Pattie Boyd
 Eric Clapton was so madly in love with Pattie Boyd and so torn up by the love he had for her his best friends’ (George Harrison) wife, that he wrote these words:
Have you ever loved a woman so much you tremble in pain?
Have you ever loved a woman so much you tremble in pain?
And all the time you know she bears another man's name.
Have you ever loved a woman so much it's a shame and a sin?
Have you ever loved a woman so much it's a shame and a sin?
And all the time you know she belongs to your very best friend.
Have you ever loved a woman and you know you can't leave her alone?
Have you ever loved a woman and you know you can't leave her alone?
Something deep inside of you won't let you wreck your very best friend's home.
When you listen to this song you get just a touch of the pain Eric was driven to by his love for this woman. Pattie Boyd inspired Eric Clapton to write some of his best and most memorable songs like "Layla"," Wonderful Tonight" and "Why Does Love Have to Be So Sad". She also inspired George to his greatest love song, "Something", "I Need You" and "Think For Yourself".
This woman might be considered the greatest musical muse of the Rock Generation (her sister Jenny Boyd, married Mick Fleetwood, of Fleetwood Mac, and inspired Donovan to write Jennifer Juniper).
For me, I’m simply blown away by her beauty, that gap toothed grin, those blue eyes, that incredible head of blond hair, the long legs and shapely figure have been captivating me since 1964. The story of this most public Rock n Roll love triangle, which Eric compared to the Arabian love story Layla and Majnun, has captured my imagination for as long as I have known about it. How could Eric do that to his best friend? How could George let her walk away without a fight? How could she sleep, something John once asked Paul in a song? But once you read the story in each of their books you know that it was nothing sinister just this incredible warm and beautiful woman finding another man who would promise to love her and treat her with the adoration she so craved.
So let me pass on the words of Pattie Boyd, Eric Clapton and George Harrison on this story. But first my own take:
Pattie Boyd was a woman who loved deeply and wanted to have that love returned. Eric was just blown away by her beauty, warmth, sensitivity and obvious loneliness. George was basically through with Pattie at that point and so deeply involved in his spiritual life that his love for her was no longer a driving force for him or even important enough for him to try to keep it from happening. In a nutshell that’s how Eric was able to get past the loyalty Patti had for George and allow herself to believe she deserved happiness too.
In Her Own Words- Pattie Boyd on
The Story of Layla and Majnun
“From time to time during the spring and summer of 1970 Eric and I saw each other. One day we went to a film called Kes together and afterward we were walking down Oxford Street when Eric said, “Do you like me, then or are you seeing me because I’m famous?” “Oh, I thought you were seeing me because I’m famous.” I said. And we both laughed. He always found it difficult to talk about his feelings instead he poured them into his music and writing.
Once we met under the clock on the cobbled Guildford high street. He had just come back from Miami and had a pair of bell-bottom trousers for me, hence the track “Bell bottom Blues.” He was tanned gorgeous and irresistible, bit I resisted. Another of our secret meetings took place a Hurtwood Edge, Eric’s home in London. Eric took me there because he wanted me to listen to a song he had written. He switched on the tape machine, turned up the volume and played me the most powerful, moving song I had ever heard.
It was “Layla”, about a man who falls hopelessly in love with a woman who loves him but is unavailable. He had read “The Story of Layla and Majnun” by the Persian writer Nazami. Eric had indentified with Majnun and was determined that I should know how he felt. He had written the song at home and recorded it with the Dominos in Miami. He played it two or three more times, each time watching my face intently for my reaction. My first thought was, Oh god, everyone going to know who this is. I felt uncomfortable that he was pushing me in a direction that I wasn’t certain I wanted to go. But the song got the better of me, with the realization that I had inspired such passion and such creativity. I could no longer resist.
That evening I was going to the theater with Peter Brown to see Oh! Calcutta! And George did not want to go so Pete was my date. At the party afterwards Eric was there. It was a great party and I felt elated by what had happened earlier in the day, but also deeply guilty.
