Within the early days of the century, as motion pictures like Virtually Well-known and The Banger Sisters shamelessly counterfeited among the extra juicy episodes from Pamela De Barres’s life, she put the ending touches to a screenplay based mostly on her diary-led, bestselling memoir I’m With The Band. We spoke together with her about her life, and the musician in it.
In informal defiance of the truth that her fifty fifth birthday looms massive, the Marchioness Des Barres positively radiates impolite good well being and an undeniably disarming magnificence that’s disconcertingly childlike. Along with her lush mane of fiery, shoulder-length curls, a porcelain complexion that belies her Sundown Striphopping, Valley Woman salad days, a pair of intimidating, ice-cool, emotion-veiling Lolita shades, a prepared snicker – infectious in its rolling filthiness – and a decidedly elfin prettiness that’s irresistibly harking back to the nascent Shirley MacLaine, she is clearly a lady who remains to be far more than able to turning heads. And, as soon as upon a time, she turned among the most well-known and iconic heads in rock historical past.
After all, these days have been lengthy earlier than she picked up her title – a fortuitous by-product of tying the knot with former Silverhead, Detective and Energy Station vocalist (Marquis) Michael Des Barres in 1977 – when she was plain outdated Pamela Miller from California’s San Fernando Valley. Pamela beloved rock’n’roll from the very first second that she espied the hip-thrusting antics of Elvis Presley. However merely shopping for the data of her favorite artists was nowhere close to sufficient.
Younger Pamela wished to point out her appreciation in a much more direct style, and in so doing she turned essentially the most well-known groupie in rock historical past, having fun with mutually pleasurable liaisons with (amongst others) Jim Morrison, Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Web page, Keith Moon, Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, Waylon Jennings and even Miami Vicestar Don Johnson.
However there was all the time much more to Pamela than her penchant for the horizontal polka. She was one of many founding members of Women Collectively Outrageously, higher generally known as the GTOs, the world’s first all-girl rock band. Inspired into being by Frank Zappa, the GTOs launched the distinctive and astonishing Everlasting Injury album (which incorporates visitor appearances by Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, Nicky Hopkins and Captain Beefheart) in January ’69, earlier than splitting up a month later.
Throughout an appearing profession that commenced with Frank Zappa’s 200 Motels (1971) and concluded with Sly Stallone’s Paradise Alley (’78), Pamela spent two years as nanny to Zappa’s youngsters, Dweezil and Moon Unit. However the roles which have earned her essentially the most crucial plaudits are because the eyebrow-raising autobiographer of I’m With The Band: Confessions Of A Groupie (’87) and Take One other Little Piece Of My Coronary heart: A Groupie Grows Up (’92), and because the unflinching chronicler of a few of rock’n’roll’s most toe-curling episodes in Rock Backside: Darkish Moments In Music Babylon (’96).
What initially seduced you into the rock’n’roll life-style?
Elvis. I used to be eight years outdated and noticed him on Ed Sullivan, and that was all it took. The voice, the face, the hips… it was the entire bundle. Nobody had ever seen the kind of stuff he was doing earlier than apart from within the black group. So he was bringing all these horny black components right into a white world that desperately wanted it. And I simply took it from there. It was a pure development from him into the pop world. Dion was my hero, then The Beatles, so it was only a pure chain of occasions.
Why did you finally select the Rolling Stones over The Beatles?
Intercourse. John Lennon had a little bit of sexiness to him, however I used to be extra of a Paul lady. So it was such a straightforward transfer into the Mick Jagger factor. It was that horny, horny stuff on their first and second albums. The sexiest stuff they ever did was on these: ‘I’m a king bee… let me come inside’, and that was one thing that no one was saying then, apart from perhaps the black folks, however I hadn’t heard them but. I’m certain they have been within the rhythm and blues world, however that was the primary time I had heard something like that.”
What was the attraction of all of those gawky English boys?
I feel it simply had rather a lot to do with the timing. It was excellent timing. I used to be simply such a music lover, so anyone whose music moved me or acquired me excited and aroused I used to be concerned about.
