#krla

1968.

Brian Wilson on the cover of KRLA Beat, June 11, 1966.

Beatle George Harrison arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport where he was greeted by old friend and Beatle confidant Dave Hull. KRLA’s “Hullabalooer” has been the most important Beatle contact in the United States since the fab foursome made their first visit to the “colonies” several years ago.

Accompanied by his pretty wife Patti, Beatle George told Dave that he was in America for “a little business and pleasure.” Dressed in Hippie garb reminiscent of American Indian dress, George de-planed to meet KRLA’s Dave, about 300 fans and a battery of the press. 

George admitted to Dave that he had no plans for an extended stay in Los Angeles. “I expect to be here no longer than about five days. I have no plans, just come to try and get a bit of peace. You know, I’d like to see a few friends and a few people, that’s the only thing I’m here for. And just a few things concerning business.” 

Dave asked George why the Beatles have decided to give up concert tours. Answered pal George, “It would be hard to pinpoint the problem in just a few words. There’s so many different things we’d like. You see, we’re all growing sort of physically and mentally and we’ve got to progress, and concert tours are too much in one rut. I think a lot of people realize this. We’re more able to experiment with music and generally do lots more things that’s we’ve always wanted to do. 

 “You know,” George went on, “in order to do something new, you’ve got to cut something out, and touring was the thing we were getting the least satisfaction from, because it was getting too big.”

Recently Harrison along with the other three Beatles signed a petition to the English Government urging the legalization of marijuana. The petition was also signed by 61 other British citizens. The petition took the form of a full-page advertisement in the London Times. When asked about his reason for supporting the legalization of marijuana, Harrison said, “I think if somebody can go and buy a crate of whiskey and drink that and be perfectly within the law then I think somebody, particularly within the privacy of his own home, should be able to smoke a marijuana cigarette. You know. I think marijuana is only as bad as an ordinary cigarette, or alcohol or tea or coffee or any of those things.

“They’re all drugs, all stimulants you know. The thing is to define between something that is merely a stimulant and something that makes your physical body crave for it. There’s no comparison between marijuana and heroin.”