Much later in the evening, George appeared. He was morose, and his mood was not improved by walking into a party that had been going on for several hours. He kept asking “Where’s Pattie?” but no one seemed to know. He was about to leave when he spotted me I the garden with Eric. He came over to us and said “What’s going on?” To my complete horror, Eric said, “I have to tell you man, that I’m in love with your wife”
I wanted to die. George was furious. He turned to me and said, “Well are you going with him or coming with me?” And I said “George, I’m coming home.”
Of course, we all know how it ended up so let’s check in on Eric and let him tell his portion of the Tale of Layla and Majnun.
Eric Clapton - In His Own Words
One night I just sort of collided with Pattie and at that point there was no turning back. A little later that night I saw George at a party at Robert Stigwood’s house and just blurted the whole thing out to him. “I’m in love with your wife.” The ensuing conversation bordered on the absurd. Although I think he was deeply hurt, I could see it in his eyes, he preferred to make light of it, almost turning it all into a Monty Python situation. I think he was relieved in some way, and now I was finally owning up to it.
This was the beginning of a semi-clandestine affair between us. But however much I tried to persuade her, it was quite clear that Pattie had no intention of leaving George, even though I was convinced the writing was on the wall for them. Tormented by my feelings for her I threw myself into my music, starting with a UK tour with the Dominos.
 This was an incredibly creative time for me. Driven by my obsession with Pattie, I was writing a lot, and all the songs I wrote for the Dominos first album are really about her and our relationship. “Layla” was the key song, a conscious attempt to speak to Pattie about the fact that she was holding off and wouldn’t come and move in with me. There was also “Bell Bottom Blues” and “I Looked Away” and later I would go on to write “Have You Ever Loved A Woman” and “Why Does Love Have To Be So Sad.”
During the recording there was always this unrequited love for Pattie. I had convinced myself that when she heard the completed Layla album, with all its references to our situation, she would be so overcome by my cry of love that she would finally leave George and come away with me for good. So I called her up one afternoon and asked her if she would like to come over for some tea and to listen to the new record. Of course, it was blatant emotional blackmail and doomed to failure.
By this time I’d already applied quite a lot or pressure and this was just more of the same. Having said that, the quality of the music was pure and I really did need someone to share it with, and who better than her?
Anyhow, she came over and listened, and I think she was deeply touched by the fact that I had written all these songs about her, but at the same time the intensity of it all probably scared the living daylights out of her. Needless to say, it didn’t work…or so I thought.
George Harrison on Eric, Pattie and Layla:
The thing is, with Eric over the years, and you know we (George and Patti Harrison) both loved Eric. Still do. And there were a few funny things. I pulled his chick once. That's happened, and now you'd think he was trying to get his own back on me. (laughs) But much later, when all that thing was going on, when I split from Patti, you know... Patti and he got together after we'd really split. And actually we'd been splitting up for years. That was the funny thing, you know. I thought that was the best thing to do, for us to split, and we should've just done it much sooner. But I didn't have any problem about it-- Eric had the problem. Everytime I'd go and see him, and stuff, he'd be really hung up about it, and I was saying, 'Fuck it, man. Don't be apologizing,' and he didn't believe me. I was saying, 'I don't care.'"
Bobby Whitlock - In His Own Words
Bobby Whitlock (Member of Derek and the Dominoes and Eric's writing partner for many of the songs on "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs") on the story of Pattie, Eric and George:
"I was there when they were supposedly sneaking around. You don't sneak very well when you're a world figure. Eric was all hot on Pattie and I was dating her sister. They had this thing going on that supposedly was behind George's back. Well, George didn't really care. He said, 'You can have her.' That kind of defuses it when Eric says, 'I'm taking your wife' and he says, 'Take her.' They got married and evidently, she wasn't what he wanted after all. The hunt was better than the kill. That happens, but apparently Pattie is real happy now with some guy who's not a guitar player. Good for her and good for Eric for moving on with his life. George got on with his life, that's for sure."
Pattie Boyd - In Her Own Words
Pattie Boyd on meeting George during the filming of A Hard Days Night and her impressions of the Beatles:
The Beatles were so funny together, so quick witted, and their laughter was infectious. I couldn’t understand half of what they said because of the thick Liverpudlin accent- a revelation to me, I’d never heard anything like it. It was impossible to be in their company and not be helpless with laughter.
