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Harrison's fans gently weep The ex-Beatle's death saddens many who say his influence transcended music By BILL VARBLE It was after midnight when Dave Marston and his wife, Tammy, learned on the Internet of the death of George Harrison. "I was overcome," says Marston, an Ashland musician who often performs Beatles songs. The former Beatle, 58, died Thursday in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer, sparking an outpouring of sadness and remembrances among Beatles fans and music lovers around the world and locally. A stunned Marston went into his studio and played one of Harrison's best-known songs, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." He says he'll play it tonight in a performance at the Old Ashland Armory. "It's a sad passing," says Alan Berlin, 54, executive director of Head Start of Southern Oregon. "I grew up with the Beatles. We listened to them as guides and teachers, whether that was wise or not. They gave us some wonderful direction. "They were musically wonderful, and they were talking about loving each other. They were saying there were other ways to see the world." Berlin says Harrison's death underscores a life lesson that recalls one of his songs. "Despite all the riches and fame," he says, "everything passes." Al Balzer of Talent was 8 years old when his brother, who was then serving in the Vietnam War, brought home the Beatles' "Revolver" and "Rubber Soul" albums. "George was just coming into his own on those albums," Balzer says. He says he was listening a couple of weeks ago to Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun" from the Beatles' White Album when he felt a new appreciation for Harrison's talent. "He wrote a few songs on the level of Lennon and McCartney," Balzer says. "He was an incredible talent who always took a back seat." Several people say that meditation, yoga and Indian philosophies could not have become as popular in the West as they did in recent decades without Harrison's much-publicized interest in them in the 1960s. "He was a very gentle man and a beautiful spirit," Marston says. "He had a period of genius starting in 1967. It only lasted for a few years, but he had his moments. He was very peaceful and loved meditation ... but he was this guy who liked fast cars." Tom Woodard, of Medford's Musichead, got his first Beatles album at age 4. He says he figured Harrison was near the end of his life after reading reports about Paul McCartney visiting him several weeks ago. "As a guitarist, he was one of the greats, in my opinion," Woodard says. "He brought rockabilly into the modern age. He was always championing different music, bringing different things into the Beatles. "He was my favorite. He was the oddball, the one with the minor keys, a more interesting side than just pop song-craft." Woodard points out that the album "Abbey Road" would never have been made without Harrison's initiative. "The Beatles were feuding," he says. "He called them together at his mansion and said, 'You know guys, there's more to it than this. Let's get together and make one last great record.' "They did, and it's the greatest Beatles record. "I'm gonna play it today." Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.