Jim Capaldi (1944–2005) was the drummer and co-founder of Traffic, formed with Steve Winwood in 1967. He was a close friend of Clapton and died of stomach cancer in 2005.

Ringo Starr's son, born September 1965. He was 13 at the wedding party. He became drummer for The Who from 1996 and has performed with Oasis. He was taught to play by Keith Moon.

Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr at Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd's wedding party – 19 May 1979

Q: Did three Beatles perform together at the Clapton/Boyd wedding party?

Yes — McCartney, Harrison, and Starr performed as The Dingalings at Hurtwood Edge on 19 May 1979. It was the last time three Beatles performed together before Lennon's death on 8 December 1980.

Q: Why wasn't John Lennon at the party?

Lennon was not invited. He was living in New York, having retired from music between 1975 and 1980 to raise his son Sean. He later told Clapton he would have attended had he known.

Q: What was Pattie Boyd's connection to The Beatles?

Pattie Boyd was married to George Harrison from 1966 to 1977. Clapton's unrequited love for her inspired 'Layla' and 'Bell Bottom Blues' (1970). Harrison wrote 'Something' (1969) for her.

May 17, 2026

Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr at Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd's wedding party – 19 May 1979

Saturday 19 May 1979 | Live
Hurtwood Edge, Ewhurst, Surrey, England

Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr attended Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd's wedding party at Hurtwood Edge, Clapton's home in Ewhurst, Surrey. The three Beatles jammed together on stage as The Dingalings, with Traffic drummer Jim Capaldi and Ringo's 13-year-old son Zak Starkey. John Lennon was not invited; he later told Clapton he would have come if he had known — making this the last occasion on which three Beatles performed together before Lennon's death in December 1980.

Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd

Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd had married on 27 March 1979 in Tucson, Arizona — a small civil ceremony attended by only a handful of people. The Surrey party on 19 May was the larger celebration, attended by a remarkable gathering of rock royalty. Pattie Boyd had previously been married to George Harrison, from 1966 to 1977. Clapton had been obsessively in love with her throughout her marriage to Harrison — his unrequited passion had inspired 'Layla' (1970) and 'Bell Bottom Blues' (1970). Harrison had written 'Something' (1969) for her. The love triangle between Harrison, Boyd, and Clapton is one of the most documented in rock history.

Hurtwood Edge was a large country house in the Surrey Hills, which Clapton had owned since 1970. It had been the setting for numerous gatherings of the rock aristocracy throughout the 1970s.

The Dingalings

McCartney, Harrison, and Starr performed on stage together as The Dingalings — a deliberately low-key name for what was, in effect, three-quarters of The Beatles. Jim Capaldi, the drummer and co-founder of Traffic, also performed. Ringo's son Zak Starkey — then 13 years old — also played drums. Zak would go on to become the drummer for The Who from 1996, and has also performed with Oasis.

The set included rock and roll standards and Beatles songs. The performance was informal and celebratory rather than a formal reunion, but it remains one of the most significant gatherings of former Beatles in the post-breakup era.

John Lennon's Absence

John Lennon was not invited to the wedding party. He was living in New York at the time, having effectively retired from music between 1975 and 1980 to raise his son Sean. When Clapton later told Lennon about the party, Lennon said he would have attended had he known — a remark that has taken on additional poignancy given that he was shot dead in New York on 8 December 1980, less than 18 months later. The Clapton/Boyd wedding party is therefore the last documented occasion on which three Beatles performed together.

The Guests

The party was attended by an extraordinary cross-section of British rock. Among those present were Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Roger Waters, Jeff Beck, and Lonnie Donegan — the skiffle pioneer whose music had inspired Lennon to form The Quarrymen in 1956. The occasion has been described by several attendees as one of the great parties of the rock era.

Key Facts: 19 May 1979

Location: Hurtwood Edge, Ewhurst, Surrey
Occasion: Wedding party for Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd (married 27 March 1979, Tucson, Arizona)
Performers as The Dingalings: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Jim Capaldi, Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey's age: 13
John Lennon: Not invited; living in New York; said he would have come
Significance: Last time three Beatles performed together before Lennon's death (8 December 1980)
Notable guests: Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Roger Waters, Jeff Beck, Lonnie Donegan

Frequently Asked Questions

Did three Beatles perform together at the Clapton/Boyd wedding party?

Yes — Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr performed together as The Dingalings at Hurtwood Edge on 19 May 1979. It was the last time three Beatles performed together before John Lennon's death on 8 December 1980.

Why wasn't John Lennon at the party?

Lennon was not invited. He was living in New York at the time, having effectively retired from music between 1975 and 1980 to raise his son Sean. He later told Clapton he would have attended had he known.

What was Pattie Boyd's connection to The Beatles?

Pattie Boyd had been married to George Harrison from 1966 to 1977. Eric Clapton had been in love with her throughout her marriage to Harrison — his passion inspired 'Layla' and 'Bell Bottom Blues' (both 1970). Harrison had written 'Something' (1969) for her.

Who was Jim Capaldi?

Jim Capaldi (1944–2005) was the drummer and co-founder of Traffic, the band he formed with Steve Winwood in 1967. He was a close friend of Clapton and a regular presence in the Surrey rock community. He died of stomach cancer in 2005.

Who is Zak Starkey?

Zak Starkey is Ringo Starr's son, born in September 1965. He was 13 at the time of the Clapton/Boyd wedding party. He went on to become the drummer for The Who from 1996 and has also performed with Oasis. He was taught to play drums by Keith Moon.