This Woman Inspired 3 Hit Songs and Nobody Knew
Ever wondered how some of the most iconic songs in music history came to life? Where did legends like Eric Clapton and George Harrison find their muse? Amazingly, they both found inspiration in the same woman. She kept her story private for decades but eventually decided to reveal the truth.
Pattie Boyd
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Pattie Boyd has been an icon since the 1960s—a fashion model who became intertwined with some of the most remarkable art and music of her era.
Eric Clapton’s “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight” were inspired by her, as was George Harrison’s “Something.” But who exactly is Pattie Boyd, and how did she leave such a lasting impression?
Style Icon
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In the 1960s, Pattie Boyd epitomized the “British female look.” She graced the covers of major fashion magazines and was at the height of her modeling career when she met George Harrison. The two hit it off and eventually married. Boyd remembers her first impression of George vividly.
First Impressions
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“On first impressions, John [Lennon] seemed more cynical and brash than the others. Ringo [Starr] was the most endearing, Paul [McCartney] was cute, and George, with velvet-brown eyes and dark chestnut hair, was the best-looking man I had ever seen.”
The bond between Pattie and George was strong, but their relationship faced challenges when George’s close friend, Eric Clapton, entered the picture.
Eric Clapton
Discogs
Pattie met Eric Clapton, who was not only George Harrison’s friend but also another rock ‘n’ roll legend. Sparks flew, and Pattie found herself drawn to Eric.
Trouble In Paradise
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Pattie, George, and Eric often spent time together. However, as Pattie’s connection with Eric deepened, her marriage to George grew strained.
In her memoir, Pattie revealed, “Since a trip to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in India in 1968, George had become obsessive about meditation. He was also sometimes withdrawn and depressed. My moods started to mirror his.” Around this time, Eric Clapton wrote a song that changed everything.
Layla
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Eric Clapton’s song “Layla” tells the story of a man hopelessly in love with a woman he cannot have. When Eric played the song for Pattie, she recalls thinking, “Oh god, everyone’s going to know this is about me.”
Eric had all but confessed his love for her, and Pattie faced a difficult decision: stay in her unhappy marriage or pursue a relationship with Eric.
Rejection
The Gaurdian
At first, Pattie chose to remain with George, a decision that sent Eric spiraling into substance abuse. But George and Pattie’s marriage continued to falter.
Eventually, Eric reached out to Pattie through a heartfelt letter disguised as fan mail.
The Letter
The Guardian
The letter read, “As you have probably gathered, my own home affairs are a galloping farce, which is rapidly degenerating day by intolerable day… it seems like an eternity since I last saw or spoke to you.” Signed simply as “All my love, E,” it wasn’t until Eric followed up with a phone call that Pattie realized who had written it.
Shortly after, Pattie decided to divorce George and marry Eric. But their marriage wasn’t without its own struggles.
More Problems
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Eric’s addiction issues put a strain on their relationship, and after 10 years of marriage, the couple divorced in 1989.
Eric’s hit “Wonderful Tonight” was written during their marriage. In her autobiography Wonderful Today (not Wonderful Night), Pattie recounted how Eric wrote the song while waiting for her to get ready for an evening out.
Wonderful Tonight
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“I was taking so long, and I was panicking about my hair, my clothes, everything,” she said. “And I came downstairs expecting [Clapton] to really berate me, but he said, ‘Listen to this!’” In the time she spent getting ready, he had written the now-iconic song.
Lasting Friendship
McCartney Times
Despite the romantic turmoil, George Harrison and Eric Clapton remained friends. Even after Pattie left George to be with Eric, George visited their home for Christmas in the same year.
Happy Ever After
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Pattie Boyd’s life was a whirlwind of fame, music, and romance. Though she didn’t find her happily-ever-after with either George or Eric, she eventually married Rod Weston, a property developer. Today, they live happily together, and Pattie continues to inspire with her incredible life story.
