Pamela Des Barres - Feminist icon

by Sabrina Paparella

There are groupies - and then there are supergroupies. Women like Pamela Des Barres were not just backstage girls getting trashed. They were so transformed by music that they didn't care who or what they did, and Pamela des Barres was one of the smartest of them all. Pamela? We salute you.

Dear Pamela

Thank you for having the courage to lead such an awesomely alternative lifestyle. You did who/what you wanted and never looked back. You were more than a backstage girl getting trashed - you mended the contradiction between being smart and being a groupie. So even though some of us might prefer to be in the band than with the band, what matters is that you followed your heart - and that's what makes you so cool.

Love, Mookychick xxx

Pamela Des Barres quotes

"We inspired the guys as much as we were inspired by them. It was very equal. They loved us because we dared to have a blast. We looked after them, picked their clothes and showed them the best restaurants to go to."

"I would go on tour with them, on planes, in the back of limos, to parties. I would be on stage with Led Zeppelin, the Stones, The Who and The Doors. It was a magic time."

"When he finally realised that I was ready to take the big step, he led me into the bedroom and entered the sacred vessel without much fanfare. I lay there beside him all night, like billions of girls before me, wondering, "Is that all there is?"

Pamela Des Barres best known for

Bedding many a famous rock star and writing it all down in the groupie tome I'm with the Band.

Pamela Des Barres least known for

Being in one of the first all-girl bands, the GTO's. The first (and only) album, 'Permanent Damage', was produced by Frank Zappa and featured musicians like John Bonham of Led Zeppelin on drums and Rod Stewart on backing vocals.

Mooky Factor

On a scale from 1- 10 Miss Pamela would probably be more of a 20 1/2. She is everything a mookychick should be: in charge, proud, unique, and terrifically funny. She went for what she wanted and had amazing experiences and for that she is an uber-mook.

Pamela Des Barres background

With her first taste of rock 'n roll, Pamela Des Barres was instantly hooked. Her first boy band crush was on Paul McCartney, which provided a common ground for her and her friends in school - until she turned on them with her newfound love of the dirty rocker Mick Jagger.

In high school a friend introduced her to the future underground rock hero Captain Beefheart. With this introduction Pamela concocted herself a backstage pass into rock 'n roll. Pamela became part of the infamous Sunset Strip scene in Los Angeles where she met and wooed many musicians. Among her famous conquests are Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, Mick Jagger (yes, she got her wish), and Jim Morrison.

What set Pamela apart from other groupies was her integrity and humour. In her most famous memoir, I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie, you can feel her love for the music and through this attraction came a love for the men who made it. Pamela put herself out there and got what she wanted. However, not without certain fundamental rules such as: no one-night stands, hands off married men, and only one conquest per band.

In 1977, Pamela married her own rock star, Michael Des Barres, and the couple had a son. Although they are separated today, they still continue to have a great friendship. Pamela currently resides in California where she has published books on her own life, rock 'n roll, and other groupie girls.

Pamela Des Barres links

• Official Pamela Des Barres Website
• Pamela's Myspace
• More information on Old School Groupies
• Buy I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie

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Mission statement

Mookychick believes that climbing trees and riding giant turtles is more fun and girly than worrying about make-up. But if you want to worry about make-up instead of turtles? Fine by us. Be you feminist, kitten, punk, emo, indie, goth, witch, vegan, horror junky, intellectual, christian goth, corset queen, geek, unicorn, sea monkey... be you into alternative style, alternative health, spirituality, comics, manga, j-pop, harajuku or jock culture... we will always love you.