iTunes to Stream Entire 'Concert For Bangladesh' Film This Weekend

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Saturday through Monday (July 30 through August 1), iTunes will stream the entire concert film of George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh.

The event marks the 40th anniversary of the concert, which took place August 1, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City (There was a matinee show and an evening show).

The concert, which was hosted by Harrison, featured Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar, Leon Russell, Billy Preston, Jesse Ed Davis, Klaus Voormann and Badfinger, among others.

The Concert for Bangladesh -- both the film and the album -- came to iTunes this past Tuesday, July 26. Each download benefits the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF, which helps provide emergency relief for children in famine and drought-stricken regions in the Horn of Africa.

The album features a bonus track, the studio version of "Bangla Desh," a non-album A-side by Harrison.

By the way, in the bonus section of the concert DVD, you can hear how much Clapton regrets deciding to use a big, hollow-body Gibson Byrdland for the show. "I really made it hard for myself," he says.

The odd guitar choice is particularly evident in "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," below:

Damian Fanelli
Damian Fanelli
Editor-in-Chief, Guitar World

Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.