Eric Clapton Once Married Close Friend George Harrison's Ex-wife Pattie Boyd — inside the Love Triangle

By the 1960s, musicians Eric Clapton and George Harrison had already become close friends, and they were so close that they ended up marrying the same woman.

Harrison, The Beatles lead guitarist, and his wife and model, Pattie Boyd, were married from January 21, 1966, until their divorce in 1977. Before their marriage ended, the pair separated in 1974.

When Clapton and Harrison became best friends, the former found himself infatuated with Boyd. For her part, she declined his advances but that didn’t stop him from loving her.

CLAPTON’S MARRIAGE TO BOYD

Clapton’s feelings for the model were so intense that he wrote songs about them. She inspired tracks like "Wonderful Tonight,” "Layla," and "Something."

Boyd started seeing Clapton after Harrison gave her his blessing. The couple delayed for several years before they eventually got married on March 27, 1979.

ERIC’S RECEPTION

The newlyweds ended up hosting a reception for their pals two months into their marriage. The event was held at Clapton’s garden at his English estate which happened to be the same place where Harrison wrote "Here Comes the Sun."

Boyd's fex-husband, Ringo Starr, and Paul McCartney were some of the people who attended. Also present at the event were the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman, David Bowie, Elton John, and others.

BEATLES REUNION

The reception ended up becoming an unplanned reunion for The Beatles. John Lennon didn’t attend the reception as he had not been invited due to his immigration issues.

However, Clapton and Boyd’s relationship wasn’t meant to last as they ended up separating in 1984. The guitarist’s abuse of alcohol and his infidelities were part of the reason for their split.

DIVORCING PATTIE

Five years later the couple finalized their divorce on June 24. In 2007, the model released a memoir about her marriages called “Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me.”

CLAPTON’S SECOND WIFE

Clapton went on to marry Melia McEnery who was his second and last wife. They tied the knot in a small church ceremony in January 2002 after meeting at a party in 1999.

PAYING TRIBUTE TO HARRISON

The couple had three children together. Sadly, Harrison passed away on November 29, 2001, and on the first anniversary of his death, Clapton paid tribute to him.

The former Beatles guitarist was honored at London’s Royal Albert Hall.