Ex-Beatle still owes £20 on guitar he bought in 1961

Mar 1 2006

By Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.c.....d1961-name_page.html


Ivan Hayward's friend Bill Harrison shows off the prized reciept and and an article featuring the famous guitar.



IT might just be the most lyrical IOU ever penned.

A teenage musician called at the home of Liverpool merchant seaman Ivan Hayward one day in 1961 to look at an electric guitar he had for sale.

The 18-year-old was bowled over by the black Gretch Duo Jet guitar.

But he had only £70 of the £90 asking price and asked if he could write Mr Hayward an IOU for the rest.

It was written in the same hand that went on to pen Something, and Here Comes the Sun.


Perhaps it was the whirlwind of live gigs, perhaps it was the sudden fame, but Mr Hayward claims George Harrison forgot to pay him the £20 he owed.


The guitar became a favourite for George, and on his solo album Cloud 9 he explained how he bought it.


Mr Hayward still has the IOU at home in Buckinghamshire.

His friend and fellow merchant seaman Bill Harrison said: "We were together when Ivan bought the guitar at Sam Goody's in New York in 1957. It cost $300, a lot of money then, but we were on good tips on the liners.

"He and his wife were thinking of emigrating and he decided to sell the guitar. Ivan had a taxi and he mentioned it to a member of the band called the Delacardoes who he was giving a lift to. He was going to advertise the guitar in the ECHO but then a chap arrived at his home.

"He didn't know who he was, he was only a young lad but he said he was looking for a fabulous guitar like this. He only had £70 so in the end they came to an agreement.

"He signed the back of the guitar customs' receipt 'Mr Hayward £20, G. Harrison'."

The tale is retold in the new film Cunard Yanks which Mr Harrison, no relation, has compiled from footage of voyages he filmed from the 1950s onwards.

Mr Harrison, from Church Road, Roby, hopes the film will be premiered at the Philharmonic Hall in September if a dispute over music copyright is sorted out.

He wants to use recordings from the late 1950s and early 1960s, but says the original artists, including Sir Paul McCartney, are asking for thousands for their songs to be played.


catherinejones@liverpoolecho.co.uk

Good luck collecting Mr. Hayward.

Great find Mr Paulrus!!!