Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies

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Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies

3.51 of 5 stars 3.51 · rating details · 540 ratings · 67 reviews

This intimate account of 24 legendary groupies reveals what went on behind the closed doors of rock stars from Elvis to Marilyn Manson. Consisting of Pamela Des Barres's revealing interviews with and profiles of other supergroupies, this book offers firsthand glimpses into the backstage world of rock stars and the women who loved them. The groupies--such as Tura Satana, Mi...more This intimate account of 24 legendary groupies reveals what went on behind the closed doors of rock stars from Elvis to Marilyn Manson. Consisting of Pamela Des Barres's revealing interviews with and profiles of other supergroupies, this book offers firsthand glimpses into the backstage world of rock stars and the women who loved them. The groupies--such as Tura Satana, Miss Japan Beautiful, who taught Elvis how to dance; Cassandra Peterson (Mistress of the Dark), who tangled with Tom Jones in Sin City; Cynthia Plaster Caster, who redefined the art of Jimi Hendrix; and Miss B., who revealed Kurt Cobain's penchant for lip gloss and panty hose--tell tales that go well beyond an account of a one-night stand to become a part of music history. Since rock's beginnings, there have been groupies. These chosen few women who bed, but not often wed, the musicians of their dreams are almost as much a part of music history as the musicians themselves. Pamela Des Barres, the world's foremost supergroupie, here offers an all-access backstage pass to the world of rock stars and the women who love them. Having had her own affairs with legends such as Keith Moon and Jimmy Page--as documented in her bestselling memoir "I'm with the Band"--Pamela now turns the spotlight onto other women who have found their way into the hearts and bedrooms of some of the world's greatest musicians. In "Let's Spend the Night Together, "she tells, in their own words, the stories of these amazing women who went way beyond the one-night stand. Here you'll get to know 24 outrageous groupies, including - Tura Satana, Miss Japan Beautiful, who taught Elvis how to dance and gave him lessons in lovemaking- Cassandra Peterson, aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, who tangled with Tom Jones in Sin City- Soulful Miss Mercy, who discovered that not only does the rest of the world listen to Al Green while making love--so does Al Green- Cynthia Plaster Caster, who redefined art and made history when Jimi Hendrix plunged his member into her plaster mold- The mysterious Miss B, who reveals Kurt Cobain's penchant for lip gloss and pantyhose- and over(less)

ebook, 400 pages

Published September 1st 2008 by Chicago Review Press

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Sep 24, 2011 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: rock music lovers

Shelves: favorites

I somewhat understand other reviewers hating on this book. Yes, the rock culture of the '70s and '80s generally viewed women as consumables like drugs or alcohol. But did you not know and expect that going into this book? How can you fault the writer for portraying the culture as honestly as she could? In my opinion, that honesty is far better than some sort of false feminist empowerment. This sort of cavalier sexual attitude is still pervasive now among average twenty-somethings.

This book, I f...more I somewhat understand other reviewers hating on this book. Yes, the rock culture of the '70s and '80s generally viewed women as consumables like drugs or alcohol. But did you not know and expect that going into this book? How can you fault the writer for portraying the culture as honestly as she could? In my opinion, that honesty is far better than some sort of false feminist empowerment. This sort of cavalier sexual attitude is still pervasive now among average twenty-somethings.

This book, I felt, wasn't as much about "groupies" in the transient, one night stand sense. Most of the women interviewed seemed to be musicians' go-to girls in their respective cities, ongoing muses rather than forgettable faces. A hierarchy of groupies does exist, just like one has best friends and acquaintances. So interviews with the women who had closer relationships with musicians provide insight that music lovers like me devour. We all wish we could have been there, hanging out in those hotel rooms or backstage and seeing favorite artists during their downtime. Those small anecdotal stories provide a unique insight into those small personality quirks that make these artists seem more real to the reader.

The women who didn't have as close relationships with one rock god still offered fun stories about a plethora of famous names. Let's face it - these women had realistic expectations about their interactions with rock stars. They weren't expecting anyone to fall in love with them. For anyone who suggests these women pick up a guitar to get closer to music, I rebut that their primary motivation isn't to get closer to 'music' as some abstract whole. It was about sharing some sort of connection with these artists whose music spoke to their soul in some way. As an avid music lover, I understand that feeling. There's no feeling like standing right up front at a show, inches away from someone who poetically articulated what you feel. It's only natural to want to keep that connection going, if you had the opportunity. I argue that these women got as much out of the experience as the musicians did. I'll also add the Des Barres provides a background on each of the women and details what they are doing today, so you'll learn as much about these women as you will about the musicians.

