By Thom Vest
The late ’60s and ’70s transformed LA’s Sunset Strip into the epicenter of rock and roll—a neon-lit playground where rebellion, glamour, and music collided in electrifying harmony. Icons like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones may have ruled the stage, but just beyond the spotlight stood a group of bold, unforgettable women who truly shaped the scene: The Groupies. Far from passive fans, these are the women who got under the skin of rock’s biggest stars, and left their marks on history like a new tattoo.
Photo Credit: The GTOs 1969 Photo by Ed Caraeff
The latest season of KCRW’s award-winning Lost Notes series, Groupies: Women of the Sunset Strip, From the Pill to Punk, dives deep into the lives of these trailblazing, often misunderstood figures, illuminating their impact in redefining what it meant to be young, bold, and unapologetically drawn to the wild heart of Rock & Roll.
Hosted by Dylan Tupper Rupert and executive produced by Jessica Hopper, Lost Notes: Groupies reclaims these women as vital players in rock culture—creative forces who shaped and were shaped by the music of their time. Rupert, a longtime figure in the West Coast music scene, delivers a uniquely intimate perspective, narrating the stories of unforgettable figures like Lori Mattix (known as Lori Lightning), Pamela Des Barres, Sable Starr, and CREEM founding editor Jaan Uhelszki, whose pioneering journalism at the time captured the rock scene with unprecedented intimacy. Joined by punk icons like Kid Congo Powers, Alice Bag, and Pleasant Gehman, Lost Notes: Groupies offers a portrait of the Strip that is both reverent and unflinching, capturing the spirit of an era that defied norms and birthed legends. With each new episode, Rupert peels back the layers of wheat paste and seismic change, revealing how groupies influenced music media, challenged social norms, and reshaped the relationship between celebrities and fans for eras yet untold.
The “Baby Groupies” of the Sunset Strip:
Lori Lightning and Sable Starr
Lori & Sable Photo Credit: Star Magazine 1973
Few figures capture the era’s allure, grit, and contradictions like Lori Lightning and Sable Starr, two of the most iconic “Baby Groupies” of the glam rock scene. Known for their youth, style, and fearless presence, Lori and Sable were more than just fans—they were integral to the glam rock world, forming friendships and flings with some of the biggest names in rock, including Jimmy Page, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie.
They became symbols of a new kind of teenage rebellion, setting trends in fashion and attitude, and redefining what it meant to live freely on the edge of fame. With their signature looks—bleached hair, platform boots, and bold makeup—they embodied the gritty glamour of the Strip, inspiring countless young fans and leaving a mark on rock history.
Episode 1 of Lost Notes: Groupies transports listeners to Lori’s world, where, at just fourteen, she found herself in the whirlwind of the Sunset Strip, navigating a complex landscape of freedom, risk, and intense connections. Lori Lightning’s youthful audacity and willingness to embrace life on her own terms turned her into a legendary figure, a teenage icon who pushed against societal norms and found her identity in the music and culture surrounding her. Sable Starr, her close friend and a kindred spirit, shared this rebellious path, forging a similarly fearless persona that captivated everyone she encountered.
In their friendship, we see more than just two teenagers swept up in the rock scene; we see a powerful alliance that provided strength, solidarity, and a shared sense of purpose in a world that could be both thrilling and challenging. Together, Lori and Sable created their own definitions of self-expression, pushing back against expectations for young women in the 1970s. Their stories reveal not just the glamour but also the complexities of life on the Strip, where fame and friendship intertwined with freedom and vulnerability, allowing these young women to wield influence in a male-dominated world—and inspiring a generation of girls who saw in them a reflection of their own desire for autonomy.
Sable Starr at Chateau Marmont /1976 / Photo Credit: Bob Gruen
A Cast of Icons:
Pamela Des Barres and the GTOs
Some of the Groupies at Rodney's English Disco 1973// Credit: Richard Creamer
Another key figure in the scene & series is Pamela Des Barres, a woman who transformed what it meant to be a fan in the world of rock and roll.
As a founding member of the GTOs (Girls Together Outrageously), Des Barres and her bandmates redefined fan culture by bringing an audacious, theatrical energy to the Strip.
More than just admirers, the GTOs became icons themselves, mingling freely with rock legends like Frank Zappa, who produced their music, and bands like the Flying Burrito Brothers, establishing a powerful presence at venues such as the Whisky a Go Go. The GTOs didn’t just follow the rock scene; they shaped it, pioneering a distinct style and attitude that left a lasting impression on rock culture’s fashion, language, and vibe.