On first impressions, John seemed more cynical and brash than the others, Ringo the most endearing, Paul was cute and George, with velvet brown eyes and dark chestnut hair, was the best looking man I’d ever seen. At the break for lunch I found myself sitting next to him, whether by accident or design I have never been sure. We were both shy and spoke hardly a word to each other, but being close to him was electrifying. As the train neared London and the filming was winding down, I felt sad that such a magical day was ending. It had been pure joy and I wanted to capture it forever. As if George had known what I was thinking, he said “Will you marry me?” I laughed, as I had at all the Beatles jokes. I scarcely allowed myself to wonder why he had said it or whether he might feel as I did. Then he said, “Well if you won’t marry me, will you have dinner with me tonight?”
I was thrown. Was he serious or just playing around? I felt awkward and said I couldn’t, I had a boyfriend, but I was sure my boyfriend would love to meet him- maybe we could all go out. George didn’t think so, so we said our farewells and disappeared into the night.
 I saw George again on March 12, 1964, a few days before my 20th birthday. He said he turned 21 the month before. There was a press photo call at Twickenham Studios and each of us schoolgirls had to stand behind a Beatles and pretend to do their hair. I made a beeline for George. He seemed pleased to see me and asked how my boyfriend was. I told him I’d dumped him. He grinned and asked me to have dinner with him.
We went to the Garrick Club in Convent Garden with the charismatic Brian Epstein the Beatles manager. He was slightly older, better educated, and more worldly-wise than John, Paul, George and Ringo were. He was also much more to them than a manager: he had discovered them in Liverpool, shaped them, and harnessed their talent, but he had also become a father figure to them and kept a close eye on everything they did. They loved him, trusted him and did nothing without his say-so. I didn’t resent his presence on our first date- he was good company and seemed to know everything about wine, food and London restaurants. As it was, we had a lovely evening and sat side by side on a banquette listening to Brian, hardly daring to touch each other’s hand…And that was it. We started going out together.
Pattie Boyd Biography
Patricia Anne "Pattie" Boyd (born March 17, 1944) is an English model and photographer, and the first wife of George Harrison of The Beatles, after whom she married Eric Clapton. She was the inspiration of love songs written by both musicians, most notably Harrison's "Something," and Clapton's "Layla", "Wonderful Tonight," and "Bell Bottom Blues."
Pattie Boyd started her modeling career in 1962, but was rejected by many photographers owing to her unconventional looks including rather prominent front teeth; one stated, "models don't look like rabbits". She modeled in London, New York and Paris (for Mary Quant and others), and was photographed by David Bailey and Terence Donovan.
An exhibition of photographs taken by Pattie Boyd during her days with Harrison and Clapton opened at the San Francisco Art Exchange on February 14, 2005, titled Through the Eye of a Muse. The exhibition also ran again in San Francisco in February 2006, and for six weeks between June and July 2006, in London.
Pattie Boyd who was nineteen in 1964, met Harrison during the filming for A Hard Day's Night after being cast as a schoolgirl fan for the film. Boyd was "semi-engaged", to boyfriend Eric Swayne whom she'd dated for about a year, and out of loyalty declined George Harrison's first invitation for a date, but said that Harrison was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. One of the first things Harrison said to her was "Will you marry me?" Pattie Boyd laughed, so Harrison said, "Well, if you won't marry me, will you have dinner with me tonight?"
 Several days later when Pattie was recalled for another day's work on the film, George asked her out again and she accepted, having ended the relationship with Swayne. Their first date was spent at the Garrick Club (a private gentlemen's club) in Covent Garden, in the company of The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein.
Pattie Boyd was present, along with Harrison, John and Cynthia Lennon, during their first encounter with LSD in early 1965. A dentist, John Riley, the son of a London Police officer, laced their coffee with the it. The effect differed among all of them, with Lennon and Harrison feeling ecstatic in the beginning, but Pattie Boyd and Cynthia feeling confused and scared. In an agitated state, Boyd threatened to break a store window until Harrison dragged her away.
