The George, Patti and Eric Affair
Perhaps no woman has inspired more love songs and controversy then Patti Boyd (her maiden name). She has inspired love songs from two of rocks finest, George Harrison and Eric Clapton.
George first met Patti on the set of A Hard Day's Night, where she was one of the females on the train. Acting was not her primary profession, modelling was, but nonetheless, she fit the part, but doesn't have any lines. All of the Beatles were taken by her, even John thought she was attractive, although he was married. But it was George who first asked her out, but she rejected him at first because she was committed to someone. He tried again, and eventually she did go out with him. She was quite taken with him, and eventually they married on January 21, 1966 ( George was the third Beatle to get married) with Brian Epstein acting as their best man which he did in John's and Ringo's before. Probably some of George's first songs written about here were "I Need You", which is a nice song. Patti also got him involved in the Maharashi, although later she felt like George loved religion more than her, which is probably true.
In 1968 George's friendship with Eric Clapton grew and they even collaborated a bit with eachother to produce two hit songs. Eric played lead guitar on George's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on the White Album, and Eric and George worked together on the hit Cream song "Badge". Eventually though, trouble started to brew, and Eric knew it.
Eric began to realize he was extremely attracted to Patti, but he didn't know what to do with it being that he and George are such great friends. It may not have hurt George as much as Eric thought though. Once in 1967 estranged from his wife, John got loaded and began to blatantly hit on Patti, but this did not seem to affect George tremendously. However, Patti began to realize she was becoming attracted to Eric as well. Just before this George wrote the wonderful ballad "Something" for her, which many consider to be the finest love song ever. Eventually Patti left George for Eric, thus ending both George's marriage to Patti and friendship with Eric. They got married sometime in the 70s (I'm not sure on the date being that I really only concern myslelf with the Beatles areas).
Eric went on to write a few love songs about Patti, most notoriously is "Layla". However, Eric and Patti's relationship did not last and they divorced in 1988, I believe. Amazingly, George and Eric remain friends to this day, and have played together quite a bit since then. The subject of "Patti" is off limits however.
George and Religion
Perhaps the most important event in George's life was being introduced to Indian culture. It certainly was one that had a profound effect on his life. As you can see if you read my "With the Beatles" page on George the Indian culture affected his songwriting, outlook of sociey, and personality, and it continues to. George began to get introduced to Indian culture when he started to play the sitar as he thought that was his calling in Indian religion, and he was really committed right from the beginning, then he realized that it takes 3 lifetimes to complete your calling with sitar so he kinda gave that up. But he continuted to pursue the philosophy behind the religion, and was entranced by it. He also had the first concert to benefit other with " Bangladesh" in which almost all of the profits went to help the country and people of Bangladesh (all of the money except money to pay Ravi Shankar wen to Bangladesh) and this started a tradition of concerts to benefit others.
George first visited India in 1966 when the Beatles had just finished touring. He went to Rishikesh and just loved the environment there. In 1968, Patti introduced George to Maharashi, and he began to take up meditation. There with all of the Beatles, once again in India, George began to learn to meditate and become more involved in religion. He was quoted as saying one time that, "There's high, and then there's really high. So high you could walk on water, and that's where I'm going". This is in regards to drugs and how he found religion to take him that high, to give him the answers to the questions drugs opened up for him.
In the 70s and through today George continues to be inspired by the eastern culture. His music reflected this especially and his attitude toward life. Today he is an avid supporter of the Dalia Lama, and he lives his life somewhat reclusive with his wife Olivia and their song "Dhani" which means "wealthy" in Indian. He is still focused on his religion, but he does not dismiss his work with the Beatles so much now. He has also come to terms with the fragility of life he says, when he had a brush with cancer in his throat. But thankfully, that was removed, and he is healthy, until he was attacked. For more on that, visit my, George Harrison Stabbing page. Regardless of what happens in his life, it is obvious, however, that religion, will most certainly play a vital role.