I think it's important to go into this (and any) book with the right mindset. If 'promiscuity' and casual sex bother you and you expect stories written by women to strictly adhere to second wave feminist ideals, you won't enjoy this book. If you want to read personal anecdotes from women who got close to your favorite musicians in order to understand these artists better, then you'll enjoy it. In the words of Cyndi Lauper, girls just want to have fun, so don't expect any sort of moral, behavioral, or political statement.

On a related political note: People who look down upon these women for sharing their stories only contribute to the Madonna-whore atmosphere that lumps women into overarching categories and makes those deemed 'sluts' in some cases become pariahs of their communities. One story covers this and to me, it's saddening that fellow women still fall into the trap of judging other women by their sexual history and choices. This isn't the 1600s. It's time to evolve.(less)

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May 11, 2012 Susanne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I found this an interesting and mostly fun read. Each chapter of the book is devoted to a SuperGroupie - a gal who knew what she wanted, went after it, and succeeded. And in the process inspired her rock heroes to write songs about her.

These particular women interviewed consider themselves freewheeling feminists who were neither victimized nor exploited, but flashes of girls who did experience degradation at the hands of cruel bastards drunk on fame can be seen hovering at the edges of some of...more

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Aug 20, 2007 Alice rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: music

This is my first Goodreads review! I felt compelled to review this book to warn people who may be interested. Pamela Des Barres is a really cool woman, she did what she wanted to do and is proud of that fact. Some of the women in "Let's Spend the Night Together" are also doing what they want to do and are able to hold on to their self respect in the process. However, a good many of the women Des Barres interviewed for this book are just sad, self-loathing and promiscuous. I think anyone who deba...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Heather F rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: girly-grrrrrl

I was curious to hear about things from a "groupie" perspective of rock and roll since I am such a huge rock music fan (with SUBZERO desire to sleep around with rock stars I might add). Pamela Des Barres is a well known author of books on the subject since back in the day she was a groupie.

I have to say first off that I didn't love the format of this book. Pamela did interviews of various self proclaimed "groupies" making this book an anthology of stories but rather than allow the ladies to tell...more I was curious to hear about things from a "groupie" perspective of rock and roll since I am such a huge rock music fan (with SUBZERO desire to sleep around with rock stars I might add). Pamela Des Barres is a well known author of books on the subject since back in the day she was a groupie.

I have to say first off that I didn't love the format of this book. Pamela did interviews of various self proclaimed "groupies" making this book an anthology of stories but rather than allow the ladies to tell their stories in full Pamela felt the need to interject her own voice into each story. Which was REALLY ANNOYING. We don't care Pamela about YOU we are trying to read about each of the various ladies and their experience. I don't give a shit if you were friends with that groupie too and that you guys both gave Mr. Famous so and so BJ's in the floor of a closet and then braided each others hair afterwards. We are reading this anthology to hear each of the stories independently, sheesh!

This sort of narcissistic self-focus truth is what really creates the mold of each and every groupie's story which is that of heartbreaking insecurity. These women have very low self esteem and feel the need to prove something externally. Secretly I think they were emotionally miserable during the whole shebang though they tried to make themselves feel better about being a vagina for rock and roll by basking in the fame of the men. Yikes. Example: a line from a poem groupie Cherry Vanilla wrote: "I'm the happiest broken heart don't you understand...cause now I'm the friend of a rock and roll band"

Was this stuff supposed to be self therapy of some sort? Pretty much all of the women came from broken homes. The excuse they give for promiscuity is their role in being the "muse" of these musical poets which in some cases where sex turned to romance they were. Unfortunately what was really happening overall was a female competition of the first order, that being capturing the attention of a rock star for as long as you could. Most of the time this was met with heartbreak. From page 140: "...she (Michelle) was there to see the Burritos' front man Gram Parsons. They had recently spent a romance-filled four days in New York, and Michelle was taking a chance tonight, hoping for a reunion. Alas, it wasn't to be as Gram had just gotten back with his ladylove Nancy, but Michelle put on a brave, beautiful face and took it in stride". You can be the judge as to if that inspiring notion of muse-female-"power" is what really fills the pages of this book or not. :-)

