2. Indian
Influences
• George Harrison loved Indian
music and culture. He travelled to
India and had sitar lessons with
Ravi Shankar. Ravi Shankar is a
famous classical Indian sitarist
who plays traditional Indian ragas.
• In 1966, George Harrison became
very good friends and Ravi
Shankar offered George private
sitar lessons.
3. Ravi Shankar
• Ravi Shankar loved teaching George the sitar
however he wasn’t keen for the Indian influence
over rock music. His association with The Beatles
led to people speculating that he was a hippie
promoting drug use. The Beatles were known in
the 60’s for being drug taking hippies which
helped shaped their ‘St peppers’ album.
• Shankar was very critical about it and described
them as “Flower and beads” addicts.
4. George Harrison’s
influence in The
Beatles
• This album by The Beatles was the
start of Indian classical influence
over rock music. As you can see
from the album cover The Beatles
took a complete different style
which was partially due to Indian
and pop culture influence.
• One song called Norwegian Wood
featured a sitar throughout which
is one of the first songs that
George Harrison wrote with the
sitar.
