Pattie Boyd was the wide-eyed, model face of Sixties’ London who inspired ex-husbands George Harrison and Eric Clapton to write 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.
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.
It’s an era that’s been referred to as the “rock-ocracy” of the sixties. Those who moved in that circle included members of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd.
Though a fashion-world icon 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; she features in Clapton’s latest and current documentary, Life in 12 Bars.
Says Boyd on the socio-musical landscape of the time: “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.”
Tuesday, 15 May at Four Seasons, Sydney
Wednesday, 16 May, at Grand Hyatt, Melbourne
The Exhibition – Blender Gallery, Sydney
As well as the Evening with Pattie Boyd, Sydneysiders will be able to visit her second exhibition in 10 years, at the Blender Gallery, as part of the city’s annual Head On Photo Festival. It will feature selections from Pattie’s remarkable archive in an exclusive 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 opening on May 5 until June 2 will show many vintage prints and intimate Polaroid’s never seen before. Boyd will attend a special launch on May 11.