The world has always been enamored with celebrities and their lavish lifestyles. This was evident during the 50s and 60s when groupies made their way into the lives of world-renowned rock stars and music icons. In the 60s, the world finally got a glimpse of the degenerate lives of numerous stars with the help of a growing movement of underground rock media, who documented such extravagances in an exploitative manner. A line, although somewhat vague at times, was drawn between casual fans desiring a short meet-up with their music idols, and groupies who served as “road wives” – travelling with the rock stars during their long tours and taking part in their social lives. Groupies where often drawn to bands because of their quick and seamless access to exclusive parties.
The elite among the elite of the groupies often had VIP privileges to clubs, hotels and even special events that were mostly reserved for celebrities. Getting inside the exclusive lives of rock bands and music stars was no walk in the park, however, and plenty of groupies had to work their way to the top, starting with the road crew, then winning over the band managers before finally gaining access to the actual band members themselves. The groupie scene was a cut-throat world, and many had to fight tooth-and-nail against rivals while giving whatever favors it took to get close to the biggest names in the industry. Most, although not all, of them were status seekers, dreaming of the day that a flood of paparazzi would catch them hooked to the arm of a famous rock star. In celebration of these fame-seeking creatures, we’ve compiled a list of the most notorious of them all. Join us on a voyeuristic adventure into the strange world of rock ‘n’ roll’s most infamous groupies.
Bebe Buell
Bebe Buell is not your ordinary rock ‘n’ roll groupie. The Virginia native is a popular singer in America and a former fashion model, where she became famous for becoming Playboy magazine’s Playmate of the Month for the November 1974 issue. She came to New York with the hopes of becoming a professional singer, but instantly fell into modelling because of her youth and inherent appeal.
The American singer/model enjoyed a long, albeit unstable, relationship with Todd Rundgren that lasted for seven years, from 1972 towards 1979. On top of that, she was linked to numerous other rock stars and music artists as well, starting with Paul Cowsill, when she was still a teenager, to Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Jimmy Page, and ultimately, Steven Tyler, with whom she created her beautiful daughter, Liv Tyler.