On my upcoming George Harrison book

Readings and book-signings abound

Sep 12, 2024

IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, Oxford University Press will publish my new book, Within You Without You: Listening to George Harrison. (October 1, 2024, to be precise.)

Less a biography and more a musical and cultural appreciation of the reluctant member of the Fab Four, the book -- which I have been working on for many years -- explores how George Harrison helped shape the sound of the Beatles and how he carried that sound forward into his solo career. Publishers Weekly calls it “[An] astute analysis of Harrison’s musical evolution,” and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon hails my “Deep scholarship, insightful analysis, sharp prose, and a knowledgeable ear.”

I have created a new author website that includes lots of information, news, and reviews about the book, as well as a list of book events – talks, signings, appearances – and links to podcasts and media appearances.

A concerned-looking George Harrison onstage with the Beatles in Essen, Germany, in June 1966. (*Ullstein Bild/Getty Images)*

THE VERY FIRST reading/booksigning will take place at my hometown bookstore, Spotty Dog Books, in Hudson, N.Y., on Sunday, October 13, at 7pm. I am thrilled to have my friend, the filmmaker Stacy Cochran – who made a lovely documentary about Beatles filmmaker Richard Lester (A Hard Day’s Night, Help!) -- joining me for this event in a post-reading conversation.

The following weekend, on Sunday, October 20, at 5:30pm-7pm, my official book-launch party will take place in Manhattan at City Winery. This unticketed, free event is open to all and will include a short reading and remarks plus plenty of George Harrison music (hopefully some of it performed live). Books will be available for purchase.

Immediately following the party at 7:30 at City Winery, I will be a guest artist in Wesley Stace’s monthly Cabinet of Wonders musical variety show. Wesley, formerly known as English singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding, was a key interlocutor for my book, offering his invaluable expertise and thoughts about George Harrison. Wes will be turning the tables on me for this event, wherein after I do a short reading from the book it will be my turn in the firing line, standing up to the scrutiny of one of the most entertaining, thoughtful, and quick-witted figures in modern pop music and contemporary literature and ideas (Wesley Stace is also a prolific novelist and cultural journalist). The evening’s entertainment will also include performances by a handful of great musicians; and some George Harrison tunes may wind up in the mix. (This is a ticketed event, separate from the book party mentioned above.)

THERE ARE a whole host of other events planned or in the planning stages to take place in the greater Berkshire/Hudson Valley region. Details are on the website, but here’s a quick rundown:

Sunday, Oct 27, 4pm: The Bookstore, Lenox, Mass. – I consider Matthew Tannenbaum’s bookstore in Lenox to be my other hometown bookshop, having been a patron of the shop and a friend of the owner going on 35+ years.

Sunday, Nov 3, 5pm: The Chatham Bookstore in Chatham, N.Y. in conversation with Elena Siyanko, director of PS21: Center for Contemporary Performance

Sunday, Nov 17, 2pm: Upstate Films/Orpheum Theatre, Saugerties, N.Y., in conversation with author Holly George-Warren and musician-author Robert Burke Warren

I hope to see you out at one or more of these events.

I will also be a guest on a number of podcasts, including the Berkshire Argus, and on several radio programs. More about all this to come.

In solidarity,

Seth Rogovoy

“Well, I don’t want to go on the roof.” -- George Harrison

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