I simply stated ‘Okay’ once I noticed the Meet The Beatles album cowl, as a result of it appeared like one thing that wasn’t so far-fetched. I assume lots of people thought that maybe they have been to date eliminated that you’d by no means be capable to make their acquaintance. However I certain did. I knew they have been residing, respiratory folks.
I feel numerous it needed to do with the truth that there was this band that rehearsed throughout the road from my home within the Valley. So I believed, ‘Mick Jagger have to be standing round someplace.’ It by no means appeared that inconceivable to me.
All issues thought of, you retained your virginity for an virtually unbelievable size of time. How did you handle that?
Nicely, I wished to put it aside for love, so I discovered different methods to point out my appreciation. You recognize, the plain manner…
A agency handshake?
No, I gave head to all people, as a result of I wished to be in love earlier than I gave someone my virginity. Most women appeared to wish to get it over with, however I by no means felt like that, I wished to attend for the best particular person. Ultimately it was the fallacious particular person [Nick St. Nicholas of Steppenwolf], however we’re nonetheless good mates. It was all the time essential to me to remain mates with as a lot of my lovers as I might.
Why was it that you simply needed to get so, let’s assume, hands-on along with your favorite musicians?
A part of it was exhibiting appreciation for the way good they made me really feel with their music, and a part of it was simply lust. They have been essentially the most engaging folks to me. And I used to be fairly cute myself.
It comes throughout fairly strongly in I’m With The Band… that these items simply appeared to occur to you: proper place, proper time, catch the best eye, wallop.
There was by no means actually any secret to it. The entire thing was very equal. There weren’t a complete lot of ladies at the moment attempting to do what I used to be doing. Finally you probably did get extra women attempting to get backstage and all that, which made it tougher, however by then I wished to cool down. So it was excellent timing.
Did you fall in love with all of them, since you do come throughout as an entire romantic?
Nicely, sure, however I used to be a hopeful romantic. I believed I used to be in love with all of them. I wasn’t in love with Mick Jagger or Keith Moon or Waylon Jennings, these have been flings – even then I knew they have been flings. However Jimmy Web page I fell in love with, and Chris Hillman was my first real love, and I wished to wind up with one among these folks. I wished to spend my life with one among them.
I used to be such a rose-coloured-glasses-wearing younger lady and I actually thought that might occur. And it did for some time. I married Michael Des Barres and we had a very fantastic marriage for fairly some time. I think about our marriage successful in that it lasted so lengthy. He’s like my brother now, one among my finest mates.
Did you get your coronary heart damaged?
On a regular basis. Jimmy Web page broke my coronary heart fairly unhealthy, Chris Hillman too. And Don Johnson broke my coronary heart, I used to be actually in love with him.
You have been very practically Mrs Jimmy Web page, have been you not?
Nicely, that’s what he stated, however that’s not true. I discovered later that there have been two different women that he stated the identical stuff to. He had this particular manner of kissing you the place he would form of spit in your mouth. It doesn’t sound good nevertheless it was very romantic. He was like branding you; it was form of like a canine pissing on a hydrant. He was like making you his. And he was a wild lover.
He was a very superb, proficient particular person at that individual factor. I used to be so jealous when he acquired married, as a result of he was my beau after they met – on his birthday, but – and I used to be devastated. He’d despatched me this superb, gorgeous necklace for Christmas and I believed I used to be simply in, after which two weeks later he meets the love of his life. I used to be so upset.
Be trustworthy, did you rating your conquests on efficiency or, dare I say, size?
No, I by no means discuss that. I wouldn’t say one particular person’s higher than one other particular person, it simply wasn’t like that. I wasn’t after them to place any notch on any gun-belt or something like that, I used to be actually in search of love, so the folks I beloved essentially the most have been the very best in mattress. The outdated in-and-out isn’t that nice with out love.
It’s essential to have seen numerous groupies come and go.
So to talk.
Particularly within the mid-70s, when the entire recreation turned much more aggressive. However, finally, who was utilizing whom?
