The musician that made George Harrison pick up a guitar
The Beatles remain the most influential band in the world. There might be debates here and there about whether they are overrated or how good their music holds up, but the way they shaped pop music completely redefined the industry, meaning their presence can be felt just as much today as it could be in the 1960s.
When a band is as important as the Beatles, it’s strange to think that they also have heroes of their own, and some musicians spurred each member on to initially do the thing they are now considered some of the best at. George Harrison was a masterful guitar player and songwriter who made putting together ear-pricking riffs and catchy choruses look easy, but who inspired him?
Three taps on the coffin. Why put into words something that can never be expressed? Stan Perkins reflects on his father’s funeral and remembers the moment Harrison walked over to pay his respects, no words, just his head down and three taps on the coffin.
Carl Perkins was one of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll. He had a sound that fellow musician Carl Perkins said personified the rockabilly era, and he was such a talent when crafting music that his tracks were covered by the likes of Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and, of course, The Beatles.
“He said, ‘If it hadn’t have been for your daddy, I never would have picked up a guitar,’” says Stan Perkins, once again looking back to his father’s funeral. He spoke to George Harrison on the day, who confessed it was his father who was the reason he decided to learn how to play in the first place.
The proof that Harrison was such a big fan of Perkins can be seen throughout his career, not just in the words he spoke to Carl’s son at his funeral. Harrison embodied the Perkins sound incredibly well in the early Beatles records, and the band even covered three of his songs on their major studio releases.
The Beatles released ‘Honey Don’t’, ‘Matchbox’ and ‘Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby’, which is more than any other artist whose songs they chose to perform. Harrison was such a fan of the rockabilly pioneer that when they were touring in Hamburg, he would tell everyone his name was Carl, not George. “No one knew him as George there,” recalled Stan, laughing, looking back at the story.
The early pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll don’t get forgotten, but as time passes and other icons come and go, their names aren’t mentioned as much. Carl Perkins is one of those pioneers. His songs will still be recognised by listeners today as the likes of ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ and ‘Matchbox’ are timeless, but people might not be aware it was Perkins who wrote them.
That being said, his influence can never be lost with time, as the countless musicians he will have influenced to pick up a guitar and write, George Harrison included, have gone on to make music what it is today. How do you ever thank someone for that? Just three taps on the coffin.