Pattie Boyd was the wide-eyed, model face of Sixties’ London who was the first marriage of each George Harrison and then his friend Eric Clapton. About Pattie Boyd, Harrison and Clapton each wrote some of the greatest love songs of the 20th century. Most famously, Harrison wrote for her - Something, and I Need You. Gripped by the desire to wrest Boyd from the arms of an increasingly errant Beatle, blues-god Clapton wrote Layla, and once they were married, Wonderful Tonight.
In the circle of the era referred to as the Rock-ocracy members included The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd.
Though an icon of the fashion world in her own right, after she met Harrison on the set of A Hard Day’s Night, Boyd was carried along by the hysteric adulation of the Beatles era and became one of the world’s most talked about musical muses.
“I think there was definitely a more energetic and vibrant attitude between musicians. I think some of this shows in my photographs - it seems as if the 60’s and 70’s were a free society with not as many restrictions as [we have] now. Of course, I knew I was living an unusual and exotic life with all these divine people coming in and out of our lives” says Boyd on the socio-musical landscape of the time.
The Event
This May, Boyd will bring her compelling and entertaining life story to audiences in Sydney and Melbourne during an intimate three hours of George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Me; An Evening with Pattie Boyd. Starting off with a swanky hour of cocktails, guests will have the chance to rub shoulders with Pattie. They’ll then enjoy a conversational two-hour show during which she will share memories, film footage and personal photographs of modelling and music-celebrity marriage.
Tuesday May 15th at Four Seasons, Sydney
7pm - Cocktails & Canapes with Pattie Boyd
8pm - George, Eric and Me; An evening with Pattie Boyd
10pm - Close
The Exhibition
Boyd’s modelling career and marriages put her in the enviable position of being able to take intimate photographs of some of the world's greatest musicians. Accordingly, her photography documented events - public and personal - around the lives of Harrison, Clapton and their friends. They included Paul and Linda McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, members of the Rolling Stones, The Who, Cream and more – performing, recording and partying. The exhibition will include many vintage prints and intimate Polaroid’s never seen before.
The exhibition at the Blender Gallery opens May 5th and runs until June 2nd. Boyd will attend a special launch on May 11th.