After I noticed the actually younger women coming into it who didn’t actually care about music and it was all concerning the notch on the bedpost, I realised that my time in that world was up. I discovered different methods to remain on the earth of music. I didn’t wish to be in that world anymore. They have been beginning to use one another at that time. However once I was seeing bands, with the GTOs and within the Zappa world, nobody was utilizing anyone, it was all equal.
How did the GTOs come about?
We have been only a bunch of ladies who met on the Strip. We met this man referred to as Vito, who was a mad form of Pied Piper who had a home the place lots of people gathered. He taught dance and sculpture. Numerous us met there and began hanging out in a pack. Somebody there labored for Frank Zappa as Moon’s governess, so we began hanging out on the Zappa home. He noticed a few of his model of business potential in us and steered we begin writing songs. And we have been thrilled. Swiftly we turned a gaggle – and we had groupies.
So far as proper time proper place goes, the outdated magic was working as soon as once more: you’re within the Zappa studio, recording some tunes, and immediately Jeff Beck occurs by, Rod Stewart pops spherical and, hey presto, they’re in your album.
Nicely, they have been all our mates, those who we frolicked with, and numerous them we weren’t sleeping with. Jeff, Rod, the entire Jeff Beck Group have been there, the Moms, Lowell George co-produced. We have been all simply mates. We have been in that world, and so they wished to be on the file. We didn’t have to speak them into it or something.
Was Zappa one thing of a father determine to you?
Nicely he wasn’t that a lot older than I used to be, however he was all the time very sensible and mysterious, and every time I used to be round him I used to be nervous. Regardless of what number of years I knew him, he all the time made you’re feeling somewhat intimidated, like he was scrutinising you – and I’m certain he was. So he wasn’t actually a father determine, extra of a mentor and form of an idol, actually. Despite the fact that I wound up residing in the home for years, I nonetheless felt that manner. It was all his imaginative and prescient. He noticed us as a gaggle, and that’s how the GTOs took place.
We’ve established that you simply attracted groupies of your individual as a member of the GTOs, however did you discover aspiring musicians pestering you for intercourse only for the kudos of bedding Miss Pamela, like correct rock stars?
There was one man, who shall stay anonymous, who stated one time after we made love: “I acquired in there so deep I feel I noticed Jimmy Web page.” Nevertheless it was nice. It was out of reverence, there was nothing nasty meant. He simply favored to be in the identical place the place these folks had been. And you understand what? I didn’t thoughts.
He wished to play the identical venue, because it have been.
Dave Navarro, who I had somewhat factor with, wrote a e-book – that didn’t come out as a result of lots of people acquired irritated that he was telling tales on them – and he stated one thing like that in there. However we by no means consummated our factor, in order that upset me as a result of it wasn’t true. However he thought the identical manner. His heroes had been round me, and if that’s why he wished to hang around with me, wonderful. I had fun with him.
Have been folks offended whenever you snubbed them?
I didn’t snub anyone, I don’t suppose. I’m not a giant snubber. However I didn’t simply soar in mattress with anyone that was sizzling for me, I needed to actually care about them. However yeah, I had the groupies following me round, however they have been primarily women who wished to be round me and the GTOs as a result of we knew the best folks.
You have been additionally forward of your time in being an empowering, ballsy, all-girl rock’n’roll band earlier than the idea had even been thought of elsewhere.
Yeah, our lady group was the primary of its form, and that’s why Frank is such an excellent innovator for bringing us collectively. And naturally we jumped on it. To do our personal file in 1969 was actually superb. And we have been within the centrefold of Rolling Stone, which was large.
Are there any present musicians who catch your eye? Do any of them reduce the identical sprint because the Morrisons, Pages, Jaggers or Stewarts used to?
No, none of them are fairly that dashing. As a result of these guys got here first, they have been the pioneers, and so not often can they be matched. However there are bands that I actually like. I’ve acquired to say Audioslave, as a result of I’m a Chris Cornell slave. And, certain, the recent guys nonetheless get me sizzling. I haven’t met Chris but, and it’s uncommon that I don’t get to be mates with my heroes – no less than.
