How Groupies Shook Convention Through Rock and Roll

A taste of what you can expect from Baron Wolman's Forever Young: Groupies and other Electric Ladies 

[This blog was written in response to Baron Wolman's Toronto exhibition, Forever Young: Groupies and other Electric Ladies; on until May 30th at the Scotiabank Photography Festival – check it out while you can.]

So who were these wild women, daring to take control of their bodies through the God-given power of rock and roll? The term ‘groupie’ tends to put the focus on sex, rather than music, thus diminishing their contribution in musical culture. Rock and roll photographer, Baron Wolman, however, describes groupies as ‘ahead of the curve,’ highlighting this bold affirmation in his ongoing exhibition.

Self-proclaimed super-groupie and author of I’m With the Band: Confessions of a Groupie, Pamela Des Barres describes the empowerment that came during the course of her intimate encounters with rock stars.

“You know what rock ‘n’ roll means, right? It means rock ‘n’ roll in the sack. It means sex: the lyrics, the beat of it, the thunderous feeling through your body. Before the word groupie even existed I knew that I wanted to share myself with someone who created that music and turned me on in every kind of way.”

If that doesn’t scream sex-positive, I’m not sure what does. And what’s so wrong about wanting to have a truly tangible experience with the music you love? Through their mutual rejection of social norms, groupies of the 60s and 70s dared to forge a deeper connection, in the name of the music.

Groupies were not just star-fuckers. These girls came to inspire the rockers they so idolized just as much as they were inspired. Nobody was necessarily dating, but sex had a little more meaning than it does in today’s Tinder culture. “I realized that was the world I was living in,” says Des Barres. “You had to accept it or go home, and I wasn’t about to go home.”

Whether for the music, the luxury, or the thrill of something fleeting, there is no denying the allure of serving as muse in the world of rock and roll.

Connie Hamzy, affectionately referred to as ‘Sweet Connie,’ was immortalized in Grand Funk Railroad’s ‘We’re an American Band’, and is rumoured to have bedded between 700 and 1000 musicians and their crew. She had the whole show and that’s a natural fact. Damn straight, Grand Funk.

Even today, the sexual pioneers of the golden age of rock continue to challenge our perceptions of female sexuality. ‘Some women like doctors, politicians, football stars – I like musicians,’ says Des Barres. In the end, it’s not really a case of loose women or promiscuity in rock and roll, but a hard look at our cultural hang-ups regarding sex.

Until next time, stay groovy.

-A