HOLLYWOOD - After a long battle with cancer, George Harrison, known to fans as the "Quiet Beatle," passed away at a friend's home. Harrison was 58.Harrison died at 1:30 p.m. PT on Thursday in Los Angeles, following a battle with a brain tumor that ultimately caused his demise. His wife, Olivia, and 24-year-old son, Dhani, were with Harrison at the time of his death.
"He left this world as he lived in it, conscious of God, fearless of death, and at peace, surrounded by family and friends,'' the Harrison family said in a statement to reporters. "He often said, 'Everything else can wait but the search for God cannot wait, and love one another.'"
Former Beatles frontman Paul McCartney greeted reporters outside his London home on Friday and expressed his sentiments on the loss of his longtime friend to The Associated Press.
"I am devastated and very, very sad. He was a lovely guy and a very brave man and had a wonderful sense of humor. He is really just my baby brother," McCartney said.
"George has given so much to us in his lifetime and continues to do so even after his passing, with his music, his wit and his wisdom," John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, told AP on Friday.
Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth was "very sad to hear the death of George Harrison," AP reports.
Great Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair, also expressed his sentiments to BBC News on Thursday. "He wasn't just a musician, an artist, but did a lot of work for charity as well. He'll be greatly missed around the world."
"George Harrison was once of the great Liverpudlians," Liverpool's Lord Mayor Gerry Scott told Reuters. "He was a warm, peace-loving man who much more than just a talented musician."
Alan Williams, the Beatles' first manager, told AP that Harrison was an essential part of the band's chemistry.
"I would say he was the major cog in the Beatles at that time. He kept them together probably because of the calming effect he had," Williams said.
Harrison was 13 years old when he bought his first guitar and befriended Paul McCartney at school. McCartney introduced him to John Lennon, who was in a band called the Quarrymen. After several lineup changes and a name change, McCartney, Lennon and Harrison brought drummer Ringo Starr aboard and the Beatles were born.
After the Beatles parted ways in 1970, Harrison embarked on a solo career that started with his 1971 album, All Things Must Pass, and its hit singles "My Sweet Lord" and "What Is Life."
During the same year, he organized the Concert for Bangladesh, one of the first rock 'n' roll benefits, and helped fellow musician Sir Bob Geldof put together Live Aid, a benefit for African famine in 1985, AP reports.