More @ She Loves You

Boyd's exposure in the press and the fashion world helped her land a commerical deal with American director Richard Lester. The director, impressed with Boyd's work, wanted her to be the SmithÕs Crisps girl. In this role, Boyd was in television advertisements and did promotional appearances in London stores.

Boyd on her first meeting with Harrison: "George hardly said hello. When we started filming, I could feel George looking at me and I was a bit embarrassed."

Harrison offered her a visit his trailer, but as Boyd remembered,ÒI was loyal, not stupidÓ. Realising he could not get far with that, Harrison then proceeded to ask her on a proper date. Just when the lead guitarist was about to give up, she said yes.

Boyd already had a boyfriend, but she thought that a date with one of world's most eligible bachelors wouldbe harmless. Their first date consisted of going out to dinner and driving around London. Boyd secretly dated Harrison for some time, but soon felt it necessary to break up with Eric Swayne, a 30-year-old photographer whom she dated for two years.

Boyd, circa 1964: "Eric (Swayne) was my boyfriend, but not any longer. George is tremendous fun to be with. We want it to stay just fun without having to talk about engagements and marriages."

Harrison, circa 1964: "She's my kind of girl and we like each other a lot but marriage is not on our minds. We hope to see more of each other when we can. It isn't a sin to have a girlfriend, is it?

Once Boyd broke up with her boyfriend, the couple was able to plan their first holiday together to Ireland. This was PattieÕs first exposure to ÒBeatlemaniaÓ Nobody knew Boyd's name, but they were trying their best to find out who Harrison's "mysterious girl" was. Their holiday was ruined, so the group decided it was best to head back to London.

With the press surrounding their hideaway, it was difficult to get out. Boyd and Cynthia Lennon (who was with the couple on holiday with John Lennon) disguised themselves as maids and hid themselves in a dirty linen basket. The basket was then pushed out by a bellboy, who took them to the airport. Unfortunately for the women, he forgot about them, only thinking of the good deed he did. When they finally got out, Lennon and Harrison were laughing hysterically.

Despite problems in Ireland, the couples were able to sneak away from the press. They were able to stay in Waikiki, Hawaii from May 5 to May 20, 1964. Even a short trip to Los Angeles went largely undetected by the press; there was only one incident.

However,the press was able to find them again. They were upset when Boyd refused to pose for photographs. Oddly enough, it was Harrison (who would learn to hate the press in later years) that finally introduced Pattie as Òmy 29-year-old sister, my chaperoneÓ as a joke.

With their relationship now public, Boyd started to write a column for 16 Magazine called ÒPattieÕs Letter From LondonÓ which, among other things, included beauty tips. By early 1965, Boyd moved into HarrisonÕs Esher bungalow. The fans, once adoring, hated Boyd for taking Òtheir GeorgeÓ away after they realized how serious the relationship was.

The only Beatle wife (or future one) that had the fans' "blessing" was Cynthia Lennon,it was Boyd that received the most torture from Beatle fans. Harrison's fans would stalk Boyd whenever she was out, spit at her, kicked and beat her. Some even threatened murder. Boyd's attempts to get Harrison involved were hindered; when the guitarist told the girl fans to stop, they merely starred at him. They were too star-struck to listen to what he was saying.

Boyd and Harrison didn't let the fans ruin their relationship. They were engaged to be married on Christmas Day, 1965. Boyd recalled in 1968:

ÒWe were just motoring along [to Brian EpsteinÕs party] listening to the radio when suddenly he very calmly told me he loved me and wanted us to get married. I think I just said yes or some such nonsense, but believe me, inside I was doing cartwheels. We really were very much in love.Ó

After an interview in 1989, however, Boyd recalled a different scenario:

"George jumped out (of our car), went to see Brian (Epstein), came back ten minutes later and said: 'It's all right. Brian has said we can get married in January. Off we go!' I said: 'What?' I didn't have any idea that he wanted to marry me. He didn't actually consult me about it. But Brian had given his blessing and said it was quite all right. God had spoken! It was going to be fine."