Harrison and Boyd were driving through London, in December 1965, when he proposed marriage to Boyd, but said he would have to talk to Epstein first; this was to make sure no Beatles' tours had been planned.
Pattie Boyd married George Harrison on January 21, 1966, in a ceremony in Epsom, Surrey, with Paul McCartney (Best Man) and Epstein in attendance. John Lennon and Ringo Starr had gone on holiday abroad with their wives distracting journalists from finding out about the wedding. Pattie started living with George at Kinfauns in 1965. Boyd and Harrison later went on holiday with Epstein, staying at the Hotel Cap Estrelle near Eze, in the south of France.
 While Lennon was in Spain filming How I Won the War in September 1966, Pattie and George flew to Bombay (now called Mumbai) as guests of sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, and returned to London on October 23, 1966. Through her interest in Eastern mysticism, and her membership in his Spiritual Regeneration Movement, she inspired The Beatles to meet the Indian mystic, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, in London on August 24, 1967, which resulted in a visit to Bangor, in Wales, to join him again in the following day. Boyd attended the Our World broadcast of "All You Need Is Love", which was shown on June 25, 1967.
Pattie Boyd was also arrested on March 12, 1969 for possession of marijuana, after a police raid.
Lennon, and Mick Jagger, were also said to have had crushes on Pattie Boyd, with Jagger admitting to model Bebe Buell in the 1980s (who had had a relationship with Jagger) that he had failed to seduce Boyd after trying for years. Boyd had a brief affair with future Rolling Stone, Ronnie Wood, in 1973, as her marriage to Harrison was ending. According to Boyd, Harrison backed out of a planned holiday with her (claiming to be ill) and then invited Krissie Wood (Wood's wife) on a holiday to Spain to see Salvador Dali, although Harrison later denied that he and Krissie Wood had had an affair. According to Boyd's account, while Harrison was in Spain with Krissie Wood, she [Boyd] traveled to the Bahamas with her sister Paula, and was joined by Ron Wood. Boyd and Wood were spotted by the press upon their return to London, on November 25, 1973, which was reported in the press. Boyd states that after Harrison's increasing religious explorations irrevocably alienated her, and they split in June 1974 and flew to Los Angeles to stay with her sister Jenny.
In the late 1960s, Eric Clapton became a close friend of Harrison, writing and recording music together. It was reported at this time that Clapton fell in love with Boyd. Clapton also fell in love with Boyd's 17-year-old sister, Paula, who moved in with him. Paula left Clapton when she heard "Layla", because the song confirmed that Clapton had been using her as a substitute for her sister. Boyd claims that when she rebuffed Clapton's advances in late 1970, he descended into an addiction to heroin and self-imposed exile with Alice Ormsby-Gore for three years. Meanwhile, during Clapton's tenure in Derek and the Dominos, their only studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, was written to state his love for Boyd. It produced "Layla" which became a hit in three different decades, and in two different versions.
 The outward image of the perfect couple masked struggles within their marriage, which began in 1979. Although Boyd drank, and admits to past drug use, unlike Clapton she never became an alcoholic or a drug addict. Pattie Boyd states that she left Clapton at one point due to his refusal to seek treatment for his alcoholism, and she began seeing a photographer, Will Christie. In 1984, Clapton began a year-long relationship with Yvonne Kelly; they had a daughter, Ruth, born in January 1985.
Clapton and Kelly did not make any public announcement about the birth of their daughter, and Ruth was not revealed as his child until 1991, at the funeral of his son Conor. Pattie Boyd says that she did not know of the existence of Ruth until 1991: "What cut deepest was that Eric had known about the child all along. While declaring undying love to me and pleading with me to go back to him, he had been paying Yvonne maintenance for the past six years." Boyd states that she divorced Clapton after years of alcoholism as well as numerous affairs on his part, which began before their marriage. Clapton and Boyd divorced in 1989, following his affair with Italian model Lori Del Santo, who had given birth to a son, Conor, in August 1986. Boyd herself has never been able to conceive children, despite attempts at in vitro fertilization. Boyd and Clapton's divorce was granted on the grounds of "infidelity and unreasonable behaviour."
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