ABSTRACT
This chapter examines George Harrison's metamorphosis from Beatle to budding 'rock aristocrat' in terms of his Revolver contributions – their musical style, but also in terms of the kinds of genres invoked and the kind of subcultural associations made. Clearly George was essential to the Beatles as a live act, but by the time of the Revolver sessions the Beatles were reaching the end of their touring career. Moreover, from Rubber Soul onwards, the Beatles' increasing use of studio overdubbing meant that George's traditional contribution – a lead guitar part – could be overdubbed by one of the other members. The musical ideology of the Beatles up to 1966 had been very much about a syncretic and progressive absorption of influence from all areas of popular music and its crystallization into a new paradigm – the self-contained rock group, playing their own instruments, singing their own songs.
