I’m busy reading a book about Led Zepplin – Hammer of the Gods. It’s been really interesting, just like other rock bands I have read about they were very much into drugs, alcohol, girls and mayhem. Some of the members were into it more than others, but there are definitely some whacked out stories about things that happened back in the day with these guys, that are quite unmentionable. This book is a good read, but it has a lot of musical facts, so it throws you a bit if you’re not an avid Zepplin fan. It gets into which songs they played at pretty much every show they did and the details included in this book are quite well sourced. I would recommend it, if you are a fan.
One thing I found super interesting though, was the whole groupie scene. It was huge back in the day, as I’m sure it is now, but back then there were famous groups of groupies and famous individuals within those groups too. One of the stories in this book that I couldn’t believe, was of Jimmy Page’s (main member of Led Zepplin, pictured below) facsination with 14 year old Lori Maddox (below). She was his ‘secret’ girlfriend for 2 years because she was underage, he used to hide her in his hotel room when they were on tour and believe it or not, her mom was totally cool with it. I think my mom would of cut his nuts off with a rolling pin.
When Lori was 16, Jimmy traded her in for a slightly older model, 19 year old Bebe Buell (below) who was one of the most famous groupies from that era. She was absolutely beautiful, so I see why men were so taken by her. In fact she is Liv Tyler’s mom (the second picture below is of the 2 of them) and was a girlfriend to many famous rockstars like Jimmy Page, Iggy Pop, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello.
Another super famous groupie was Pamela des Barres, Kate Hudson’s character in the movie Almost Famous (one of my most favourite movies) was semi-based on her. She was also beautiful and carefree and back in those days girls like Pamela and Bebe were treated like queens. Pamela de Barres has written a book called I’m with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie, which is on my list of things I have to read. it’s described as a remarkably sweet confession of one of the most famous groupies of the 1960s and 70s. Have any of you read it? Ooooh can’t wait!
Hmm…very interesting! Strangely enough, I was listening to some Led Zeppelin this morning.
I’m With theBand is awesome and so sweetly written. It totally made me want to go back to the 1960s and be a free- lovin’ hippy chick.
The other one you might like is Wonderful Today, written by Pattie Boyd who was married to George Harrison first and then was stolen by Eric Clapton – it’s a bit twee, but if you can get past that it’s good for lying under a tree for an afternoon.
Oh I’m so glad you’re saying it’s cool. I have read quite a few reviews about it and they a have all been pretty good, I’m actually ordering it online right now.
This era fascinates the crap out of me.
I would imagine that being 14 and hanging out with the band must be quite weird, a completely different lifestyle than any normal 14 yr old kid. man i think i was still climbing trees on a farm at 14. She must have had some presence, but i also feel a bit bad that she must have lost her innocence so young. (when i say innocence i mean her childhood) what happened to her when she was dumped at 16. it’s kind of heartbreaking.
But it is interesting, I mean kids in Shakespeare time would have been married with 20 kids by her age. Kids here in Barcelona seem to grow up fast too, but i think thats go to do with the streets being safe, and being able to walk around on their own, without their parents thinking they have been murdered.
Still i’m glad i still got to be a kid when i was 14. climbing trees was awesome.
Don’t forget that Bebe was Steven Tyler’s girlfriend, hence Liv Tyler
i was definitely a groupie in my previous life. i’m convinced of it.
i died young and hot next to jimi in a pool of vomit. is that too much?
nah.. not when it’s jimi.
Almost Famous is one of my absolute all time Favourites! (see favourite with a capital F) I’m going to read all of these!