What I enjoyed was getting to hear the details on those who have the biggest cock in rock and roll (kidding) and the stories of the times and places in days gone by these then-kids hung out at. You can tell by reading the stories that back in the day (most stories are from the 1960s-early to mid 1970s era) popular musicians were much more accessible than they are today (even with *shock* the advent of instant access 'social' media) and the circles that people ran in much smaller than today. It was a simpler time, less population, less bullshit, more access to drugs and less information overload to be smarter and more worldly with. The innocent ignorance of this era is what I enjoyed the most, and to fully absorb that you have to read between the lines and part the waters of fragile ego and false dream chasing these ladies were participating in. Here is where the real stories live.(less)

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Aug 20, 2012 Ellyn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've now read all of Des Barres' memoirs, collections, or what have you, and this is the weakest by far. Here you will find recollections both touching and pathetic -- and sometimes quite forlornly graphic -- from super groupies and muses. I would question how relevant many of these subjects really are, but Des Barres mixes the well known muses -- Catherine James, Miss Mercy -- with tawdry, trashy girls who hook up with bands you've never heard of, just for the thrill of proximity.

I read Des Ba...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Claudia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: musica, narrativa-nordamericana

L'autrice è stata una delle groupies più famose degli anni sessanta e settanta. Dopo aver raccontato i fatti suoi nell'autobiografia "Sto con la band", ha deciso di raccontare i fatti delle altre. Infatti questo libro è una raccolta di interviste a groupies più o meno famose. Il criterio di scelta con cui ha deciso chi inserire o meno sembra sia il numero di amanti che hanno avuto: miriadi. Da Elvis Prelsey, a Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), a Axl Rose (Guns n'Roses), addirittura Eddie Vedder (Pear...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Self-indulgent book, but that goes hand in hand with recollections of rock groupies. It's sordid, detailing sexual exploits of women sleeping with rock stars and the power they derive from watching bands perform.

The writing was hard to follow. For example, where Des Barres would throw in her own two cents, vs. a groupie's opinions was distracting.

Each chapter is dedicated to her interviewing a groupie. The first few chapters were about older groupies, whom you gather, are in retirement now. So...more

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Jul 15, 2010 ICPL Staff Picks added it · review of another edition

Shelves: john, nonfiction, staff-picks-blog

Lindsey’s headed back to rehab. Paris is lying low. Nicole’s being good for the time being. What to do for celebrity sleaze?

Among the classics of the genre, I’d recommend Hollywood Babylon and its sequel, of course, and Pamela Des Barres groupie tell-all, I’m With the Band. Ms Des Barres has made a career of having slept with Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, Gram Parsons and many, many others all those years ago, and has now released a book of interviews with 24 other groupies.

What’s here besides sex, dr...more

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Oct 16, 2009 Susan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't know why I thought I might enjoy this. I read "I'm With The Band" a number of years ago and found Des Barres to be a horrendous writer and little material salacious enough to make it a guilty pleasure. I guess I thought it would be a good beach read.
She's still a terrible writer, her giggly style grew tiresome (if not downright annoying) fairly quickly, and frankly her interviews with other notorious groupies were either boring or just kind of sad. So many of them left unloving homes at...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Nancy marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: read-soonest, true-story

Since rock’s beginnings, there have been groupies. These chosen few women who bed, but not often wed, the musicians of their dreams are almost as much a part of music history as the musicians themselves.

Pamela Des Barres, the world’s foremost supergroupie, here offers an all-access backstage pass to the world of rock stars and the women who love them. Having had her own affairs with legends such as Keith Moon and Jimmy Page--as documented in her bestselling memoir I’m with the Band--Pamela now t...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Martine Peacock rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Disappointing. Interesting to get some idea of what groupeism actually means to the ones who call themselves real groupies as to opposed to just 'star fuckers'. They say it's all about the music. But half of them I think, nah, you're just some girl who has nothing else in her life and gets self-validation from giving random rock stars I've never heard of blow jobs. Or else, er, don't you think maybe the drink and drugs are playing a part in making you think you're having a profound psychic and s...more

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Apr 29, 2009 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

i can't believe i read this totally sexist filthy book and then i couldn't get enough of it. i read half of it with my mouth hanging open - not because of the sex stuff, but because of the characters in the book. i always thought that the groupie excuse of wanting to be closer to the music never worked, because you could just play music. then one of the groupies in the book said that it hurt her hands to play guitar so she just quit. so, ladies, it's not about the music. it's about screwing the...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Veronica Boeve rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read "I'm With the Band", and I really liked it, mostly because I think Pamela Des Barres is a pretty good writer, and it never seemed like she was out to justify anything. This book, however, just ended up annoying me.

