Patti Boyd will probably go down in history as one of the most famous
rock-n-roll muses in history.
Patti Boyd was an extra in the
Beatles movie
A Hard Day's Night where she met
George Harrison. Patti and George had an intense relationship, and ended up marrying in 1966.
George's intense love for Patti inspired him to write the song
Something, which incidentally
Frank Sinatra called 'the most beautiful love song ever written'.
While
George was working with
Eric Clapton on music like
While My Guitar Gently Weeps Eric Clapton fell in love with
Patti Boyd and begged her to leave George and live with him. Patti continued to refuse
Eric Clapton's advances, prompting him to write
Layla as an anthem to his unrequited love. Some people close to
Eric Clapton even claim that his excessive
heroin addiction in the 70's was due to his throbbing love for Patti.
Eventually, due to Eric's persistent attention and because
George Harrison had an affair with
Ringo Starr's wife
Maureen Starkey, Patti left George and married Eric. Eric wrote the song
Wonderful Tonight about Patti. But their romance was short lived. Eric, still battling with alcohol and drug addiction physically and emotionally
abused Patti. Between the abuse, Patti's inability to have children, and Eric having an affair with the Italian actress
Lori del Santo (fathering son
Conor Clapton with her), the relationship crumbled, and Patti left Eric.
Since those days, Patti has continued to live in London, making a living as a photographer, and living with her boyfriend,
Rod Weston, a real estate developer.
Patti has also admitted that she is a recovering alcoholic, and has started a
substance abuse program with
Barbara Bach, another ex-wife of
Beatles drummer
Ringo Starr.
Any woman who has single-handedly inspired three of the biggest love songs ever is certainly awe-inspiring, and personally makes me want to meet her, if only so I can see what she ignited in these men.