Rockstar Girlfriend Part 1: I'm with the Band

This week, we tackle a trope that is very near & dear to our hearts (for better or for worse): the “Rockstar Girlfriend.” In the first of our two-part episode, we discuss the history of groupie-dom, led by Paulina’s insistence that the group consult *the* sacred text, Pamela Des Barres’ “I’m with the Band.” We reminisce on fangirls’ roots in Beatlemania and the heyday of LA groupie culture, debate our fixations on tortured artists, and dissect how misogyny and controversy led to the groupie’s demise. Links:Spotify PlaylistPinterest BoardTikTok CollectionAlexa Chung, “It” (Google)Joli Jensen, “Fandom as Pathology: The Consequences of Characterization” (PDF)Mayrav Estrin, “Why Have We Fetishized the Tortured Artist? My Thoughts Post Sam Levinson's ‘The Idol’” (Cinephile Princess)Pamela Des Barres, “I’m with the Band” (Google)Sadie King, “Where Did All the Groupies Go? The Rise and Fall of the Good-Time Girls of Rock” (Strand)Find us:⁠Instagram⁠⁠TikTok⁠YouTube Timestamps:Intro 00:00When Did We Hear About “Rockstar Girlfriends” & “Groupies”? 00:42What’s a Groupie? 03:29The Emergence of Groupies 07:31Misogynistic Backlash 09:50Pamela Des Barres’ “I’m with the Band” 11:55The Tortured Artist 15:56What’s the Fixation with Tortured Artists? 17:50Humanizing Rockstars 25:43The Former Accessibility of Rockstars 27:53Rock ‘n’ Roll Divorce 32:56The Extinction of Groupies 35:28A Groupie’s Lifestyle Aspirations & Aesthetic 37:26The Pain of Loving Artists 43:54What Band Would We Be Groupies For? 45:49Who Are Our Favorite Beatles? 47:29Outro 49:52 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityvertigo.substack.com