In the late 1960s, Eric Clapton and George Harrison became close friends and began writing and recording music together. This is when Clapton fell in love with Boyd. In an effort to satisfy his infatuation, Clapton briefly dated Boyd's sister Paula. His 1970 album with Derek and the Dominos, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs", was written to proclaim his love for Boyd, particularly the hit song "Layla". Clapton drew inspiration from "The Story of Layla and Majnun" by Persian writer Nizami; based on a story about the seventh-century Nejdi Bedouin poet Qays ibn Al-Mulawwah and his lover Layla bint Mahdi (or Layla al-Aamiriya), the tale concerns a man driven to madness by his unattainable love. When Boyd rebuffed his advances in late 1970, Clapton descended into heroin addiction and self-imposed exile for three years. Once cured of his addiction in 1974, Clapton again pursued Boyd, who now agreed to leave Harrison. She and Clapton were married in 1979. They remained friendly with Harrison, who took to calling Clapton his "husband-in-law".