Why did you determine to put in writing I’m With The Band…?
As a result of I saved diaries, and I knew they have been essential once I was writing them due to the superb life I used to be residing, and I knew the music can be revered ceaselessly. I simply knew it. And now The Doorways and Hendrix promote greater than they ever did then. And the way about Zeppelin – straight to primary in America with a three-CD set?
I all the time figured I’d fall again on writing. It was simply the best time to put in writing it. I used to be 33, and Steven Davis, who wrote Hammer Of The Gods, interviewed me and stated: “You shouldn’t even be telling me these items, it’s best to write your individual e-book.” So that basically inspired me.
Did you allow something out to spare folks’s blushes?
I solely left issues out that may damage someone, I’m not into hurting folks. However there may be one passage that ultimately I did go away in and I do remorse that, as a result of I do know Jimmy Web page acquired upset about it. It was the scene the place I wasn’t seeing him anymore, however we have been mates and I used to be visiting him, and he was crawling throughout the ground to get the bag of medication. He didn’t like that, though it was so true. However I did go away numerous different stuff out. I feel we’ve made up now, final time we talked he was wonderful.
Too lots of the individuals who you discuss in I’m With The Band… are not with us: Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Gram Parsons and, most just lately, Noel Redding.
I do know. I used to be heartbroken. I stayed in contact with Noel all the way in which. I noticed him simply 5 months in the past. He was on the town doing a Hendrix birthday tribute, and it was so nice to see him and we simply form of held on to one another – he clung on to me for pricey life, really. I used to be all: ‘Oh, Noel doesn’t appear too properly,’ however I knew that his mom had died shortly earlier than and that was very powerful on him as a result of they have been very shut.
Dwelling the excessive life doesn’t appear to have carried out you a lot hurt. You’re wanting as match as a fiddle.
I do know, isn’t it nice? I will need to have good genes, I assume. However I eat properly, and I’ve by no means been hooked on something. I’ve actually had my phases of being as excessive as a kite, however I’m not addictive so it didn’t stick. I might go ages with out doing it, you understand. However I wouldn’t commerce my acid journeys for something.
Have been there many wives who wished to scratch your eyes out?
I by no means went with married males. Aside from Waylon Jennings, and I didn’t know he was married – and he actually wasn’t about to inform me.
Absolutely Bianca Jagger was greater than somewhat adamant that you simply cease phoning Mick after they have been married, wasn’t she?
Yeah, however I didn’t learn about her. I used to be in Europe, and once I got here again I referred to as Mick to get again along with him and she or he answered the cellphone. And naturally I didn’t hassle him after that.
Would you suggest the groupie life-style to a younger woman in the hunt for profession steering as we speak?
It’s not there anymore. You possibly can’t have that form of life-style. Now, I all the time say simply get within the enterprise. If you’re desperately in love with musicians, simply develop into a photographer, be a DJ, work at a file firm, begin your individual band or do what you do.
Do you ever remorse ones that you simply missed – Jim Morrison for instance?
I made out with him, that’s virtually pretty much as good. I used to be a virgin then and he was a gentleman about it, he didn’t power it. He was so candy; he was a large number when he acquired fucked up. However this was across the time of the primary album, so he was essentially the most stunning particular person subsequent to Elvis that I had ever seen – to this present day. Wanting up at his face and figuring out he was about to kiss you was fairly nice.
So, no regrets?
The one regrets I’ve are issues that I didn’t do. One, might I’ve gone to see Elvis that evening, and the opposite that I might have fucked Jimi Hendrix however I used to be simply too shy and I used to be a virgin and I simply couldn’t do it. It will have been cool if he had been the primary, and he might have been, so I’ve a slight remorse about that. I went off with Noel as a substitute. I used to be the ‘Cunning Woman’, you understand, at 17. How nice is that?
Pamela Des Barres is internet hosting writing workshops in December and January – full particulars are on her web site. This interview initially appeared in Basic Rock 58, printed in October 2003.
