1. Bebe Buell
Bebe Buell was more than a rock n’ roll groupie. She also established quite the modeling career for herself, becoming Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in 1974. She even moved to New York from her home in Virginia in hopes of quenching her thirst for stardom.
Her most impactful relationship was perhaps that with musician Todd Rundgren, a relationship that stayed afire from 1972 before fading to a single ember in 1979. While she hooked up with many other rockstars and musicians after that, her most notable fling was perhaps with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, which resulted in a daughter: Liv Tyler.
2. Pamela Anderson
Yes, even the woman behind Baywatch’s beloved CJ Parker has had a hankering for rockstars. Most famously, she was married to Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee from 1995 to 1998 and had two kids together. She was also linked to Bret Michaels and married Kid Rock in 2006.
Today, Pamela Anderson has professed to have calmed down somewhat. She does not have too much interest in going back to her old, rock lifestyle, at least the type she once lived. Today, she is perfectly fine fighting for animal rights, advocating for better treatment for all.
3. Anita Pallenberg
Over the span of almost an entire decade, Anita Pallenberg with her radiant beauty and seductive charm lured many a rockstar to her side. Most famously, she shook the foundation that made up the legendary Rolling Stones and almost left nothing but smoldering destruction in the band’s wake. Specifically, she partnered up with two Stones members: Brian Jones, followed by Keith Richards, the latter of whom she had kids with.
Sadly, their relationship did not last, but Richards does not harbor any ill will toward Pallenberg. She recently died at the age of 73.
4. Tawny Kitaen
Tawny Kitaen, or Julie Kitaen, has something of an interesting past. She first stepped into the spotlight as an aspiring actress, snagging some respectable roles along the way, such as the 1984 film Bachelor Party. She also appeared in several music videos, perhaps most notably those for Whitesnake’s “Still of the Night” and “Here I Go Again.” In other words, Tawny Kitaen is probably the nondescript woman who comes to mind when you picture a beautiful woman splayed across a flashy car in a music video.
But she did more than look pretty for the Whitesnake. She eventually went on marry the band’s singer David Coverdale. The marriage lasted from 1989 to 1991.
5. Pamela Des Barres
Pamela Des Barres was raised in a household that loved music. Thus, it is no surprise that she spent much of her time fantasizing about some of her favorite musicians. Her favorites were Elvis, Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney of The Beatles. Little did Des Barres know that one day she would get to do more than just admire the greats from afar. She eventually found herself, through the help of friends, daring closer and closer to the rock scene’s elite inner circle. Before she knew it, she was babysitting for Frank Zappa.
She also spent a lot of time on Los Angeles’s vibrant Sunset Strip, mingling with budding musicians along the way. While her first major rendezvous were with members of both The Rolling Stones and The Byrds, she also managed to get entangled with rockers such as Keith Moon, Jimmy Page, and Jim Morrison. Oh, and if you have ever heard yourself singing along to the Beatles song Penny Lane? She inspired that song. Des Barres was also the inspiration behind Kate Hudson’s character in Almost Famous.
6. Sable Starr
Hailed as “Queen of the Groupies”, Sable Starr ventured into rockstars’ arms before she even turned 18. She started hanging around this glorified crowd as young as 14. Moreover, these rockstars seemed to be as enthralled by her as she was by them. So, who were some of the big names Sable Starr enchanted?
She touted quite the impressive list: Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, and Iggy Pop, to name a few. She claimed to have extra affection to share for Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. Sadly, she passed away in 2009 due to brain cancer.
7. Carmen Electra
Her real name may be Tara Leigh Patrick, but many fans might recognize her as Lani McKenzie from the hit NBC classic Baywatch. Her first serious relationship was with basketball player Dennis Rodman. They married and stayed together for a year. After that she dated a number of rockers.
She was married to Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, but he was not Carmen Electra’s first rockstar love interest. She has been linked romantically to Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee. She also has Prince to thank for helping her get her first record out into the world.
8. Lori Maddox
Considered one of the infamous “baby groupies,” Lori Maddox ventured into the scene when she was hardly older than 14. In fact, it was rumored that she lost her virginity to David Bowie.
She might be best known for the strange relationship she had with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page was very possessive of Maddox; their relationship faltered over the years and even inspired the Led Zeppelin song “Sick Again.” But eventually even the fun-loving Maddox tired of the fickle life of a rockstar and eventually parted ways with Page–but not before hooking up with Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones first.
