George Harrison had a good friend named Eric Clayton, which he met in December, 1964 (while Harrison was still with the Beatles). When the Beatles broke up, Harrison remained friends with Eric Clapton and they continued to play music together.
The Love Triangle:
Pattie Boyd was Harrison's first wife. They met on the set of the filmA Hard Day's Nightand they got marriedJanuary 21, 1966. While Harrison's marriage with Pattie Boyd was falling apart later, Clapton becamefond of Harrison's wife. He began to write love letters and he wrote songs, for exampleLayla,about Pattie Boyd. She stayed with Harrison for five years, but met up with Clapton often.
One night, at a party, George Harrison found Pattie Boyd and Eric Clapton talking together. When he asked what was going on, Clapton told Harrison that he was in love with his wife. Harrison and Pattie Boyd went home together that night, and remained together for another four years. Whilst Eric Clapton was upset, and did heroin those four years.
In the end, Pattie Boyd left George Harrison in 1974 because of his spiritual practices, drugs, and his string of infidelities. She decided that Eric Clapton was better for her. Even after all the drama and heart break, George Harrison and Eric Clapton remained friends, and continued to play music together.
Collaborations:
Harrison and Clapton had a close friendship, they did many collaborations together during their lives. Some collaborations are:
- George Harrison and Clapton wrote a song together called Badgefor Clapton's band's (Cream) final album "Goodbye".
- Clapton's album "Journeyman" released in 1989 had many different styles of music and songs on it, George Harrison collaborated in this album.
- At the Bob Dylan 30th anniversary concert, Clapton and Harrison as well as other guitarists played Knockin' On Heavin's Door.
- Clapton joined the Beatles in the recording of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, then he gave his Gibson SG to George Harrison (this was one of Harrison and Clapton's greatest collaborations).
- Harrison received a Fender Stratocaster from Eric Clapton as well.
Random Fact:
George attended primary school at Dovedale Primary before becoming a student at the Liverpool Institute in 1954, where he met Paul McCartney.
"I'll play what you want or I won't play at all" - George Harrison
Here's a video of George Harrison and Eric Clapton playing While my Guitar Gently Weeps,and a video of George Harrison talking a little about Eric Clapton.
