NOT EVEN “IT WAS THE 60S” could properly explain the strength of this friendship. Perhaps Harrison’s later-in-life devotion to the Hindu concept of maya, of cosmic illusion, what Beatles fans, or aficionados, might call extreme “Ob-la-di-ob-la-da-ism” comes close. You know, life goes on, bra, or the concept of “get over it!” Whatever the label, Eric Clapton and George Harrison’s friendship was forged around their blind devotion to their epic guitar talents and survived a nearly 20-year span of literal sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, not to mention the interruptions of broken hearts, broken bands, and broken marriages to the same woman. Clapton played guitar solo on Harrison’s song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on the Beatles’ legendary White Album, while Harrison paid tribute to Clapton’s notorious sweet tooth on the double record’s song “Savoy Truffle.” Infidelities, divorces, addictions, rehab—it’s no joke—yet there was George at the wedding of his ex-wife to his best friend, dubbing himself the husband-in-law: “I’d rather she be with him than some dope.”
The marriage dissolved in 1988, but Harrison and Clapton’s friendship endured, with Harrison’s spirituality guiding Clapton’s demons to a place of peace and happiness. At the one-year anniversary of Harrison’s death, Clapton organized The Concert for George memorial in 2002 at London’s Royal Albert Hall, bringing together musicians and spiritual masters to pay tribute to the elder brother he never had, while his own guitar gently weeped.