9. Nancy Spungen
Although Nancy Spungen is perhaps best known as the girlfriend of Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, her experience as a groupie was much more extensive than that. She embarked on an uncertain journey to London from her home in Philadelphia at the ripe age of 15, crippled with mental illness and out of options. Things were not so rosy for Spungen, sadly. In order to keep herself afloat financially, she had to work as a prostitute.
She did manage to get close with such bands as The Ramones, The New York Dolls, and Aerosmith. However, she quickly found herself ostracized by the punk scene in London she so hastily fled to. Eventually, she headed to New York City, where she spent much of her time at the Chelsea Hotel. She died at the age of 20 after being stabbed at the hotel, possibly by her boyfriend Sid Vicious.
10. Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull grew up in an upper class family, one that greatly appreciated art and literature. She probably never expected to find herself in the wild world of rock n’ world. However, she has Andrew Loog, the manager of The Rolling Stones, to thank for taking special interest in her singing voice. Soon, she was spending most of her time at the side of the inimitable band’s frontman, Mick Jagger.
But she certainly had her pick of which Stone she wanted most and actually slept with two others before deciding that she just could not shake her Jagger fever. Of course, the relationship did not last, and she went through many rockstar boyfriends after that. Some relationships wrapped up nicely while others exploded violently in her face. Even so, she is still singing her heart out today.
11. Erin Everly
So far this list has covered extensively the women who became part of the inner circle of bands like Motley Crue, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones. These bands were all wild in their own right, but you might have noticed that there has been little mention of one of rock’s most notorious personalities: Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses. That is where Erin Everly comes in. She was married to Axl Rose for some time.
For a while, their love was overflowing, unbridled. In fact, Axl Rose was so smitten by Everly that he was compelled to write one of their most famous songs: “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Everly even appeared in the song’s music video. Sadly, the marriage upended due to the turbulent lifestyle and uncertainty the rock scene brought with it.
12. Pattie Boyd
Pattie Boyd was a natural beauty. She modeled extensively, from Paris to New York and of course closer to home in London. She also graced the cover of Vogue magazine. Patti Boyd was something of a photographer herself. Her photograph collection featuring Eric Clapton and Beatle George Harrison has been exhibited globally. Thus, it is no surprise that Pattie Boyd was sought after by many rockstars.
In fact, she was George Harrison’s first wife, from 1966 to 1977. After they divorced, Boyd entered a relationship with musician Eric Clapton. The two eventually married. The sensational song “Layla” is actually based loosely on Clapton’s relationship with Boyd. The two ended up divorcing in 1989.
13. Bianca Jagger
Bianca Jagger had a way of lighting up a room and was the kind of person rockers liked to have around, especially after a long night. She also found her way into quite a few exclusive parties, including the extravagant affairs that went down at the elite Studio 54. She made something as gaudy as riding in on horse (inside the club) appear effortlessly graceful.
Her first taste of fame came as the first wife of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. The two parted ways after a while, but Bianca Jagger as still managed to stay a fixture of the club scene of the ’70s and ’80s. Today, she is heavily involved with various human rights endeavors and works extensively with the Council of Europe.
14. Courtney Love
Perhaps best known as the late wife of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love has quite the history as far as hooking up with prominent musicians is concerned. She herself established a fruitful musical career, namely as the lead lady of the band Hole.
Before there was Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love entangled several other rockstars, including Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins and Michael Stipe of REM. She is still active as a singer today.
15. Chris O’Dell
Unlike some of the groupies listed here, Chris O’Dell wandered into the world of rock music innocently enough. She was simply an assistant who worked with Apple Labels, who managed the Beatles. However, it did not take long for her to get ensnared in that tantalizing lifestyle.
Of course, it all started with The Beatles, several of whom she came to know intimately. George Harrison even wrote the song “O’Dell” with her in mind. Eventually, O’Dell severed herself from The Beatles and took up work with The Rolling Stones, but she still had some connection to Harrison–as well as such stars as Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr.
16. Tura Satana
There was plenty to find alluring about this curvaceous dancer and actress. She has appeared in several different films, perhaps most notably Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! She also has some television credits to her name.
Tura Satana originally hailed from Japan but spent much of her life in the United States, dying in Nevada in 2011. So, whom did this sensual actress manage to nab during her glory days? Elvis Presley took a liking to her while watching her at work dancing at Follies Theater in Chicago. The two hit it off pretty well and quickly found themselves in a romantic relationship. While they did not last that long, some might argue that Tura Satana was the first woman to get the groupie scene going.
17. Cleo Odzer
Cleo Odzer had her first taste of the music scene when she secured a gig writing about music acts for a local paper, which got her pretty close to the irresistible chaos that came with being a rockstar. During that time, she met Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. They developed a relationship that soon blossomed into an engagement.
