Friday 4 August 1967 | Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California, USA
On 4 August 1967 — the fourth day of their US trip — George Harrison, his wife Pattie Harrison, Neil Aspinall and Alexis ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas attended a concert by Ravi Shankar at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The previous day, Harrison and Shankar had held a press conference at Shankar's Kinnara School of Music to promote the event.
George Harrison and Ravi Shankar
By the summer of 1967, George Harrison's relationship with Ravi Shankar and Indian classical music had become one of the defining features of his artistic identity. Harrison had first encountered the sitar in 1965 on the set of Help!, and had subsequently studied under Shankar in India in 1966. The influence of Indian music on Harrison's songwriting — and on The Beatles more broadly — had been profound, shaping tracks from Norwegian Wood and Love You To through to Within You Without You on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, released just two months earlier in June 1967.
Attending Shankar's Hollywood Bowl concert was both a personal and a public act of support. Harrison's presence in the audience — at one of the most prestigious outdoor concert venues in the world — reflected the depth of his commitment to Indian classical music and his desire to bring it to wider Western audiences. Shankar later credited Harrison's advocacy as transformative for the profile of Indian music in the West.
George Harrison — officially licensed solo era merch
George Harrison Water Colour Portrait T-Shirt in white.
Key Facts
| Date | Friday 4 August 1967 |
| Venue | Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Performer | Ravi Shankar |
| In attendance | George Harrison, Pattie Harrison, Neil Aspinall, Alexis ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas |
| Context | Fourth day of George Harrison's US trip; the previous day Harrison and Shankar had held a press conference at the Kinnara School of Music to promote the concert |
The Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles — where Ravi Shankar performed on 4 August 1967, with George Harrison in the audience.
George Harrison — officially licensed merch
George Harrison Circular Portrait T-Shirt in charcoal grey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did George Harrison attend Ravi Shankar's Hollywood Bowl concert in 1967?
Yes. George Harrison, Pattie Harrison, Neil Aspinall and Alexis ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas attended Ravi Shankar's concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on 4 August 1967, the fourth day of their US trip.
What was George Harrison's relationship with Ravi Shankar?
George Harrison first encountered the sitar in 1965 and subsequently studied Indian classical music under Ravi Shankar in India in 1966. Their friendship and musical collaboration profoundly influenced Harrison's songwriting and brought Indian classical music to a global Western audience. Shankar later credited Harrison's advocacy as transformative for the profile of Indian music in the West.
Who was Alexis ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas?
Alexis ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas was a Greek electronics engineer who became a close associate of The Beatles in the late 1960s. He was appointed head of Apple Electronics and accompanied several Beatles on personal trips during this period, including George Harrison's US visit in August 1967.
What Beatles songs were influenced by Indian music?
George Harrison's interest in Indian classical music influenced several Beatles recordings, including Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (1965), Love You To (1966), Within You Without You (1967), and The Inner Light (1968), among others.
→ George Harrison and Ravi Shankar hold a press conference – 3 August 1967
→ George Harrison and Ringo Starr travel to Greece – 20 July 1967
→ August in Beatles History
→ On This Day in Beatles History
→ George Harrison: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
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