After the assassination of John Lennon on December 8, 1980, in New York, the rest of The Beatles prompted to take elaborate security precautions. George Harrison was reported to have spent more than £1 million in protection. But despite the extensive security measure taken, his mansion was still broken into in 1999.
In 1999, Michael Abram, a man with paranoid schizophrenia, broke into George Harrison’s house. The intruder attacked Harrison and his wife, stabbing the musician over 40 times. The musician survived the horrific break-in but passed of cancer two years later.
Who is George Harrison?
On February 25, 1943, George Harrison was born in Wavertree, Liverpool. He was the youngest of four children. His parents lived a very mediocre lifestyle. His father was a bus conductor, while his mother was a shop assistant. His mother, Louise, was very supportive and was Harrison’s inspiration to pursue music. She was known for her loud singing voice. When she was pregnant with Harrison, she often listened to Radio India.
Every Sunday, she tuned in to mystical sounds evoked by sitars and tablas, hoping that the exotic music would bring peace and calm to the baby in the womb.
George Harrison’s Biographer
In 1949, the family moved to Speke, Liverpool. During that time, Harrison attended the Dovedale Primary School. He then went to the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys. While the institute offered a music course, Harrison was dismayed by the fact that there were no guitars and that the school molded them with fear rather than encouragement.
After listening to Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel, Harrison’s interest in rock and roll was genuinely piqued. He was completely obsessed with guitars that he would sit in the back of the classroom, drawing guitars in his notes.
I was totally into guitars. The first person I ever saw playing a guitar was Slim Whitman, either a photo of him in a magazine or live on television. Guitars were definitely coming in.
George Harrison
(Source: The Beatles Anthology)
The Night of the Break-In
After a deranged fan killed John Lennon just outside his New York apartment on December 8, 1980, the remaining members of The Beatles truly changed how they lived their lives. They had to endure the emotional turmoil of losing Lennon, and they had to take necessary measures for their safety. George Harrison spent over £1 million in security. Unfortunately, this was not enough to stop an intruder.
The house is a very grand place in a lot of ground, a beautiful old priory. There’s always people trying to get in. When you have a large place, if you have a determined person there is nothing really to stop them apart from an armed force, which is the last thing that George would want. He is a very peaceful person who hates violence of any kind.
Sir George Martin
Harrison was stabbed several times in the chest after a schizophrenic man broke into their home in December 1999. He was immediately taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where he received treatment. His spokesman, Geoff Baker, mentioned that Harrison was in a stable condition but was in a lot of pain.
From what we know George was stabbed in the chest several times and Olivia was hit over the head. Everybody is very shocked.
Geoff Baker
According to the authorities, Michael Abram had paranoid schizophrenia. He broke into Harrison’s house and attacked him and his wife, Olivia, with a kitchen knife. Olivia was able to incapacitate the assailant by hitting him on the head repeatedly with a fireplace poker and a lamp. (Source: The Guardian)