Eric Clapton
In the late 1960s, Clapton and Harrison became close friends, and began writing and recording music together. It was reported at this time that Clapton fell in love with Boyd. Unfortunately, Clapton also fell in love with Boyd's 17-year-old sister, Paula, who moved in with him. Paula left Clapton when she heard "Layla", as the song confirmed that Clapton had been using her as a substitute for her sister. Boyd claims that when she rebuffed Clapton's advances in late 1970, he descended into heroin addiction and self-imposed exile with Alice Ormsby-Gore for three years. Meanwhile, during Clapton's tenure in Derek and the Dominos, their only studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, was written to proclaim his love for Boyd. It included the track "Layla", which became a hit in three different decades, and in two different versions.
Boyd and Clapton were married in 1979, but their public image as a couple masked struggles within the marriage. Although Boyd drank and admits to past drug use, unlike Clapton she never became an alcoholic or a drug addict. Boyd left Clapton at one point due to his refusal to seek treatment for his alcoholism, so she began dating a photographer, Will Christie.
Boyd left Clapton in September 1984, and divorced him in 1988. Her stated reasons were Clapton's years of alcoholism, as well as numerous affairs on his part, which included his affair with Italian model Lory Del Santo, who had given birth to his son, Conor, in August 1986. Boyd and Clapton's divorce was granted on the grounds of "infidelity and unreasonable behaviour". Boyd believes she was also the inspiration for two other Clapton's songs: "Bell Bottom Blues", and "Wonderful Tonight".
Read more about this topic: Pattie Boyd