"Let's Spend the Night Together" is a collection of short essays compiled by Des Barres through interviews with numerous groupies. It follows a linear pattern, beginning with Elvis in the 50s and early 60s, through 2007, when it was published. A majority of the groupies intervie...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Lisa Thomson rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: couldn-t-finish

I read her first book when I was in high school, and it's juvenile rock-God-worshiping tone resonated well with me at age 16. Not so much at age 39. I couldn't get past the second chapter of the sequel. It was badly written, smug, and completely unenlightened. She married a second class "rock" star who treated her like crap, and reading even just the introduction to this relationship was so pathetic, I couldn't muster up an ounce of compassion for her. Yes, we all do stupid things in the name of...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Emeline added it · review of another edition

Great insight into the groupie scene from the 60's to nowadays.

Yet, I find the emphasis on the music-lonving groupie (and how it's a spiritual connexion and fulfils the soul etc.. etc..) to be too much (it comes out in EVERY chapter) and it ends up quickly sounding artificial and fake. I was also disappointed by some interviews conducted here,not the THE interview itself but rather the interviewee, some of those groupies don't have such incredible experiences or are not as interesting as others...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Candice rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: groupies, sexuality, rock-n-roll

i personally found most of this book quite distasteful - it's essentially about a bunch of loose women running around with rock stars who care nothing for them. des barres tries to put herself & her girlfriends up on a pedestal as if they are something truly inspirational or lifechanging, but she is only fooling herself. she actually states that her goal in writing this book was to remove the stereotype that surrounds groupies, but instead she only proves it further. she tries to glamorize g...more

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Mar 22, 2010 jainabee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: rock fans, voyeurs

What did I learn? Oh, my!

I learned that Jimmy Page likes to lecture young girls, Jimi Hendrix was a sweet, fun fellow, Tom Jones is a cad, groupies are ancient at 15, if you're really good, they'll put you in a song, it's very extremely important for girls to be skinny, and Elvis is apparently the best conversationalist in the history of Rock and Roll.

This could be utter trash, however, Pamela Des Barres is a deceptively good writer. There's a dismal overtone that rather depressed me, and I thin...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Pansy Lane rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-books, memoir-bio

I think I'm torn on the whole groupie thing. On one hand, I can totally see how some women have been muses to rock stars in the past-- Patti Boyd, for example. And although I haven't yet read I'm With The Band, I'm sure Pamela lives up to her Penny Lane-ish reputation. But then you get people like Sweet Connie and Lexa Vonn/The Plastics who just come across as sad and kind of gross.

The book did have a few gems, though: Iggy, Bowie, Billy Idol, Cassandra Peterson and Cynthia Plaster Caster are a...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Matti Karjalainen rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: musiikki, muistelmat, seksi-erotiikka

Pamela Des Barresin "Kuumana bändiin: bändärin tunnustukset" -omaelämäkerta lienee tunnetuin groupie-kulttuuria käsittelevä teos. Se ilmestyi myös pari vuotta sitten suomeksi, mutten kuolemaksenikaan onnistunut lukemaan sitä loppuun: ylisanoja vilisevä kirjoitustyyli toi mieleen pissisvaiheeseen jumittuneen Rita Tainolan, enkä ollut lainkaan vakuuttunut siitä, että Jimmy Pagen kanssa sänkyyn meneminen olisi ollut kulttuurihistoriallisesti merkittävä teko.

"Let's Spend the Night Together: bändärei...more Pamela Des Barresin "Kuumana bändiin: bändärin tunnustukset" -omaelämäkerta lienee tunnetuin groupie-kulttuuria käsittelevä teos. Se ilmestyi myös pari vuotta sitten suomeksi, mutten kuolemaksenikaan onnistunut lukemaan sitä loppuun: ylisanoja vilisevä kirjoitustyyli toi mieleen pissisvaiheeseen jumittuneen Rita Tainolan, enkä ollut lainkaan vakuuttunut siitä, että Jimmy Pagen kanssa sänkyyn meneminen olisi ollut kulttuurihistoriallisesti merkittävä teko.

