Aside from being an iconic musician and one of the Beatles, George Harrison was one with a mischievous sense of humor. One of the most elaborate pranks he ever pulled involved a young Phil Collins, who had no idea he was being set up by the very legend he looked up to.
The joke was so well thought out and executed that it has been regarded as one of the funniest pranks in rock history, showcasing Harrison’s comic genius. Years later, Collins still cannot help but be amused by how it all went down.
What prank did George Harrison play on Phil Collins?
During the recording of All Things Must Pass in 1970, Harrison enlisted Collins to play congas for the track “The Art of Dying.” Collins was thrilled to join the session, but unknown, it was part of Harrison’s plan to set him up for comic relief. After a long rehearsal that left his hands blistered, Collins was dismissed, only to find himself excluded from the final version of the song.
Years later, Harrison sent Collins a tape claiming to feature his performance. When Collins listened, he was mortified by the offbeat, poorly played congas and Harrison’s critical comments at the end. It was only after a moment of panic days after that Harrison revealed the truth that he engineered the recording with another musician playing badly, just to prank Collins.
George Harrison was known for his sense of humor
Despite his image as the quiet one of the Fab Four, Harrison had a sharp, dry sense of humor that often took people by surprise. Whether it was his witty one-liners during press conferences or his performances in A Hard Day’s Night and Help!, Harrison’s humor made him hard to forget.
He famously delivered quick retorts to reporters, like when asked what he called his hairstyle, and cheekily replied, “Arthur.” Harrison’s friends were often first-hand recipients of his mischief, as he spared no chance to prank or tease those around him, including his Beatles bandmates.
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