The couple was married soon after the proposal; January 21, 1966 at the Epsom Registry Office in Surrey. (This made Harrison the only Beatle to marry by choice, not because his girlfriend was pregnant). Paul McCartney was the only Beatle in attendance; Lennon and Starr sent best wishes, flowers, and very posh gifts for the newlyweds. The couple was outfitted in traditional Carnaby Street attire: his and her furs designed by Mary Quant. They posed for the obligatory wedding photos with their families and headed off to Barbados.

When they returned to Esher after their honeymoon, the fashionable couple entertained guests. BoydÕs sisters came over a lot, because often Harrison was out. Boyd was ordered by Harrison to give up her budding modeling career because he didn't want any more press.

Without a career, Boyd tried to get involved in charity. Unfortunately, the press made a huge issue out of it. The model was forced to become a northern wife and give up her career for the sake of her husband's.

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A new culture in London was emerging at the same time, complete with free love and drugs. Boyd, along with most of the fashionable people of the 1960's, soon found her usual glasses of wine turn into marijuana, LSD and heroin. Boyd's first experience with LSD occurred place in 1964. Cynthia Lennon recalled the incident in the 1980's:

ÒIÕll always remember that when we walked into this manÕs (a one-time friend of George HarrisonÕs) drawing room, there were four lumps of sugar arranged along the mantelpiece. We all(her, John, George and Pattie) had a delicious dinner and lots of wine. When the coffee came, one of the four sugar lumps was put into each of our cups. It was as if we sudenly found ourselves in the middle of a horror film. The room seemed to get bigger and bigger. Our host seemed to change into a demon. We were all terrified. We knew it was something evil-we had to get out of the house. But this man told us we couldnÕt leave. We got away somehow, in GeorgeÕs Mini, but he came after us in a taxi. It was like having the devil following us in a taxi. We tried to drive to some club-the Speakeasy, I think it was. Four of us, packed into a Mini. Everybody seemed to be going mad. Patti wanted to get out and smash all the windows along Regent Street. Then we turned around and started heading for GeorgeÕs place in Esher. God knows how we got there. John was crying and banging his head against the wall. I tried to make myself sick, and couldnÕt. I tried to got to sleep, and couldnÕt. It was like a nightmare that wouldnÕt stop, whatever you did. None of us got over it for about three days.Ó

As Boyd's drug consumption increased, so did her need for fulfillment. The couple had taken a trip to India in 1966 and were soon fascinated by the country. When a friend suggested to Boyd that she should hear Marharsi Mahesh Yogi speak, she thought it was a good idea. She told Harrison, and eventually most of The Beatles and their entourage went to hear him speak. Boyd thought it would be a good idea to get spiritual fulfillment by going to this lecture, since she wasn't happy being by herself all the time.

However, she would eventually regret that decision for two reasons. First, Garrusib fell deeply in love with India and spirituality, a major part in the breakup of their marriage. Secondly, they all came back disappointed by not receiving spiritual fulfillment,feeling cheated by the Maraharsi (whom had less than spritiual practices-though some speculate that this was possible ploy by former Beatle acquaintance "Magic Alex"). The India trip was a sign of things to come.

On March 12, 1969, Boyd answered the door of Kinfauns (the Harrisons' home in Esher) to find Sergeant Norman Pilcher. He had a warrant to search their house for illegal substances. The police tore the house up looking for whatever they could find, eventually charging the Harrisons with possession of cannabis resin (marijuana). The couple was taken to the jail and released on bail. They plead guilty, even though they believed that the drugs had been planted in the place the marijuana was found.The couple supported their belief by saying they had drugs in another part of the house--and it never came up in the search. Ironically, the Sergeant who searched the house was charged with planting illegal drugs on an innocent suspect a few years later.