"Let's Spend the Night Together: bändäreitä ja takahuoneiden muusia" (Johnny Kniga, 2009) -kirjassa Des Barres antaa äänen parillekymmenelle kollegalleen (joista yksi on mies), joista tunnetuimpie lienevät kulttiohjaaja Russ Meyerin elokuvissa esiintynyt Tura Satana, rocktähtien sukukalleuksia kipsiin valanut Cynthia Plaster Caster, Liv Tylerin äiti Bebe Buell ja Frankin rinnalla niin myötä- kuin vastamäessäkin seisonut Gail Zappa. Haastateltujen "ura" ajoittuu 1950-luvulta 1990-luvulle, joten sivutuiksi tulevat niin Elvis Presley, Robert Plant, Gene Simmons kuin Marilyn Mansonkin. Ohjaaja Cameron Crowekin antaa pienen haastattelun "Melkein julkkis" -elokuvansa tiimoilta.

Suurin osa kirjaa kirjan bändäreistä pyrkii elättelemään samaa kuvaa kuin haastattelijansakin. Groupiet ovat itsenäisiä, elämästä nauttivia ja älykkäitä naisia, joita eivät turhat seksuaaliset estot vaivaa ja joihin ulkopuolisten on turha suhtautua pelkkinä petinlämmikkeinä. Feminismiäkin sotketaan jossakin vaiheessa keitokseen. Jotkut haastateltavat onnistuvat tehtävässään paremmin, jotkut huonommin ja kaikista johannatukiaisin osa antaa tahtomattaan itsestään jotenkin säälittävän kuvan.

"Let's Spend the Night Togetherin" kirjalliset arvot ovat aika vähäiset: haastateltavat kertovat hyvin samanlaisia anekdootteja, ja jossakin vaiheessa lukeminen muuttuu itseään toistavaksi ja hieman puuduttavaksi. Kovin ihmeellisiä paljastuksia musiikkimaailmasta on myöskään turha odottaa, ellei sitten satu olemaan kiinnostunut siitä millaista varustusta Marilyn Manson kantaa mukanaan (pientä, kuulemma). Jonkinlainen ajankuva välittyy kuitenkin parhaiden haastateltavien jutuista.

Des Barresin kirja nostattaa kuitenkin ilmaan mielenkiintoisia kysymyksiä, joihin ei tosin saada tyhjentäviä vastauksia. Onko keskiverto bändäri lähempänä voimakasta feministihahmoa vai naiivia hyväksikäytettyä? Miksi niin harva mies ryhtyy bändäriksi? Onko kyse tosiaan musiikista vai jostakin muusta?

Ja mikä ihme niissä rocktähdissä oikein viehättää?(less)

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Aug 25, 2011 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is not for someone who does not have an open mind. Let's Spend The Night together follows a slew of groupies, it gets their stories, shows you how they became who they are. Most people assume groupies are sluts, they are out to sleep with the band for fame and fortune, however, groupies originally started out as a muse. Groupies wrote the songs without ever picking up a pen. The songs are written for them by artists who admire them. The original groupies were part of the feminst moveme...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Peacegal rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another dishy, over-the-top book from proud groupie Des Barres, this time collecting the stories and conquests of other band fans, as well as her own. In one spicy chapter after another, backstage passes our secured, hearts are broken, and everybody sleeps with Iggy Pop.

I learned that groupies overwhelmingly tended to be music-loving outcasts with low self-esteem before finally finding their calling following musicians. They stress that they are not hookers, and that sleeping with rock stars is...more

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Feb 18, 2009 Rev. Nyarkoleptek rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: _-_abandoned_it, _non-fiction, _interviews, celebrity_and_fame, _-_feelthy, music

I don't know. Maybe I'm not all that interested in tell-all books. Maybe this just wasn't salacious enough for dirty ol' me. But these interviews with groupies young and old just sounded an awful lot like two car salesmen in their 40's reminiscing about the perfect golden football season they lived in high school.

