George Harrison

The quiet Beatle who had plenty to say on his own, George Harrison launched one of rock's most celebrated solo careers after the Fab Four called it quits in 1970. Long overshadowed by Lennon and McCartney during his Beatles tenure, Harrison had been quietly stockpiling ideas, and his debut solo statement All Things Must Pass arrived like a flood — a sprawling triple album that immediately established him as a serious artistic force in his own right. The record remains one of the greatest solo albums in rock history, full stop.

Musically, Harrison carved out a unique space that blended rock with Indian classical influences, soulful slide guitar work, and deeply spiritual lyrical themes. His collaboration with producer Phil Spector gave All Things Must Pass its massive, layered sound, while later records like Living in the Material World and Thirty Three & 1/3 showed him refining a more personal, introspective style. His slide guitar playing was instantly recognizable and hugely influential on generations of guitarists who followed.

Beyond the records, Harrison's cultural footprint was enormous. He helped introduce Western audiences to Indian music and the sitar, organized the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971 — arguably the blueprint for every charity rock event since — and later found chart success with the Traveling Wilburys supergroup alongside Dylan, Petty, Orbison, and Lynne. He proved definitively that the third Beatle had been holding back something extraordinary all along.