50 years ago today, December 26, 1975, George’s appearance on Rutland Weekend Television’s Christmas special aired.
“‘The Pirate Song’ was written for the pirate sketch on the Rutland Weekend Television Christmas Show, 1975. It was co-written (words and music) by Eric Idle and myself. […] All my friends are pirates.” - George Harrison, I Me Mine (1980)
“George lurched on as a truculent and slightly unstable pirate and demanded to know where the Pirate sketch was. As the sleazy compere, I insisted he was only there to sing ‘My Sweet Lord,’ and there was no pirate sketch. But he was having none of that.
‘No pirate sketch? Well, up you then,’ and off he stormed…” - Eric Idle, A Sortabiography (2018)
“I got an e-mail from the Liv the other day [in 2003] saying she thought George performing ‘The Pirate Song’ on Rutland Weekend Television was the bravest thing he ever did and that she wanted to be a pirate, too. Well, his dark sweet lady was the love of his life, and I know how much he loved her; a braver, finer, lovelier companion no man could ever find, and it breaks my heart to think of these last […] years.” - Eric Idle, The Greedy Bastard Diary (2003)
“[P]irate as he is, [George] deserves the word ‘bold’ for he is, in truth, quite the boldest man I have ever met.” - Derek Taylor, I Me Mine (1980)
“He was a naughty boy, you know — an artist, a pirate. But his meditation left him well prepared for his death. He said he was ready to leave his body. He was always a ‘No need to panic’ kind of person.” - Olivia Harrison, Vanity Fair (September 27, 2011)
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