"And then I scored the winning touchdown and the crowd roared and the team screamed our victory to the skies and then Jesus looked down from on high and gave me a big ol' thumbs-up and...more

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Sep 06, 2008 Jessica rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
I went to Barnes n Noble today. Nothing special. I just wanted to go visit the plaza. It wasn't until I was inside that I remembered some things and decided to take my queries to the sales associate. I asked if they had any current issues of Hustler or if they had any books based on 'Gladiator'. No go, BUT I did find the soundtracks. When the US economy gets its mojo back and the dollar can stretch I will add it to my collection. I know that it's the age of digital downloading but I actually lik...more
I went to Barnes n Noble today. Nothing special. I just wanted to go visit the plaza. It wasn't until I was inside that I remembered some things and decided to take my queries to the sales associate. I asked if they had any current issues of Hustler or if they had any books based on 'Gladiator'. No go, BUT I did find the soundtracks. When the US economy gets its mojo back and the dollar can stretch I will add it to my collection. I know that it's the age of digital downloading but I actually like owning a copy of a book. That's one of the reasons why I don't like reading full comics online. I would rather own the set piece so that I can touch and savor it rather than wait for it to kill kilobytes.

Anywho, the main point of this entry was because I wanted to take out my frustrations a bit. I was looking at Nikki Sixx's book, The Heroin Diaries before I noticed a copy of Pam de Barres latest book, Let's Spend The Night Together. The premise is simple: it is a followup to her 1987 mega best seller I'm With The Band: Confessions of a Groupie. It recounts the the tales of other women and their hookups with the musical apples of their eyes including but limited to: Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley, Keith Moon, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards etc. Okay, fine. Who doesn't like the occassional juicy tale? Who has not been involved is gossip? Those are two separate things. Hey, it's great that you got the drummer to notice you but that was nearly forty years ago! Why are you still riding their coattails? Just because you gave your favorite musician the best orgasm does not make thee a muse! Why must you add meaning to a relatively private exchange and why do you validate your self worth when you were nothing but a dumpster for his bodily fluids? Honestly, if he was that into you, why would he only care about you if he only wanted you to carry his drugs or give him a blowjob? That's like celebrating the fact that you were nothing but kleenex. People can do what they want with their bodies but that does not make them 'artists'. If I was a rock star wife, I wouldn't take it personally if hubby wanted to spend the night with a female fan. Every hotel needs a toilet. Just remember to put the protective layer above the pot. Pam seemed very obsessed with trying to make groupiedom a complex art when it just involves a little makeup, a short skirt and a lack of a logical brain. It's like training a dog. You just follow the pattern and then it's all competition with other groupies. It really felt like a romanticized competition. Hon, if you are such an artist, why does he go to other museums in different cities? I want to be your LA girl, are you shitting me? What really set me off and what made this post possible was that I saw one bit pertaining to my Paulie. Nu uh. I am not having it. Why do people take these harpies seriously when all they are doing is using established musicians to bolster their own fame?
(less)

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Mar 27, 2008 Dawn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Having previously published her own experiences as a glamorous, gracious companion to rock stars, Pamela Des Barres is the perfect author for this collection of interviews with groupies. A number of the subjects have led full, fascinating lives (Gail Zappa was my favorite). However, despite their protests to the contrary, most of the people in this book are stereotypical groupies. They get an ego boost, and a sense of personal validation from being a "chosen one," even if they're only "chosen" f...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not quite as compelling as I'm WIth The Band, but worth reading for some interesting stories about famous ladies like Tura Satana (who showed Elvis how to kiss), Cassandra Peterson (better known now as Elvira), Gail Zappa and others. Some anecdotes dripped with crazed fun and glamour, but others left me a bit cold. A number of these ladies struck me as smarter and more aware than the others, and not all ended up finding their own path. Maybe it's an age/perspective thing. I can get why a girl wo...more

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Jan 29, 2009 Guy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Groupies, gossips

Shelves: performing-arts, biography-memoir

This is a series of interviews with (in the groupie/Heavy Metal/Hard Rock/ Punk scene) women, and one man who profess to be groupies. The gossipy tone of the author's voice wore a little thin for me toward then end. There's a lot of cheap, sordid and vulgar here, but that pretty much goes with the turf and I'd probably have been disappointed if it wasn't there. I picked up the book at the library with the idea that I'd learn more about the rock stars, but I should have known - and there's no fal...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Sr. Lado Brillante rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: no-fiction, something-about-music

A este libro le sobran cien páginas.
En su deseo por querer abordar todo el espectro de lo que significa "ser una groupie" Des Barres estira demasiado la definición y lo que al principio era un libro fresco, de anécdotas de quién lo hizo con quién (nota: todos lo hacen con Mick Jagger), al final es una lista de chicas con problemas con su padre (y más grandes problemas con la cocaína) que terminan haciéndolo con Taime Downe (en serio, al final perdí la cuenta del número de veces que lo mencionan)...more

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May 23, 2012 Sammy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I felt sad for some of the women in this book, they convinced themselves that they were muses and meant something on an artistic level to the rockstars but to me it just sounds like they were being used by men who despite the great music, they were grade A tools.

