Music Maps Podcast · Rock n Roll Book Club

92 - Pamela Des Barres

·47 min·4 clips

Pamela Des Barres reveals what made 1960s LA's Sunset Strip an unparalleled playground for music and youth culture.

This episode of Music Maps features host Simon in conversation with Pamela Des Barres, the iconic author of "I'm With The Band: Confessions of a Groupie." Des Barres recounts her experiences as a central figure in the 1960s Los Angeles rock scene, offering a first-hand perspective on its music and culture. The discussion traces her journey from a teenage music fan to a celebrated chronicler of a legendary era. Des Barres describes the Sunset Strip of the mid-60s as a vibrant hub where clubs like the Whisky a Go Go hosted bands like The Doors and Love nightly. She recalls meeting Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) at age 16, who expanded her musical tastes into jazz and blues. Her first major backstage encounter was with The Byrds after she knocked on their door at Ciro's, leading to a long-term relationship with bassist Chris Hillman. She became part of Frank Zappa's circle, dancing with his band and co-founding the GTOs, a group Zappa named and produced. Des Barres details relationships with musicians including Jim Morrison, Noel Redding of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. She credits Gram Parsons with introducing her to country music, profoundly influencing her tastes. A surprising claim is that Robert Plant told her the Led Zeppelin song "Going to California" was partly about her and two other women in LA. She considers seeing Gram Parsons weep while performing a George Jones song a magical, defining moment of her "groupie existence." Des Barres reveals she was present at the ill-fated Altamont Free Concert but left before The Rolling Stones' set due to the dangerous atmosphere. She shares that Bob Dylan once told her, after reading her book, "you're a good writer," which she describes as a career highlight. Des Barres also mentions attending an Elvis Presley concert in Vegas while seated between Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. The tone is conversational and nostalgic, driven by personal anecdotes and diary entries. The style is informal and celebratory, focusing on the joy and freedom of the era rather than its controversies. This episode would appeal to fans of 1960s and 70s rock history, particularly those interested in the LA scene, groupie culture, and behind-the-scenes stories. Listeners seeking deep musical analysis or a critical examination of the era's social dynamics might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A memory-rich Laurel Canyon tour shaped by place and people.

Pamela Des Barres leads Music Maps through Laurel Canyon in a way that feels close-up and rooted in place, with the episode favoring local texture over a full biography.

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Why you'd press play

Hear Laurel Canyon, the GTOs, and Frank Zappa through Pamela Des Barres's memory.

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