"Let's Spend The Night Together"
I just finished watching the documentary based on one of the 4 books written by Pamela Des Barres (The Original and Proud Rock N' Roll groupie),.
Now, I have been in a couple bands and had 'groupies' (Those that crushed on me/us and loved my music, coming to every show, knowing all the words to a song i wrote the week before...guys that said they waited all week long to see us play, etc.)
I've also been so in love with the music of some bands that had their not been the problem of my being born way too late, I would have followed and I understand the delicate balance of "Groupie" and musician and how we feed off each other. Every artist needs a muse and that includes me. I had a muse and did my best writing when he was around. I think the groupies got to be close to the makers of the music that entered them, body and soul, and in return, the Rock Gods didn't just 'get laid', they were inspired by these beautiful, sensual, earth mothers that wanted nothing in return but to be a part of that and their music. If you knew how many songs from the 60s through the 80s and 90s were written about 'groupies', and I mean CLASSIC well known songs, your brain would spin.
Pamela is perhaps the best known because her groupie days lasted from her teens until the 80s or 90s and she was with Jim Morrison, the girlfriend of Jimmy Page, and has 'satisfied' so many rock gods that I can only say 'Read her books' or 'watch this film' for more.
These women never asked for money or marriage, though some got it. Maureen Starkey (Ringo's first wife) was president of a Beatles's fan club, more recently, I heard all the little Hanson twerps met all their spouses at their concerts...they were fans first. The ULTIMATE in muses HAS to be the lovely 'Patti Boyd (Harrison Clapton)' (Seen Below).
Next time you hear George Harrison singing "Something in the way she moves...attracts me like no other lover...something in the way she woos me...", "Because you're sweet and lovely girl, I love you", "It's all too much, for me to take, the love that shines all around here...with your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue..." or the next time you hear Eric Clapton singing "And like a fool, I fell in love with you, you turned my whole world upside down...LAYLA, you got me on my knees, Layla, I'm begging darling Please won't you ease my worried mind!!" or saying "It's late in the evening..she wonders what clothes to wear..she puts on her make-up..and brushes her long blond hair..and then she asks me 'Do I look Alright?' and I say 'Yes..you look Wonderful Tonight'. You look wonderful, because I see the love light in your eyes..and the wonder..of it all...is that you just don't realize how much I love you.."
Next time you hear these Clapton and Beatles classics, remember Patti Boyd's face. They both married her. She even dated two more Rockers and one of the Stones even purposed, but she declined.
Now THAT is a Muse!!!
This film and in the book, Pamela goes and visits the other core group of groupies and talks to them about their experiences and if you love music, Both the Documentary and Book are MUST SEES. I love the way Pamela explains that Musician and Muse fed off each other's energy and it wasn't some tawdry B.J. after the gigs. They were flown into cities and had relationships and basically served as a Muse to these BIG NAMES. I will be honest, my best work came from times when I had a muse and I have served as a muse and both are mutually pleasing to the other party.
Young Pamela Des Barres
I think the chick flick "The Banger Sisters" was heavily influenced by the books Des Barres has written but she is such a sweet spirit and good sport, she was probably flattered.
I made a great poll and it took me forever on bands and groupies, bt LJ just made me waste a couple hours of my time because it won't show it correctly, no matter what I do or try. Sorry =(
Also, I ganked this bit of awesomeness from panmodal
Click to viewlove & peace, zuzu