Rock and roll has its fair share of love stories, but few are as dramatic as the one between Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Pattie Boyd. This wasn’t just a love triangle — it involved friendship, heartbreak, music, and even voodoo rituals. Let’s see how two of the most famous guitarists in history fell for the same woman.
George Harrison and Pattie Boyd’s Love Story
Pattie Boyd, a model and photographer, met George Harrison in the early 1960s. She was dating a photographer named Eric Swayne at the time, but she eventually ended that relationship to be with Harrison.
The couple got married on January 21, 1966, in a ceremony where Paul McCartney was the best man. But their marriage started to fall apart due to Harrison’s substance abuse and repeated affairs. One of these affairs reportedly involved Ringo Starr’s wife, and it became a turning point in the relationship.
Boyd and Harrison separated in 1974, and by 1977, they were officially divorced.
Eric Clapton Falls for His Friend’s Wife
While Harrison and Boyd were married, Eric Clapton became good friends with Harrison. He spent a lot of time with the couple and soon fell in love with Boyd.
Clapton sent an anonymous love letter signed ‘E.’ to Pattie, hoping she would realize his feelings. Clapton was also engaged to a woman named Alice at that time and having an affair with Pattie’s younger sister, Paula.
Boyd tried to ignore her feelings for Clapton, but he was determined to win her over. Desperate for love, Clapton turned to voodoo. He visited Dr. John, who was a blues musician believed to have magical powers. He then received a woven straw box that supposedly contained a spell to make Boyd fall for him.
Clapton finally got to spend some alone time with Boyd one night, but it didn’t last long: Harrison showed up unexpectedly. Clapton confessed his love for Boyd directly to Harrison in that moment, but she still chose to go home with her husband.
Heartbroken, Clapton turned to heroin and fell into addiction for years.
The Music Behind the Love Triangle
This love story inspired some of the greatest rock songs ever written.
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‘Something’ (1969) – The Beatles
Harrison wrote this song about his love for Boyd. It became one of The Beatles’ biggest hits, but it wasn’t enough to save their marriage. -
‘Layla’ (1970) – Eric Clapton
Clapton wrote this song to express his feelings for Boyd. The lyrics tell the story of a man who loves a woman who isn’t available. The song was also inspired by an ancient Persian love story named ‘Layla and Majnun.’
When Boyd first heard ‘Layla,’ she later admitted, “The song got the better of me. I could resist no longer.”
Pattie Boyd and Eric Clapton’s Relationship
Pattie married Clapton in 1979 after divorcing Harrison in 1977. The couple seemed happy at first, but problems soon surfaced.
Clapton later admitted that he was an alcoholic and that he was often abusive toward Boyd. After years of struggling in their marriage, Boyd left Clapton in 1987, and they officially divorced in 1989.
Did Clapton and Harrison Stay Friends?
Clapton and Harrison remained friends despite everything. There was no public feud between them, and Harrison even started jokingly calling Clapton his ‘husband-in-law.’
So, their bond was stronger than the drama.