This incident, although much publicized, wasnÕt the first time Boyd and Harrison were involved in drug busts. In 1967, Boyd, Harrison, Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull, along with some other friends, were partying at Keith Richards' home. As usual, drugs were present, mostly LSD, but also heroin (a famous Faithfull vice). The police knew what was going on, but with the BeatlesÕ lawyer David Jacobs and manager Brian Epstein (two figures very much respected by the police) the group was all right. Only a few hours after the Harrisons left Richards' home did the police raid the house. By the time of the Harrisons' 1969 drug bust, both David Jacobs and Brian Epstein were dead.

Harrison's infidelities were also increasing by this time. With his increasing drug and religious isolation from Boyd, it only got worse. Harrison acted upon the chances given to him, which was the complete opposite of Boyd. There were plently of opprunities for her as well, even an tryst with John Lennon (who was infatuated with Boyd). However, the model still cared deeply for her husband, although fully aware of the problems in her marriage.

While the couple's problems continued, Eric Clapton became cordial with George Harrison. Clapton did uncredited work on Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and the two became instant friends. Clapton spent a lot of time with the Harrisons. He could tell things weren't good between the couple. Boyd flirted a lot with Clapton to get her husband's attention, but the plan backfired: Clapton fell in love with the model and became extremely jealous of his best friend.

Clapton's attempt to win Boyd's heart started with an affair with one of her sisters. He also started to reject religion, for he believed Boyd's unhappiness was caused by it. She finally listened to Clapton and they started a brief affair.

However, as Boyd commented later, she was not one to carry on extramartial affairs. Clapton's obsessive love both fascinated and frightened her. When he said it was either drugs or her, Boyd backed out of the relationship. Her rejection, along with the death of Clapton's good friend Jimi Hendrix, led the former Cream guitarist into a four-year bout of depression and drugs.

Boyd later recalled the experience:

"Eric showed me this packet of heroin and said: 'Either you come away with me or I will take this'. I was appalled. I grabbed at it and tried to throw it away, but he snatched it back...At first, I felt guilt. Then I felt anger because it was totally irrational of him to blame me for something he was probably going to do anyway; it was very selfish and destructive "

It was during this time Clapton wrote "Layla", one of his most popular songs, which was written for Boyd. The title came from the 1,000-page The Story Of Layla And Manjun, a story about a Manjun's obsessive love for women he could not have, Layla.

"What will you do when you get lonely with nobody waiting by your side? You've been running and hiding much too long. You know it's just your foolish pride.

Layla, you got me on my knees. Layla,I'm begging, darling, please, Layla,darling, won't you ease my worried mind? Tried to give you consolation,when your old man he let you down. Like a fool I fell in love with you, turned the whole world upside down.

Let's make the best of the situation before I finally go insane. Please, don't say we'll never find a way and tell me all my love's in vain."

-excerpts from "Layla", lyrics by Eric Clapton, as performed by Derek and the Dominos, 1970.

While Clapton went into seclusion from the public, Boyd was dealing with problems of her own. She had suspected that George had cheated on her, but the proof came during night at Ringo and Maureen Starr's house. It was a night that broke up two marriages. While eating, Harrison suddenly said how much he loved Maureen. Boyd became visably upset, breaking down in tears. Ringo Starr, who knew of Harrison's ways, just rolled his eyes.

After Harrison's affair with Maureen Starr, Boyd started to defy her husband's orders. She started modeling again and began a relationship with guitarist Ron Wood (now of the Rolling Stones). Just as Boyd was re-establishing her independence, she had a near-fatal accident in 1972.

George Harrison always loved racing cars, and when he drove along roads, he drove just as fast. One day, Harrison crashed his car; Boyd was the only other passanger. She was knocked out unconscious and had serious injuries, including broken ribs, cuts and bruises. She was admitted into a hospital, where she stayed for several weeks, and then moved into rehabiliation.

When Boyd got her strength back, she was back out again with Harrison. Eric Clapton, though still in depression, would often come out to some parties. On one particular night, he was at the same party with Boyd and Harrison. Clapton got Harrison's attention when Boyd was away, and simply told him, "I'm in love with your wife." Harrison just replied, "Fine, you get her, I get your girlfriend." By this time, Boyd came back on the scene and was completely shocked that Clapton had the nerve to tell her huhsband that he loved her and that Harrison was so insensitive to her feelings. She left the scene angry at Harrison and Clapton. It was only a matter of time, however, before Boyd left Harrison.

