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CNN Saturday Morning News

Around the World, Fans Mourn Loss of George Harrison

Aired December 01, 2001 - 07:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A Beatle he will be forever, and rock 'n' roll fans around the world are coming together to remember George Harrison. He died of cancer Thursday at the age of 58. Mourning fans gathered in New York to honor Harrison.

CNN's Michael Okwu was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By noon, it became the most visible, the most emotional jam session in New York.

UNIDENTIFIED HARRISON FANS (singing): Hey, you've got to hide your love away...

OKWU: But it didn't start that way.

UNIDENTIFIED HARRISON FAN: Whether (UNINTELLIGIBLE) world, but we have lost a great artist.

OKWU: When news broke around the city, it made some George Harrison fans distraught, compelled others to recite mournful poetry.

UNIDENTIFIED HARRISON FAN: Leaving through doors, past, present, future, gliding as hawks do from one world unto the next.

OKWU: Strawberry Fields, on most days a monument to John Lennon, was transformed into a shrine for the quiet Beatle. The fans we spoke to say the music made them feel so close to the man, they called themselves friends.

And on this day, his friends laid down flowers and flames, artwork, and a lone guitar.

UNIDENTIFIED HARRISON FAN: It hurts. It feels like this is -- a family member's gone.

UNIDENTIFIED HARRISON FAN: They are together forever, John and George.

OKWU: The day began with a trickle of fans mourning Harrison's death and ended with hundreds of fans celebrating Harrison's life.

(on camera): Harrison published 22 songs with the Beatles, enough material, along with other Beatles classics, to fuel the celebration.

UNIDENTIFIED HARRISON FAN: These guys supplied the sound track of my life, and (inaudible) out of love and devotion. I mean, my whole life has been, you know, the backbeat has been, the backbeat has been the Beatles.

OKWU: But still, there was sadness. One fan said Lennon's death was tough enough. "I know it sounds crazy," he said, "but you never expected more than one of them to die, at least not now."

Michael Okwu, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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