Two of Pamela Des Barres books (photo by Nikki Kreuzer)
The author poses with two of the fabulous GTOs: Miss Mercy and Miss Pamela (photo courtesy of Nikki Kreuzer)
Here in Los Angeles, although we are known for our earthquakes, we are lucky to be the main epicenter of something else. We are known worldwide for being the center of celebrity sightings- in film and TV, music, sports, art and even literature. We are incredibly blessed to often meet these people, hear them talk and even get autographs and photos. The rest of the country looks longingly at the cool and interesting celebrity heros and heroines popping up on Angeleno’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Pamela Des Barres reads from I’m With the Band (photo by Nikki Kreuzer)
Luckily for all of us, we have a special chance this Thursday February 27th to be groupies ourselves of some of the most famous groupies out there- the incredible Pamela Des Barres, Miss Mercy and Catherine James. As part of a special Groupie Night Book Reading at La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Hollywood all three of these notoriously special and well-spoken women will make an appearance to read from their books, sign purchased copies and participate in a general Q&A about their collective interesting and often juicy experiences. It is sure to be a night full of celebrity gossip, girl talk and fun. There is also no better place for this than La Luz de Jesus, which promises an intimate experience in a cool, eclectic art gallery/store.
Miss Pamela and the author pose with a copy of the GTOs 1969 album (Photo courtesy of Nikki Kreuzer)
Both Pamela Des Barres and Miss Mercy are known as being part of the all-girl groupie band the GTOs, also known as Girls Together Outrageously. They put out a weird and wonderful 1969 album organized by their friend Frank Zappa. As teenagers in the mid to late ’60’s they were lovers of rock-n-roll and of course the rock stars who made it all happen. They were part of the in-crowd hanging out with the Doors, the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Captain Beefheart, of course Zappa and even British bands like the Who, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Of course the stories they have to tell are representative of that wild and free-spirited time when almost anything seemed possible. Read this Offbeat L.A. piece for more about Pamela: offbeat-l-a-pamela-des-barres
Cover of the book Dandelion by Catherine James
This Groupie Night Book Reading will have both Pamela and Miss Mercy reading from Pamela’s 1987 book based on her diaries and personal experiences, I’m With the Band. In fact one chapter in the book is called “Miss Mercy’s Blues” and is entirely devoted to the life and stories of Miss Mercy. Pamela will also share some of her teenage poems. Also on the bill is the fabulous Catherine James, author of the 2007 book Dandelion: Memoir of a Free Spirit. Catherine’s book is filled with her liasons with rock-n-roll royalty such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Page and the father of her son the Moody Blues’ Denny Laine. Read a brand new LA Girl article about Catherine James written by the LA Beat’s own Donna Lethal here: la-girl-catherine-james
Pamela Des Barres holds up a photo of the GTOs (photo by Nikki Kreuzer)
So have some fun, get out of the house and come hear great stories of Los Angeles’ rock-n-roll past straight from some of the groupies who were on the front lines.
February 27, 2014. 7-10pm. Free!!!
La Luz De Jesus Gallery: 4633 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027; (323) 663-0122. www.facebook.com/events
