There are few tropes better than love triangles — especially when they involve three rock icons. From March 8 to 21, Christie's auction house will host a electronic auction items from the personal collection of British photographer and model Pattie Boyd, who served as a muse for both George Harrison and Eric Clapton.
She is considered “one of the greatest muses in rock history”. Christie's Via a press release on Monday (February 26), Boyd inspired a slew of songs between the two musicians. Boyd married Harrison during the height of Beatlemania, the band's foray into psychedelia, and after the split (1966-1977). Harrison's Boyd-inspired Beatles tracks include the Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “I Need You” (1965) and “Something” (1969) and “For You Blue” (1970).
Clapton, a close friend of Harrison's, pursued Boyd for years through a series of love letters, some of which are available for auction. “I am writing you this note with the main purpose of ascertaining your feelings on a subject well known to both of us,” one letter opens. “What I want to ask you is do you still love your husband or do you have another lover? All these questions are very cheeky, I know, but if there is still a feeling in your heart for me… you must let me know!”
By 1974, when she discovered his number of extramarital affairs, Boyd left Harrison. Five years later, she and Clapton married, eventually divorcing in 1987 due to substance abuse problems and infidelity. In Clapton's catalog, Boyd can claim the inspirational “Layla,” the No. 12 Hot 100 hit from 1971, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame just 27 years after its release (1998).
For her part, Boyd believes the auction of these items (which include photos of herself, Harrison and Clapton, as well as postcards, telegrams and letters) is part of her healing journey.
“I thought, 'Do I need them? Do I have to keep going into Pandora's Box?' I've enjoyed them for many, many years and now it's time for others to see and enjoy them too. It's only right that I give them away,'' he mused at Christie's, where objects will go on display at Christie's in London from March 15 to 22.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/eric-clapton-pattie-boyd-george-harrison-love-letters-auction-1235616099/