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Wherever there is a musician, alongside lies a few dynamic instruments, some badass vocals, a little bit of charm, and the occasional must-have merchandise, but most importantly, there are some hardcore groupies screaming from the side of the stage. Originating in the 1960s, the term “groupie” typically was used to describe adolescent girls who were crazed and strived for some sort of romantic relationship with a musician, usually from the rock n’ roll scene. However, the birth of the term “groupie” began with the queen herself, Pamela Des Barres, otherwise known as, “Miss Pamela”.

Des Barres made a name for herself as the ultimate rock and roll groupie in high school when she was introduced to singer Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, who then connected her with the king of freaky, and prolific musician Frank Zappa. After her introduction to Zappa and subsequent familial relationship with Zappa and his family, Des Barres became a regular on the infamous Sunset Strip. While most teenage girls were staring at their poster-plastered walls dreaming of simply meeting some of these rock gods, Des Barres was befriending them; Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, and Keith Moon to name a few. Later, through her short-lived acting career in soap operas and Zappa’s own film, 200 Motels, Des Barres became acquainted with critically acclaimed actors like, Woody Allen and Don Johnson. She was living the teenage girl fantasy.

But wait, Des Barres’ omnipresence didn’t end in the Sunset Strip clubs. Through her closest friend, Zappa, she connected with a couple other Zappa groupies and formed an all-girl, acapella band, the GTOs (Girls Together Outrageously), where she rightfully earned her nickname “Miss Pamela.” With an out of the ordinary mix of spoken word and musical arrangements, the band released their one and only album, which features Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck. However after a short month and some drug issues later, the band split.

Although Des Barres’ attempts of success in the entertainment industry weren’t a home run, the diaries she wrote about her endless journeys as a lover and friend to such eminent performers allowed her to publish a successful memoir entitled, I’m with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie. She may be infamously known as “Queen of the Groupies,” but Des Barres is now an author and journalist, who provides women’s writing workshops in major cities across the U.S. Oh, and on occasion, she leads rock n’ roll themed weddings as an ordained minister. Her reputation may be somewhat controversial, but that’s what has attracted the world to “Miss Pamela” for decades while teenage girls secretly continue to envy her life and success.

To all the wannabe and current groupies out there Des Barres is a goddess and inspiration. Whether you invest in her clothing line, “Groupie Couture” or attend one of the “Groupie Therapies”, don’t forget to chant Des Barres’ anthem, “I’M WITH THE BAND!” Because you never know who you may befriend next.