Rock 'N' Roll's Cheating Hearts
When the news surfaced not long ago that country singer LeAnn Rimes might be having an affair with Eddie Cibrian, her costar in the Lifetime made-for-TV movie Northern Lights, it was a story full of passion and infidelity straight out of a country song...or a Lifetime made-for-TV movie. Cibrian denied the affair; LeAnn's husband came to her defense (Twittering "I love my wife!!!"--the third exclamation point is totally convincing!); Rimes issued a non-denial statement about going through a difficult time; and Us Weekly released video of LeAnn and Eddie allegedly canoodling.
But whatever else they were or weren't doing, Rimes and Cibrian were upholding a proud tradition. Not just the long line of country cheating songs (our favorite: Gary Stewart's "She's Acting Single [I'm Drinking Doubles]"), but also the long line of rock 'n' roll affairs. Was it really only last July that we thrilled to the exploits of Madonna and A-Rod, whose friendship included reports of apartment-shopping together and led to divorce for both? And have three years really passed since we sorted out the bizarre Heather Locklear/Richie Sambora/Denise Richards love triangle? (To recap: In the wake of her split from Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards sought comfort in the arms of her best friend Heather's husband, Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora. As they say on E's Denise Richards show: It's complicated!)
Of course, classic rock has its own classic love triangles and tales of infidelity. In 1967, Keith Richards and Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones went on vacation in Morocco. Brian brought along his girlfriend, model Anita Pallenberg. At least she was Brian's girlfriend when they went to Morocco. When they came back, she was Keith's.
But the all-time greatest is the story of two best buds and yet another comely fashion model: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Pattie Boyd. George and Pattie met in 1964 and got married in 1967. Clapton fell hard for her not too long after. (He even dated her younger sister!) Clapton's "Layla," a tale of unrequited love, is supposed to have been written about Boyd (who can also claim to have inspired Harrison's "Something" and Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight"--she's like the Helen Of Troy of rock 'n' roll, the face that launched a thousand songs).
Boyd and Harrison split in 1974; she and Clapton married in 1979. And Harrison and Clapton remained friends--they toured Japan together in 1991, the first time Harrison toured since 1974, and the last time he ever would. Models come and go, but guitar bros are forever!