The Harrison marriage, after the incident with Eric Clapton, continued to crumble. One night in 1974, Harrison decided spontaneously to give his marriage one last try. He was too late--Boyd had flown to Los Angeles, in desperation, to live with Jenny Boyd and Mick Fleetwood. Soon after arriving at their home, she went to see Eric Clapton in Miami. After all his heartache of not being able to have Boyd as his wife, he finally had the woman of his dreams. The Harrisons' divorce was finalized June 9, 1977. George on EricÕs relationship with Pattie:

"We both loved Eric, still do....Pattie and he got together after weÕd really split, and actually weÕd been splitting up for years. That was the funny thing, you know. I thought that was the best thing to do, for us to split, and weÕd shouldÕve done it much sooner. I didn't have any problems about it..."

Boyd later recalled her decision to leave Harrison for Clapton:

"In my naivety, I believed everything was all right. He wasn't taking heroin (anymore), which I thought was the main addiction for him. But, as it turned out, his drug of choice (was) alcohol."

Boyd married Eric Clapton March 27, 1979 in Tuscon, Arizona. Forty of their closest friends, including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Denny Laine, Mick Jagger, Elton John and David Bowie, were in attendance. Someone even had the nerve to sing ÒSomethingÓ at the party they held at Hurtwood Edge for their friends in England. Harrison and his new wife, Olivia, came to the party where an all star band played. There was a semi-Beatles reunion, with Harrison, McCartney and Starr taking the stage.

The night after the marriage, Clapton brought Boyd on stage on his tour and sang to her, ÒWonderful TonightÓ, a song inspired by her. The next day he sent her off to England.

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Boyd was isolated at Hurtwood Edge. Clapton's alcoholism continued to get worse and he checked into a clinc. Boyd's efforts to help him beat his addiction were trying on their relationship:

"It was becoming very difficult (during the time Clapton was an alcoholic). You'd look for the part of the person you know and love, but it was hard to find."

By 1985, Boyd had enough. Clapton had had very public affairs and two children by other women. Boyd was publicly and privately humiliated. She knew she couldn't have children and this was in part to blame for the failure of her marriages. The Claptons separated, and by 1989, the divorce was finalized. Boyd recalled this difficult period in her life:

"It probably took me six years to get over it, with four years of psychotherapy. My self-esteem was unbelievably low, and I found it really hard to build up relationships because I had been used to difficult people. Anybody who was sweet and nice to me was no challenge."

After her divorce, Boyd started to refocus on her career as a professional photographer. To this day, she continues to be involved in photography, but her focus is now towards charity work. In 1991, she co-founded SHARP with Barbara Bach. The purpose of the charity is to aid drug addicts and alcoholics. That same year, Boyd met property developer Rod Weston, who has been her companion for over nine years.

Just because she's not married to Harrison or Clapton anymore doesn't mean Boyd's social standing has decreased. She has long been friends with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (who "treat her like royalty") and enjoys the company of London's most exclusive social circles. Barbara Bach and Christabel Durham, also very high-society, have become involved in Boyd's latest project, a fundraising concert with Jools Holland and his orchestra.

"I've become involved in this because of people - friends - who have been in trouble as a result of alcohol and drug abuse. It's harrowing, totally harrowing, to watch."

Another charity Boyd and her companion, Rod Weston, were involved in the Organic Picnic. The organization, co-sponsored by Greenpeace, is opposed to genetically engineered food. The picnic, which took place in the summer of 1999, was held to bring awareness to this problem and to promote the use of organic foods in the UK.

Through it all, Pattie Boyd has continued on with dignity and grace that many have admired since she first became famous in the 1960s. She may be rock's most famous muse, but as she said in a 1999 interview: