Ex-model reveals her life with music idols
Pattie Boyd, who was married to musicians George Harrison and Eric Clapton at different times, on Tuesday unveiled two of her iconic outfits that formed part of her exhibition George, Eric and Me at The Beatles Story in Liverpool. One of the exhibits,a jacket and short skirt, was made especially for Boyd by The Fool, while she bought the other outfit, a floaty Thea Porter dress, in Italy for an Italian Vogue shoot in 1970.
Both outfits now join the exhibition, which features intimate portraits of Harrison and Clapton by the woman who shared their lives. The fascinating collection also includes candid photos of the musical icons and their rock ’n’ roll star friends such as The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood.
Boyd on Tuesday visited The Beatles Story and told Xinhua that it was natural to take photos for them as they were friends at the time.
“They were quite comfortable with me taking photos. So it is more like an intimate exhibition,” Boyd says.
Boyd was married to Harrison, a member of The Beatles, from 1966 to 1977, and to the guitarist and singer Clapton from 1979 to 1988.
Boyd first met George Harrison during filming of Hard Day’s Night in 1964 when she played a schoolgirl, but she was engaged to a photographer and initially declined Harrison’s offer of a date.
Boyd says: “The exhibition looks fabulous. Each picture tells a story and the whole collection really does give a glimpse into my life with George and my life with Eric. The exhibition also includes pictures that have never before been shown in the UK.”
“I am delighted with the exhibition, which is complemented by the natural light that floods into the exhibition space at The Beatles Story. It’s been a real honor to show my work here and to add these two special outfits, which will be on display for the remainder of the exhibition.”
Boyd says she would love to display her images in China. “If a gallery in China asks me to, I would say, ‘yes.’”
The number of Chinese visitors to The Beatles Story was 9,460 in 2013, and it reached 11,297 in 2015.
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