Johnny Byrne (1935–2008)

Groupie tells the tale of 'Katie' , a 19 year old chick of the 60's, and her encounters with sex, drugs and rock and roll. The book is said to be a "thinly fictionalised chronicle of Jenny Fabian's adventures with underground rock heroes of her day" and whilst it does suceed in creating the atmosphere and setting for the 60's underground rock culture, this is from 'Katies' view point, a 'groupie' and a rather selfish, spoilt, arrogant and shallow one at that.

We witness 'Katie' move from one job to the next, one sexual encounter with 'almost' famous rock stars (hints of the Ben character being Syd Barrett) to another and treating people with disregard and contempt, especially if they don't have the right clothes, look or money.

The books description tells us how it 'caused a furore for all kinds of reasons' including;
'ruffled feathers with its matter-of-fact descriptions of drug taking and sexual high jinx;
prompted guessing games about the true identities of its principal characters;
was highly explicit about a phenomenon that had never before been documented"

These points may be so, however, what stood out for me was the way in which the 60's era, one that pointed to 'flower power' 'love' and 'peace', did, in fact, come across as a shallow, careless and selfish era of our times. If that was what the book set out to portray, and what ultimately the 'feel' of the 60's underground movement was, then Fabian and Byrne do an excellent job in documenting this.

The book itself is entertaining and offers some of the great phrases and terminology of the time. So, if you can cope with 'chicks' 'happenings' 'dudes' and lots of 'totally mans' then Groupie is the one. I did enjoy reading the book but, ultimately, wanted to give Katie a good ole fashion talking too!!
But maybe that is a sign that I am getting too old to dig!… (mere)

I read this circa 1970 when first found in a bookshop. Little did I know that Ben was my hero Syd Barrett (who launched Pink Floyd into fame). Sadly the first chapter about Ben was albeit brief, I don't think her relationship with him was too memorable for obvious reasons. I'd guess it was a very 'brief encounter' and even doubt he was a true lover of Fabians.

The writing is poor, names are altered but it's not too hard in retrospect to work out who is who. Dantalian’s Chariot is Dantalian’s Chariot and her 10 day 'relationship' with Andy Summers takes up a chapter or two. Her claim to fame is the road manager to Family.

The book is really about her hanging around at rock gigs and taking acid, acid, acid.

It's quite boring at times but as it's one of very few books describing the London psychedelic scene is a must read!
I'd describe it as a sociological ethnography of UK sixties sex drugs and rock and roll. Sometimes I wonder how much was fabricated. Jenny Fabian lived though the 60's, they say that those who truly lived the sixties don't remember it. And I would say she doesn't remember that much at all!… (mere)