I'm all for women and men being able to have as much safe sex as they want but don't dress it up with delusions.

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Jul 18, 2010 Jennie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What I learned from this book confirms what I've always suspected is true—bad girls do have more fun,(STDs nothwithstanding). But it's not the skanks who make page turners. I refer to the 'high priestesses' (Cynthia Plaster Caster, Gail Zappa, Pamela DeBarres)who know that puritanism has no place in rock and roll.

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Aug 03, 2011 Pointypartyhat added it · review of another edition

I think these women give themselves way too much credit.
This book was barely amusing enough to read the whole thing and I almost quit reading it several times. I will say though that some chapters were way better than others. I think the women got more sad as the chapters went on.

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About Pamela Des Barres

Pamela Des Barres aka Miss Pamela (born Pamela Ann Miller on September 9, 1948) is a former rock and roll groupie, author, and magazine writer.

Des Barres was born in Reseda, California. Her mother was a housewife and her father worked for Anheuser-Busch and occasionally worked as a gold miner. She idolized the Beatles and Elvis Presley as a child, and fantasized about meeting and dating her favori...more Pamela Des Barres aka Miss Pamela (born Pamela Ann Miller on September 9, 1948) is a former rock and roll groupie, author, and magazine writer.

Des Barres was born in Reseda, California. Her mother was a housewife and her father worked for Anheuser-Busch and occasionally worked as a gold miner. She idolized the Beatles and Elvis Presley as a child, and fantasized about meeting and dating her favorite Beatle, Paul McCartney.

A high school acquaintaince introduced Pamela to Don Van Vliet, better known as Captain Beefheart, a musician and friend of Frank Zappa. Vliet in turn introduced her to Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, which drew her to the rock music scene on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. She started to spend her time with The Byrds and other bands, and when she graduated from high school in 1966, she took various jobs that would allow her to live near the Sunset Strip and pursue relationships with rock musicians. She famously paired up with Nick St. Nicholas, Mick Jagger, Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Page, Chris Hillman, Noel Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Waylon Jennings, Ray Davies, David Gilmour, Frank Zappa and actor Don Johnson.

She was also a member of The GTOs, an all-girl singing group formed by Zappa. The group started out as the Laurel Canyon Ballet Company, and began performing as an opening act for Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. The group's act was performance art, a mix of music and spoken word, since none of its members could sing or play an instrument. They released an album, Permanent Damage in 1969, backed by Zappa and Jeff Beck. The group dissolved a month after the album's release because some of its members were arrested for drug possession.

In the 1970s Des Barres decided to pursue a career as an actress, and acted in a few movies, including Zappa's 200 Motels, commercials, and a year acting on the soap opera Search For Tomorrow in 1974. After a downturn in her acting career she went to work as a nanny for Zappa's children, Dweezil and Moon Unit.

On October 29, 1977, she married Michael Des Barres who had been lead singer for the first band signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label, Detective, Silverhead and, briefly, for Power Station. They have a son, Nicholas Dean Des Barres, born on September 30, 1978. The couple divorced in the summer of 1991, due to Michael Des Barres' alleged infidelities.

Des Barres wrote two books about her experience as a groupie, I'm With The Band (1987) and Take Another Little Piece of My Heart: A Groupie Grows Up (1993), as well as two non-fiction books, Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon and Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies (Chicago Review Press, 2007). She currently writes articles for online and print publications. (from Wikipedia)"(less)

More about Pamela Des Barres...

Books by Pamela Des Barres

I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie

Take Another Little Piece of My Heart: A Groupie Grows Up

Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon

Love Him Madly: An Intimate Memoir of Jim Morrison

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title link	preview: Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8146704-let-s-spend-the-night-together?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355135169l/8146704.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8146704-let-s-spend-the-night-together?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies by Pamela Des Barres[/url]

Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies

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