Eventually, though, the two parted ways. Odzer retreated to Goa, India and immersed herself in a whole new atmosphere in which drugs reigned supreme. She died there in 2001 at the age of 50.
18. Donna D’Errico
It seems the babes of Baywatch really had a thing for rockstars. Donna D’Errico was no different in this regard. Beyond being a Baywatch regular, D’Errico also made a name for herself as a Playboy Playmate of the Month in 1995. Needless to say, D’Errico was quite popular with those passion-hungry musicians.
She is perhaps best known as a former partner of Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx. The two enjoyed a near-decade long marriage and had a child together before breaking it off in 2007. Today, she continues to work as an actress.
19. Brandi Brandt
Another past love of Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx was Brandi Brandt. The rock lifestyle came naturally since her mother was a drummer for the band American Girls and she was certainly no stranger to the dark underbelly of rock n’ rock. Brandt went on to distinguish herself as a model and actress. If you have ever seen the video for Aerosmith’s “Love in an Elevator,” then you likely caught a glimpse of her.
Most notably, she was the October 1987 Playboy Playmate of the Month. She was married to Nikki Sixx for seven years. During that time, she gave birth to three children. The two eventually divorced in 1996.
20. Bobbi Brown
With her golden blonde hair and impeccable figure, it is not hard to see why Bobbi Brown was popular with the in-crowd. Before even finding herself caught up in the groupie way of life, Bobbi Brown was consistently recognized for her beauty. In 1987, she scored the title of Miss Louisiana Teen USA. She also made a few appearances on television.
When it came to storming into the busy lives of rockstars and leaving her indelible mark, Bobbi Brown was quite good at that as well. You do not have to look any further than the cover of Warrant’s album Cherry Pie. She also appeared in the music video for the song of the same title.
21. Connie Hamzy
She might be formally known as Connie Hamzy, but the rockstars she beckoned to her side had a simple but affectionate name for her: Sweet Connie. That is because she worked hard to maintain an image as the amicable, Arkansas gal whom the big stars could always trust to deliver a certain sunny Southern warmth. In fact, she became such a prominent name in the inner rock world that even the band Grand Funk Railroad had a lyric about her to spare in their song “We’re an All American Band”: “Sweet, sweet Connie, doin’ her act.
She had the whole show, and that’s a natural fact.” Some of her most memorable rockstar encounters included Keith Moon, Alice Cooper, and John Bonham. She even wrote an autobiography about her experiences, entitled Rock Groupie: The Intimate Adventures of “Sweet Connie” from Little Rock.
22. Kendra Jade
At the height of her career as a burlesque dancer and an adult entertainment star, Kendra Jade had no problem catching the eye of many rockstars. She immersed herself into this scene in her early 20s, a confused Massachusetts girl desperate to make it in California. She found it at the glamorous parties, in the roving spotlight and in the dim bar lights.
Eventually, she settled down and married Canadian rocker Lukas Rossi in 2007. Unlike many of the relationships chronicled here, the love story of Lukas Rossi and Kendra Jade seems genuinely happy. The two are still going strong today.
23. Josie Stevens
Josie Stevens never exactly got to lie at the sides of such rock legends as Mick Jagger or Axl Rose. Still, she found her place as a vivacious groupie, especially during the ’80s. She also enjoyed a rather lucrative modeling career, scoring pin-up gigs and even Playboy at one point. She was also an accomplished makeup artist.
Eventually, she settled down with guitarist Steve Stevens of Billy Idol. They married in 2008, and from then on Josie Stevens helped the guitarist manage his career. Additionally, she released her own clothing line in 2011, which proved to be quite popular with many big names, including Paris Hilton and Nicki Minaj.
24. Heather Locklear
Heather Locklear has quite a few accomplishments to her name but also had quite a wild side. She is known for her role in the ’90s soap opera Melrose Place, for which she scored her four Golden Globe nominations. She also mastered the acting craft on the shows Dynasty and Spin City, the latter of which earned her two more Golden Globe nominations.
But even though she seemed so put together in her career, Heather Locklear still chased her share of rock stars. For instance, she married Tommy Lee of Motley Crue in 1986. The marriage came to an end in 1993, at which point Locklear pursued other potential partners and ended up with Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.
25. Audrey Hamilton
Today, Audrey Hamilton keeps a relatively low profile. You probably will not see her boarding a rowdy tour bus any time soon, her arms locked around a sweaty drummer’s neck.
Still, she had arguably the time of her life back in the ’70s.