Today we look back to November 30, 2001…

George Harrison 1943-2001

Beatles guitarist George Harrison passed away yesterday afternoon in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer. His wife Olivia Harrison and 24-year-old son Dhani were with him when he died at a friend’s home, around 4:30 p.m. EST, according to the Associated Press. Harrison wrote and sang such classics as ‘Taxman,’ ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps,’ ‘Here Comes the Sun’ and ‘Something.’

Former band-mate Paul McCartney told AP ‘I am devastated and very very sad. We knew he’d been ill for a long time. He was a lovely guy and a very brave man and had a wonderful sense of humor. He is really just my baby brother.’
‘George has given so much to us in his lifetime and continues to do so even after his passing, with his music, his wit and his wisdom,’ Yoko Ono told The Press Association. ‘His life was magical and we all felt we had shared a little bit of it by knowing him.’

An informal service will be held today in New York, at Central Park’s Strawberry Fields.

Trey Anastasio, Bob Weir and Nicholas Payton Jam Together

Trey Anastasio, Bob Weir and Nicholas Payton performed together last night at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, CT. The musicians were participating in a panel discussion held by the Connecticut Forum titled The Power of Music. The night began with Anastasio playing an acoustic version of The Inlaw Josie Wales. For the next two hours, Anastasio, Weir and Payton, along with opera singer Beverly Sills, discussed various philosophies of music. Weir then played an acoustic version of Victim or the Crime and Payton performed Potato Head Blues. To end the evening, Anastasio (acoustic guitar), Weir (electric guitar) and Payton (trumpet) performed a jazzy improvisational piece of music.

Al Schnier to Release Solo Album

moe.s Al Schnier will release his first solo album this winter. Titled One, the CD will feature Schniers first foray into the world of electronic music. It will be released in mid-January on Fatboy Records. Dates for Schniers upcoming solo tour will be announced next week.

moe. plays tonight at Siena College in Loudenville, NY. For more information, visit www.moe.org.

ekoostik hookah, All Mighty Senators Play Benefit for Sunshine Daydream

Several bands are performing at a benefit tonight and tomorrow at Sunshine Daydream Festival Campground in Terra Alta, WV. Proceeds will be donated to Trip and Emily, the organizers of the annual festivals held on the site, so they can make a down payment on the property and avoid losing it. Featured acts tonight include All Mighty Senators, Matookas Groove, The Ordinary Way. Tomorrows line-up includes ekoostik hookah, Baked Fresh Daily, Roots Arisin, Plaid Iguana Project and the Davisson Bros.