusic.com for a suggested retail price of $29.99 for the DVD package and $24.98 for the CD set. Disc one of the DVD contains the complete concert, including performances not featured in the theatrical version. Disc two contains the theatrical version featuring concert highlights, interviews with the performers, rehearsals, and behind-the-scenes footage. Each of the performers had a personal friendship or history with Harrison, and the backstage moments and interviews give a sense of how deeply they felt for him.



Directed by David Leland (whose credits include the feature Wish You Were Here, HBO’s Band Of Brothers and the Traveling Wilburys video “Handle With Care”), the CONCERT FOR GEORGE DVD captures stunning renditions of some of the most significant music of the 20th century, including “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (featuring Clapton on guitar, McCartney on piano and Starr on drums), “Taxman” (performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and “The Inner Light” (covered by Jeff Lynne and Anoushka Shankar). Lynne, Harrison’s longtime friend and collaborator, produced the audio elements of the concert, while Clapton oversaw the entire proceedings as Musical Director.



In one memorable segment, Anoushka Shankar conducted a full orchestra of musicians performing a special composition by her father and Harrison’s mentor, Ravi Shankar, celebrating Harrison’s love of Indian classical music. The piece, entitled “Arpan,” means “offering.”











Among the other high points are McCartney and Clapton performing a duet of “Something,” with Starr on drums; Starr performing his #1 hit “Photograph” (which was cowritten by Harrison); and Oscar®-winner Tom Hanks sitting in with Monty Python (featuring Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and Neil Innes) for a hysterical version of “The Lumberjack Song,” one of Harrison’s favorites.



Harrison’s friend Joe Brown played the old standard “I’ll See You In My Dreams” to close the emotional evening.



“The Concert For George was all I hoped it would be,” said Olivia Harrison. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a band play with so much emotion and respect.”



CONCERT FOR GEORGE captures the majesty of Royal Albert Hall from more than a dozen camera locations. The film was shot in high definition and digitally mastered with sound recorded in 5.1 Surround.