The demographics that bring rock its vast audience in the 70s deliver a new generation of L.A. groupies who bivouac at the Riot House and Rainbow Bar & Grill. Their objective: the men of Led Zeppelin.
Reading this reminded me of a friend who enjoyed the rock-n-roll circus albeit here on the East Coast. Shortly before she passed of cancer a few years ago I went to sit with her one afternoon. We laughed about the times she spent backstage while I worked out front as a sound tech. At one point I asked her about a fellow she seemed to have an interest in. Had she kept up with him?
When I was a little girl and I flipped through those magazines like creem, I always wanted to be like those teenage groupies. I loved Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones and The Who and I just wanted to be there with them. I think for me it was because I lost my father at such a young age and he was a musician. I just had stars in my eyes plus the musicians were so cute and so cool and they played such great music. I was born a few years too late to really get in on that scene. And then when the 80s came, I got involved with some of these musicians and then I almost died because there is a dark side to this and a lot of abuse of women. So for me, I think that I was lucky overall that I got to work for an Indie record label and a major record label. Many groupies were called sluts but they they weren’t, they just idolized rock ‘n’ roll. Coincidentally, since the state of America has just been so depressing, I watched Almost Famous again last night. It actually brought tears to my eyes because I really loved the 70s growing up as a kid the music and that whole trip was so cool. I love your writing and adore your book. I’m halfway through it and I’m gonna buy that Laurel Canyon book. Let me know if you have a hardcopy if you sign it, I’ll send you the money. PS Edited I used the microphone because I was out and about..🤣
Thanks for sharing your perspective on all of this, very illuminating and touching. So glad you’re enjoying What You Want Is in the Limo; let me check and see if I’ve got a hardcover of Laurel Canyon I can send; the new ones sold out years ago but I might have a copy stashed that I’ll sign and send to you if I can find. Don’t buy one of the used ones in the meantime, thanks!
The groupie dynamic has always interested me. I think people tend to think of it as older men taking advantage of younger women, but that's way too simplistic, as you show.
Thanks, Ellen! The motivation wasn’t just sex and partying, obviously—there was the aspect of mutual respect and even genuine affection and friendship in that permeated some of these relationships….
A fascinating scene beautifully recalled thank you
Reading this reminded me of a friend who enjoyed the rock-n-roll circus albeit here on the East Coast. Shortly before she passed of cancer a few years ago I went to sit with her one afternoon. We laughed about the times she spent backstage while I worked out front as a sound tech. At one point I asked her about a fellow she seemed to have an interest in. Had she kept up with him?
"Oh, no, lost track of him years ago."
Any regrets?
"No, I think we both got what we wanted."
As good an elegy as any for those years.
Thanks for sharing, agreed…
Great memorializing of that time frame.
Thanks, so glad you enjoyed!
When I was a little girl and I flipped through those magazines like creem, I always wanted to be like those teenage groupies. I loved Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones and The Who and I just wanted to be there with them. I think for me it was because I lost my father at such a young age and he was a musician. I just had stars in my eyes plus the musicians were so cute and so cool and they played such great music. I was born a few years too late to really get in on that scene. And then when the 80s came, I got involved with some of these musicians and then I almost died because there is a dark side to this and a lot of abuse of women. So for me, I think that I was lucky overall that I got to work for an Indie record label and a major record label. Many groupies were called sluts but they they weren’t, they just idolized rock ‘n’ roll. Coincidentally, since the state of America has just been so depressing, I watched Almost Famous again last night. It actually brought tears to my eyes because I really loved the 70s growing up as a kid the music and that whole trip was so cool. I love your writing and adore your book. I’m halfway through it and I’m gonna buy that Laurel Canyon book. Let me know if you have a hardcopy if you sign it, I’ll send you the money. PS Edited I used the microphone because I was out and about..🤣
Thanks for sharing your perspective on all of this, very illuminating and touching. So glad you’re enjoying What You Want Is in the Limo; let me check and see if I’ve got a hardcover of Laurel Canyon I can send; the new ones sold out years ago but I might have a copy stashed that I’ll sign and send to you if I can find. Don’t buy one of the used ones in the meantime, thanks!
The groupie dynamic has always interested me. I think people tend to think of it as older men taking advantage of younger women, but that's way too simplistic, as you show.
Really great read, Michael!
Thanks, Ellen! The motivation wasn’t just sex and partying, obviously—there was the aspect of mutual respect and even genuine affection and friendship in that permeated some of these relationships….
PS I’m out and about and I had to use my microphone. I couldn’t text so it’s not properly written.
Sad story about over glamorized debauchery…