Funeral plans for Harrison uncertain

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Plans were still uncertain late Friday about a possible public funeral ceremony for George Harrison, the former Beatle who died of cancer in Los Angeles Thursday at 58.

A private funeral was held Thursday, after Harrison died at the Los Angeles home of a friend.

Public displays of affection for Harrison and grief at his death have been held in London, New York, Los Angeles and Harrison's hometown, Liverpool.

Beatles fans are leaving candles, cards, flowers, CDs and other items on the Beatles' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at Strawberry Fields in New York's Central Park and at a statue of The Beatles outside the Cavern Club in Liverpool -- one of the places where the Beatles perfected their sound on the way to international superstardom. Flags in Liverpool were flying at half staff.

Fans also showed up at London's Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles recorded many of their hits under the guidance of producer George Martin.

Fans have also been reported gathering at the San Diego area house of 81-year-old Indian musician Ravi Shankar, who introduced Harrison to the sitar in the 1960s and had maintained a close relationship with Harrison ever since.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr -- who visited their former bandmate earlier this month as Harrison underwent surgery for a brain tumor at Staten Island University Hospital in New York -- recalled him in loving terms.

"He was a lovely guy and a very brave man and had a wonderful sense of humor," McCartney told reporters outside his London home. "He is really just my baby brother."

Starr said, "We will miss George for his sense of love, his sense of music and his sense of laughter."

McCartney and Starr are the only surviving members of the band that revolutionized pop music in the 1960s. John Lennon was shot and killed by a crazed fan in New York in 1980.

Pop superstar Michael Jackson issued a statement through a publicist.

"The world has lost a great spirit in George Harrison, a great musician, songwriter and friend," said Jackson. "He was an inspiration to me, and I will miss him a great deal."

Harrison's most recent recording is thought to be "Horse to Water," a single he co-wrote with his 24-year-old son, Dhani, and recorded with Jools Holland, former keyboardist with the Squeeze. The song is scheduled to show up on Holland's upcoming album, "Small World, Big Friends."