Are there still rock groupies?

August 29, 2007 8:34 PM

Are there still rock groupies?

I am reading Pamela de Barres's autobiography and I just started to wonder... does that culture still exist somewhere today? Is there still a chance that you could wait at a backstage door and end up in bed with a rock god or has increased security ruined any chances of this? Anybody have any real-life experiences?

posted by thebrokenmuse to society & culture (18 comments total)

There was an episode awhile back of MTV documentary series "Sex 2K" that featured Hip Hop groupies so in short yes. Can't speak to how things have changed over the years or if every band has a Penny Lane with them.
posted by mmascolino at 8:42 PM on August 29, 2007

In my town, few mediocre indie bands can leave town after a show without being set upon by hipster skanks from all angles, offering them a couch to stay on ifyouknowwhatimean. I don't think orgies necessarily commence like they did in the days of Led Zeppelin or even Motley Crue, but I've definitely witnessed girls pulling musicians into the bathroom for whatever can be accomplished in the confines of a stall. Maybe small indie bands are easier targets because there's rarely a cordoned 'backstage' to speak of.
posted by deern the headlice at 8:58 PM on August 29, 2007

Karrine Steffans is a modern day (hip-hop) groupie.
posted by Poolio at 9:07 PM on August 29, 2007

There were seven years ago. Can't speak for now.
posted by padraigin at 10:20 PM on August 29, 2007

"I'm with the Band" is great. One of my favorite early web sites was the now dead Groupie Central. Lots of great stories there.
posted by Brittanie at 10:22 PM on August 29, 2007

A woman I dated briefly managed a somewhat successful blues band in Providence. She said the band members were offered sex by fans pretty much constantly, and that, for example, blowjobs between sets were a pretty common occurrence. I'm not sure if that fits your definition of the groupie scene, but it certainly has some of the components.
posted by alms at 10:25 PM on August 29, 2007

I used to go to a lot of punk and indie shows, and there were definitely girls that threw themselves at the band members, and definitely some band members who took advantage of that. Its not like there was security or anything like that though.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 10:51 PM on August 29, 2007

There are definitely very willing groupies out there. I work for comedians and see them at every single show I attend or work.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 11:34 PM on August 29, 2007

I tend to think of groupies as not so much random girls lookin' to get laid by that guy from Maroon 5 and more like girls who devote their, like, whooole lives to following the band around/trying to hook up with them.

In that sense, then yes, Karrine "video diva" Steffans would be one (*if* you believe her list).

This topic has long fascinated me and I'm not the least bit ashamed to admit that I wanna read her new book.
posted by Brittanie at 11:55 PM on August 29, 2007

I saw them at the rockthebells concert in San Fran, 2 weeks ago, rocking out to Rage Against the Machine. So, yes.
posted by allkindsoftime at 1:46 AM on August 30, 2007

Not all groupies are trying to have sex with the band.

Seriously.
posted by brina at 5:30 AM on August 30, 2007

just to throw my hat in the ring on this one... yes, there is still a vibrant groupie culture. I work in the entertainment space and I see it all the time with musicians, actors, directors... hell even designers.I agree with brina that not all groupies are trying to have sex with the band, but more often than not a musician will get propositioned at least once or twice at their concert.

I totally thought this was a cliche under I started working in the space. It can indeed be as crazy as some would lead you to believe.
posted by tundro at 5:41 AM on August 30, 2007

Yeah sure, but it's called reality tv these days:

Rock of Love
posted by homodigitalis at 6:43 AM on August 30, 2007

Just as a contrary data point, there are no groupies in Central Asia.
posted by Meatbomb at 6:50 AM on August 30, 2007

Not all groupies are trying to have sex with the band.

What the hell are you talking about? That's the definition of groupie: someone who has sex with the band (or one of its members).
posted by languagehat at 6:54 AM on August 30, 2007

All groupies are trying to have sex with the band. You (gnfti, brina) are talking about something different than what the original questioner is asking about.
posted by mzurer at 7:56 AM on August 30, 2007

[comments removed - please take your debates about the defintion of groupies to metatalk, it is CRYSTAL clear what the OP means by it]
posted by jessamyn at 9:35 AM on August 30, 2007

Yes they do, and they are not always entertained by the band. Nine Inch Nails/Trent Reznor has legions of unfortunate ones, and I'll never forget being accosted by one she-devil clutching a "demo tape" outside the London Astoria two years ago. Because I had a very very tenuous link to the band (for various reasons I was unemployed and had the time to help out a friend type up news on his fan website - I had, and will never have, access to "the band") she immediately assumed I could get her backstage so she could give Trent Reznor this "demo tape". Of course, the fact that it had sexual references scrawled over the packaging and she kept talking about how much she wanted to blow him, that didn't make her a groupie. It made her a ~serious musician~

She didn't get anywhere, but I know of plenty of situations where people have been more successful. If you hang outside venues first thing in the morning and you're friendly and female, and there's an aftershow party going on, you'll probably get handed a pass. If you spend time on fan sites, help promote small time musicians, follow a band around on a tour, get in on the meet and greets, you'll get noticed. It's not difficult, especially if you have a rad body and a great personality. Some of the people I've known/heard about have indeed been that kind of person: lovely and intelligent. Some however, are vapid, soul sucking whores who want the easy route to fame - ditching boyfriends to feel up a sleazy, immoral rock star, moving to LA to become "musicians" despite not having any interest in music whatsoever, taking their interest in their chosen celebrity just a little too far and being blacklisted from tours. They might get to sleep with the rock stars, but it never ends well, from what I've heard.

It's something I've chosen to distance myself from even known about: fame and music are two things that are very ugly when combined with other people. If you're looking for real life examples, just go to their fanboards and look through the top posting members. One of them is bound to be a groupie.
posted by saturnine at 3:10 PM on August 30, 2007 [1 favorite]