Des Barres’ personal journey—from glam rocker on the Strip to celebrated memoirist with her groundbreaking book I’m With the Band—offers an intimate, unfiltered view into this era. Her writing lifted the veil on the Sunset Strip, making her one of the first to share the groupie experience from a woman’s perspective. Through her words, she revealed that groupies were more than fans; they were creators, muses, and forces of inspiration who had a profound impact on the music and style of their time. Des Barres and the GTOs embodied a spirit of independence and self-expression that was rare in a male-dominated world, showing that they weren’t just accessories to the scene—they were active, influential participants in rock history.
Iconic Haunts of the Strip :
Where Legends and Fans Met
The Roxy & The Rainbow - ca. 1980. Photo by Roy Hankey.
The Sunset Strip in the ’60s and ’70s was lined with legendary haunts that offered rock stars and their fans a stage beyond the stage. They weren’t just places to pass the time—they were the beating heart of LA’s rock revolution.
Places like Rodney’s English Disco, the Whisky a Go Go, and the Riot House (now the Andaz West Hollywood) became hotspots for artists and fans alike, setting the standard for a world where the wild and the iconic could blend seamlessly. These venues quickly gained fame for their uninhibited nights and close encounters between rock legends and their devoted followers, becoming the gritty playgrounds where reputations were made, music scenes were born, and style and attitude were pushed to their extremes.
In these walls, music lovers, artists, and aspiring stars mingled freely, redefining norms and pushing the boundaries of self-expression. The Rainbow Bar & Grill, a long-standing haven for rock’s elite, remains as much a relic of those times as a continuing icon, where even today, the energy of that era lingers. As the neon lights of the Strip illuminated wild dreams and fleeting moments, the Sunset Strip etched itself into history—not just as a place, but as a symbol of rock and roll’s daring legacy, forever influencing the culture of Los Angeles and beyond.
Sable Starr & Debbie Harry 1977 // Credits: Ron Galella
More Than A Scene—A Movement
The podcast chronicles the Strip’s transformative evolution, following these women as the music shifted from rock’s lush glamor to punk’s raw edge in the late ’70s.
These women weren’t just bystanders; they were catalysts who pushed against the rigid boundaries of fandom, embedding themselves in the music scene and altering the ways artists and audiences interacted.
Photo Credits: Julian Wasser 1969
The presence of these groupies—daring, audacious, and unapologetically enamored with rock and roll—helped to fracture the polished veneer of celebrity, paving the way for a new kind of intimacy between stars and their fans that would forever redefine pop culture.
Their influence wasn’t limited to music; it rippled into broader society. Groupies, through their unique style and outspoken love of music, became fashion icons, media personalities, and muses. Magazines like STAR, a short-lived “groupie magazine” that surfaced in 1974 and was once described as “Cosmo for 14-year-olds in Ohio,” captured their influence and brought the culture of the Strip to youth across the country.
This visibility placed groupies squarely in the public eye, changing how youth culture idolized, interacted with, and even sought closeness to celebrities. The Strip’s wild scene forced even local authorities to adapt, influencing policing policies in West Hollywood and creating a blueprint for the balance between stardom and personal freedom—a balance that remains complex and compelling today.
Pandora's Box in 1967 // Credit: Real Magazine
Lost Notes: Groupies doesn’t just reclaim stories—it reframes them, spotlighting how these women were instrumental to LA’s music scene, as essential as the bands themselves.
By centering their voices, Lost Notes: Groupies captures the depth of a legacy that changed the face of celebrity, solidifying the Sunset Strip not only as a geographical place but as a cultural revolution that reverberates in the music, fashion, and fan culture that define pop history to this day.
As Rupert puts it, “Hollywood wasn’t just where the groupies were; it’s where the image of who a groupie was projected out into mass culture.”
Pamela Des Barres with Frank Zappa & his wife Gail at The Whisky1967// Photo Credit Pamela Des Barres Collection
Coming Next: A Deeper Look into the Sunset Strip’s Rock Landmarks
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our feature, where we’ll delve into the legendary spots along the Sunset Strip that defined an era and reshaped culture. From the iconic Whisky a Go Go to the storied Rainbow Bar & Grill—and the hidden corners that only insiders knew—these venues weren’t mere backdrops; they were crucibles of creativity and rebellion, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire and ignite the dreams of artists and fans around the world.
Photo Credits: Sunset Strip 1975
Listen Now!
Step into the golden age of LA’s Rock & Roll scene, through the eyes of the rule-breaking, history-making women who lived it. Click [here] to listen to the trailer, or click below to subscribe to the series and listen to full episodes!
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And for an exclusive glimpse into the era, check out our Instagram for iconic photos of Lori Lightning, Sable Starr, Pamela Des Barres, and other unforgettable figures who helped make LA’s rock and roll legacy.
