When George Harrison passed away in 2001, his friends, family, and fellow musicians gathered together to pay tribute to him on the first anniversary of his passing. In the perfect tribute, many of the musicians George had worked with over the years came to perform at Concert for George, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who played ‘Handle With Care’ by The Traveling Wilburys. Music Man readers will be astonished when they spot who joined them on the guitar.
While Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers took center stage, viewers might be surprised to see the guitarist in the background look like the spitting image of George. Movingly, this was George’s son, Dhani, who was paying tribute by playing the instrument his father was most well known for. Viewers were astonished by Dhani’s resemblance to his father, with one commenting, “Dhani looks so much like his dad, it almost breaks your heart!” on the video, which now has over 6.1M views.
I was touched that not only did Dhani come and play guitar to pay tribute to his dad, but I was impressed that he held his own alongside these much older and more experienced musicians. At only 24 years old, Dhani could certainly have been forgiven for not being able to keep up, especially as he had such big boots to fill. It seems to me that he inherited not only his dad’s looks but his talent too. Watching him play, it’s easy to imagine George passing on his knowledge to his son.
Music Man fans who felt moved by their collaboration will be glad to hear that it was not a one-time collaboration. Dhani seems to have continued to stay in touch with many of George’s old friends over the years, including Tom Petty. The pair have performed together a number of times, over twenty years since the Concert for George. Fans will love to see them come together at the Rock Hall 2004 Induction with other members of the Traveling Wilburys to play ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps.’
It is clear that whenever Dhani plays, he brings back strong memories of George for his fans, with both his resemblance and his talent. Not only do fans love to see such a beautiful tribute to one of their favorite musicians, but it’s also touching to see George’s friends take his son under their wing. It has meant that, throughout his life, Dhani has never been far from his father’s legacy, and, with his own guitar talent, he has been able to contribute to that himself.
Watching Dhani step into his father’s spotlight at Concert for George was both moving and musical proof of a legacy passed down. If George’s music and Dhani’s tribute moved you, there are useful links to find out more below this paragraph — including full performances and background on the concert. Check them out to explore this remarkable family and moment further.