George Harrison’s Son, Dhani, Joins Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers In Moving Tribute

George Harrison died in 2001. On the first anniversary of his death, family members, friends and fellow musicians gathered for Concert for George. The tribute brought together numerous performers who had worked with Harrison during his career, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Petty and the Heartbreakers performed the Traveling Wilburys song “Handle With Care.” While the band held the central position, George’s son, Dhani Harrison, played guitar behind them. His presence honored his father through the instrument with which George was most closely identified.

Dhani’s strong physical resemblance to George attracted considerable notice among viewers. The performance video has surpassed 6.1 million views, and one commenter said that seeing how closely Dhani resembled his father was nearly heartbreaking. His participation added a direct family connection to a concert already filled with his father’s friends and collaborators.

At 24, Dhani was performing beside players who had considerably more age and experience. Even with the expectations created by his father’s reputation, he kept pace with those musicians. His guitar playing, as well as his appearance, suggested that George had passed musical knowledge and ability to his son.

Watch the full performance on page two