It is a strange, winding history. You have two of the biggest names to ever touch a guitar or a bass, and yet, for years, people assumed they weren't actually that close. If you look at the surface, Eric Clapton was George Harrison's best friend—the "brother" who famously played the weeping solo on the White Album and, well, eventually married George’s wife. Paul McCartney was the perfectionist, the "ambassador" of the Beatles, and the guy who allegedly didn't want any outsiders in the studio.
But that is a massive oversimplification.
Honestly, the relationship between Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney is one of the most enduring, professional, and quietly respectful friendships in rock history. It isn't a tabloid-heavy drama. It is a slow burn of two guys who survived the 60s and ended up being some of the only people left who truly understand what that life was like.
The Scrambled Eggs Meeting
The first time they crossed paths was late 1963. The Beatles were doing a series of Christmas shows at the Hammersmith Odeon, and Eric was there with The Yardbirds.
Clapton remembers this vividly. He was hanging out backstage, and Paul, ever the social butterfly, came over to say hello. But he didn't just say hi. He started playing a tune he was working on. It was a melody without lyrics—something Paul was calling "Scrambled Eggs."
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You know it now as "Yesterday."
Imagine being Eric Clapton, a young blues purist, and having Paul McCartney hum "Scrambled Eggs" to you before it became the most covered song in history. That was the vibe. They hit it off, though Eric gravitating toward George's guitar-nerd energy was inevitable.
The Tension That Wasn't
There’s a persistent myth that Paul didn't want Eric around during the Let It Be sessions. We’ve all heard the story: George walks out, John Lennon sarcastically says, "Let’s get Eric," and Paul supposedly shuts it down.
That is not exactly how it went.
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Paul wasn't anti-Clapton; he was pro-Beatles. He wanted the band to work. He didn't want to replace his friend with another titan because he knew it would be the end of the group. Despite that friction, Eric had already broken the "no outsiders" rule a year earlier on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Paul played the fuzzy, driving bass on that track. He wasn't annoyed that Eric was there; he was actually the one who helped glue the track together while George and Eric were doing their thing.
Side-by-Side in the Studio
They didn't just stop in the 60s. Their discography is littered with "hidden" moments where they helped each other out.
- 1968: "Sour Milk Sea" – A Jackie Lomax track. You had Paul on bass, Ringo on drums, George on guitar, and Eric on lead guitar. It’s basically a Beatles song with Eric Clapton as the lead guitarist.
- 2001: "Freedom" – After the 9/11 attacks, Paul wrote this anthem. He specifically asked Eric to play on it. There’s actually a funny, slightly awkward video of Paul trying to explain the key changes to Eric backstage at a benefit concert. Eric just stands there, nodding, looking a bit "done" with the explanation, then goes out and nails it.
- 2012: "My Valentine" – This is a standout. For Paul's Kisses on the Bottom album, he wanted a specific, delicate touch. He called Eric. No ego. Just "come play some acoustic guitar on this jazz ballad."
- 2013: "All of Me" – The favor was returned when Paul played bass and sang on Eric's Old Sock album.
The Concert for George: The Turning Point
If you want to see the real soul of the Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney connection, you have to watch the Concert for George from 2002.
Eric was the musical director. It was his show to run. Paul showed up with a ukulele.
There is a moment during "Something" where Paul starts the song on the uke (George’s favorite instrument) and then the band kicks in. Eric is right there, leading the charge. When they transition into "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," it is a heavy, emotional powerhouse. They aren't just playing notes. They are mourning a mutual friend.
The respect on that stage was palpable. There was no competition for the spotlight. It was just two old friends making sure George got the send-off he deserved.
What People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that they were "rivals." In the 60s, the press loved to pit the "Guitar God" against the "Pop Genius."
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Kinda ridiculous, right?
In reality, they moved in the same circles for sixty years. They were both at the same parties in 1967. They both attended the same high-society weddings. They even shared the same tragedy of losing close friends far too young.
Eric has often spoken about how much he admires Paul’s work ethic. Paul, in turn, has always treated Eric like the gold standard for guitarists. It is a "mutual admiration society" that has survived addiction, divorces, and the total collapse of the music industry as they knew it.
The Takeaway: How to Listen Like a Pro
If you really want to appreciate this duo, don't just look for "McCartney/Clapton" on a label. You have to look at the credits.
- Check out the 1979 Wedding Jam: When Eric married Pattie Boyd (George's ex-wife), Paul, George, and Ringo all showed up. They jammed on "Sgt. Pepper." It’s the closest the world got to a reunion for years, and it happened in Eric's backyard.
- Listen to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" again: This time, ignore the guitar. Listen to the bass. That’s Paul giving Eric the space to be legendary.
- Watch the 9/11 "Freedom" performance: It’s raw, it’s a bit messy, and it shows two veterans just trying to get through a difficult moment with their instruments.
Next time you hear a Clapton solo or a McCartney melody, remember that these two aren't just icons on a poster. They are two guys who have been "talking shop" since 1963.
Practical Tip: To hear the most "human" version of their collaboration, find the 1997 Music for Montserrat performance of "Hey Jude." You've got Paul on piano, Eric on guitar, and Elton John nearby. It's not a studio-perfect recording, but it captures the grit and the friendship perfectly. Just go listen to that transition when the "Na-na-na" starts—you can see Eric looking over at Paul, waiting for the cue. That’s sixty years of history in a single glance.