Pattie, George & Eric
By Helen Marketti
To the outside world it appeared to be an ideal life style that many could only dream of. Pattie Boyd had married George Harrison during the height of Beatlemania (1966). In the beginning their time together was a combination of sweet closeness and young innocence. As time went on, however, their relationship became shredded and torn as emotions were neglected and mistrust took hold.
Waiting in the wings was Eric Clapton and even though he and George were good friends he still had tried to woo Pattie away from George for several years. When her relationship with George continued to erode she found comfort and companionship with Eric. Two years after she and George divorced (1977) she married Eric Clapton (1979). Their marriage also turned into a shattered tangle and they divorced in 1988.
In her recently published book, "Wonderful Tonight," Pattie finally shares her story of having been the wife and the muse of two rock and roll icons. It is an opportunity for people to understand that what may have appeared as always an exciting life was not exactly the reality she was living. As with many things in life there is wonderful bliss and gut wrenching heart ache.
From her home in London, Pattie talks openly and respectfully about her life with George Harrison and Eric Clapton as well as what she has learned from such profound experiences.
Pattie was a fashion model when her agent asked her to play a school girl in "A Hard Day's Night," (1964) which was The Beatles first movie in which they portrayed themselves. "I was 18 years old at the time and I never had a desire to be an actress and so I found it nerve wracking. I was very nervous about it," Pattie remembers. It was also the day that would bring she and George Harrison together.
"For filming, I remember leaving the Paddington Station in London and we were on the train for about twenty minutes when it finally stopped at a tiny train station in a rural area. There were four figures standing on the platform and I figured it must be them (The Beatles). They leaped onto the train and ran to where we were sitting and introduced themselves," Pattie recalls. "I remember thinking that they were very good looking and fun to be around. They were hilarious!"
She continues to describe the atmosphere of that day, "To be part of the movie was terribly exciting. To be around The Beatles was seductive and intoxicating. They were great to have around. It was all good fun."
Pattie would only be present for one day of filming which lasted eight hours. At lunch time she and George found themselves seated next to each other and after some friendly small talk, "He asked me out to dinner for that same evening," Pattie remembers.
As time went on Pattie's relationship with George deepened and he proposed to her after checking in with Beatles manager, Brian Epstein. "George wanted to make sure that Brian didn't have a tour scheduled or some other event planned for the band," Pattie said. "After talking with Brian, George asked me to marry him," Pattie remembers with a sound of happiness in her voice. "I said, Oh yes! It would be fabulous. I'd love to!" Pattie and George were married on January 21, 1966 with Paul McCartney serving as best man.
One of The Beatles famous songs is, "Something," which was written by George. It was after the song was finished that he told Pattie the song was about her. "I was deeply, deeply, deeply flattered and highly honored," Pattie said.
Over time Pattie and George began to grow apart. He became more distant and it was a vulnerable time for her. Eric Clapton had expressed interest to be with her and she ignored his pursuits for years. He remained persistent and she finally succumbed to his advances. Reflecting upon that time Pattie said, "I would have done things differently. But I wasn't the same girl back then. I'm not a girl any more. Other elements had come into play which is why one makes the decisions that one makes." She expressed that she would have stayed with George and try to work things out.
Pattie was also the inspirational muse for two songs written by Eric Clapton, "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight." "It's a great accolade to have a song written about you, particularly by people who are well known which makes it even more of a thrill," Pattie said. "It made me feel special."
She went through much emotional turmoil with both George and Eric. Infidelity, drug use and alcohol imposed on her life and things began to spin out of control. She had lost herself in the midst of it all. Her thoughts revealed that she took a back seat to Eric's life more so than with George. "With Eric, he wanted me on the road with him," Pattie remembers. "He wanted me to be involved with whatever he was doing. We were both living for him. It was thrilling at first. I had my photography but I wasn't on a professional level with it then. If I had children, had a family, that would have filled the gap."
Over the years Pattie had remained on friendly terms with George. After learning that he had cancer she was able to visit with him before he passed away. Pattie carefully recalls the last time she saw George. "He had phoned me and wanted to come over for tea. He had been in the area visiting Ringo. He had not been here before so I gave him directions. He brought me a plant and some photographs. We played music and had a lovely visit. I knew he wasn't well. He had a movie camera and was filming my house, garden and the dark room for my photography. From reflection, I think he wanted to see me and where I lived. I think he knew...," her voice trails off.
When asked who was the greater love of her life or if such an answer could ever be possible, Pattie remained silent for several moments before answering, "I don't know." Then she thoughtfully continued, "I felt that George's love was more long lasting. It was a real love and affection. There was a deep friendship first that transcended. If there is a friendship in a relationship it makes things more solid. Eric and I weren't really friends. We were more like play mates."
These days Pattie is currently involved with photography and has an exhibit of her work coming up during the month of April in Los Angeles. It is one of her creative outlets as she keeps moving forward with style and grace. She has learned valuable life lessons along the way and puts her thoughts in perspective, "Any experience that takes you out of your normal day to day life has to be a learning curve. We have to have faith and trust ourselves and not lean on anyone else emotionally. The things we remember in life are the things that are out of the ordinary."
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