Rock bands captured the imagination of their fans from the mid-1900’s, by delivering some of the greatest live shows in music history. Led Zeppelin were at the forefront of this movement and took a number of practices with them as they stormed the world; groupies. Led Zeppelin were notorious for their treatment of the many female fans who followed them on their travels throughout their tours and beyond. In this article we will take a look at their exploits, and how it shaped the world of groupies from the late 1960’s onwards.
In a world before social media, the band’s status as a major name in music meant that their particular indulgences were often overlooked, or even promoted in some cases. This tradition of indulgent behaviour was rife within Led Zeppelin and throughout the `70s and `80s many female fans were taken advantage of, resulting in a lot of reported incidents of sexual harassment.
Led Zeppelin’s lewd tours often consisted of drunken orgies, complete with groupies in tow–hovering between entranced fan and willing participant. The band’s exuberant ‘debauchery’ was met with fascination, and occasionally even scorn; allowing them to carve out a reputation that secured their place in rock n roll history. Whilst other bands may have had as much as, or perhaps more debauolithic circumstance, it was Led Zeppelin that firmly became America’s most controversial rock band.
When Zeppelin performed, most members of the audience were captivated by their larger than life, magnetic personalities and the band made sure to achieve maximum exposure to their fans. The band’s active and flamboyant presence in the scandal press hardly helped; stories of groupies, sex and drug binges were often gracing the tabloids’ headlines.
The tales of the tour, involving hotel rooms filled with groupies, hotel destruction & whisky chugging, became the quintessential Led Zeppelin story. Aside from narrative, the band involved in number of personal & romantic relationships. Led Zeppelin claimed to be the initiators of ‘rock ‘n’ roll debauchery’, but anyone who attended a tour knew it was the many anonymous groupies that provided the entertainment.
These behaviour attributed a heavy cost to the band’s reputation; not only were there countless jealous fans and scornful journalists, the band also had to be careful not to end up in the legal troubles. As such, a lot of the groupies’ stories were never told, the names of the participants in “riotous escapades” remaining nameless to this day.
Ultimately, the involvement of groupies in the touring culture of 80s rock bands will forever remain a part of music lore. Led Zeppelin’s wild tours will always remain etched in popular memory, and undoubtedly influenced many of their successors’ behaviour. Indeed, It is clear that what Led Zeppelin did with groupies was a large part of their allure, and in some cases even a source of eye-catching headlines.
Romantic Relationships of Members with Groupies
It is likely that most music fans have heard about the romantic relationships of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones during the 1960s and 1970s. Bonham developed a reputation for being a ladies’ man, while Page was involved with a number of groupies and models over the years. Plant enjoyed a passionate relationship with former backing vocalist Scarlet Rivera in the late 70s, and Jones was married to tour photographer Mary Susan Moore until the mid-80s.
These romantic entanglements were generally kept at a distance from gossipy music magazines, and were largely unheard of until the 90s, when former members and their inner circles began to talk. Stories of passionate, yet often uneven relationships between member of Led Zeppelin and groupies were frequently shared, painting a vivid picture of an era in which rock bands lived the kind of lives that would become increasingly impossible as social norms changed throughout the decades.
Today, these tales of rock ‘n’ roll excesses are often scoffs at, or regarded as embarrassing relics of a much simpler time. However, whatever your views on the romantic entanglements of the 60s and 70s, it is difficult to deny the powerful level of intrigue surrounding the tales of Led Zeppelin’s exploits with groupies.
The Press Confrontation Over Mishaps
The press were often confronted with scandals involving Led Zeppelin and the groupies, drawing attention from tabloids around the world. As the band’s fame and appeal grew, it became increasingly difficult to ignore the stories; one of the most significant occurred during an interview with Jimmy Page in 1976, when the journalist asked him directly about the groupie situation. Page had responded saying “Yeah, there were groupies, you know. I mean, these girls…it was wonderful, you know, they’d just come up to me and say, ‘Oh, are you in the band?’and, you know, I’d give them a lift in the limo” among many other things he had to add.
In an era famous for its scanty morals, this type of behaviour was considered the norm. It was not until decades later that the stories of Led Zeppelin and their escapades with groupies would spark public outcry from the modernised media industry. Dealing with these tales of abuse and exploitation is an area which is still in the process of being developed, as the press slowly move towards a more balanced approach to covering famous figures’ careers.
Groupie Experience
In order to understand what it was like to be groupie of Led Zeppelin, it’s important to separate truth from fiction. While various books and documentaries try to capture the essence of the band’s ambience and lifestyle, little was known from a first-hand experience until former groupies could share their stories. A number of women accounts have revealed that the majority of Led Zeppelin’s groupie encounters were voluntary and, in many cases, incited by the women themselves. Issues such as manipulation, coercion and unwanted advances were also reported, and unfortunately, too common.
Former groupies have recounted stories of Zeppelin’s entourages entreating them into their beds. It’s clear, in hindsight, that these young women were exploited by the band and its company, and were often left with little control or recourse. As such, the press and public often painted a very negative picture of the band’s practices, thus associating Led Zeppelin with terms such as “hedonism and excess”. It’s not hard to understand why the band’s legacy will always be burdened by scandals to some extent.
The Band’s Public Response to Scandalous Behaviour
There is little doubt that Led Zeppelin become renowned for their dedication to their art and music in their own time. However, their association with such a sordid reputation has been a black mark that has followed them for the majority of their career. John Bonham and John Paul Jones both denied having been involved in any groupie activities, while Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are known to have minimally and carefully responded to most questions on the topic.
This attitude has been mirrored by the band’s record label, which has recently gone as far as to ban a popular Led Zeppelin documentary due to its frank discussion of the band’s sexual escapades. This clearly demonstrates how eager the group is to avoid further scandal and remain as one of the most beloved and influential rock bands in popular music.
Security Protocol and Management Strategies
In the early days of their career, Led Zeppelin’s security was rather lax, leading to a great deal of press and fan access. However, as their popularity surged, so did the security protocols, making it increasingly more difficult for fans to get close to the band and their entourage. The band also employed a number of management strategies to ensure the safety of their groupies, encouraging them to adopt personal measures against unwelcome advances or situations.
These measures involved the band setting up meeting places for groupies that were checked regularly to ensure their safety. This certainly deterred many individuals from indulging in wild behaviour, as well as provided groupies with a source of protection. The members of Led Zeppelin were also known to take swift action
