Almost Famous in Worcester
Just Like in the Movies, Real Life Bands Have Hot Groupies, Too
By Andrea Ajemian

 I’ve never been a groupie, but I played one in a movie once (actually twice), but that’s a story for another time. Most dictionaries define a groupie as a fan, especially a young woman, who follows a rock group around on its tours. In the 2001 Academy Award winner for Best Original Screenplay, Almost Famous, Kate Hudson plays the ultimate groupie ~ Penny Lane. “I always tell the girls, never take it seriously. If ya never take it seriously, ya never get hurt. Ya never get hurt, ya always have fun,” says Penny. This exact quote is currently posted on the myspace site for The Craigettes, local groupies to the jam rock band Craig. Whether in the movies, following Metallica on tour, or right here in Worcester, groupies know how to liven up any show.

If you haven’t seen Cameron Crowe’s groupie film Almost Famous, go out and rent it tonight. As we follow young William Miller on his journey into rock-n-roll while on assignment for Rolling Stone Magazine, we meet Penny Lane. Penny travels around the country ~ along with other young girls ~ touring with the band Stillwater. She proudly states, “We are not groupies. We are here because of the music. We inspire the music. We are Band Aids.” Penny’s entire life revolves around the bands she follows, the music they play, and the attention they give her. One thing is for sure ~ groupies contribute to the atmosphere at, and after, a show. Just ask Timmy Hansen, guitar player and vocalist from local band The Black, who shares that “After a show once, this girl climbed on top of me while I was driving. Then she led me up into this park and she’s taking off her clothes while we’re walking. I realized after a couple minutes that it wasn’t a park at all and that she led me into a cemetery. We ended up doing it on a gravestone.” (Timmy asked me to make sure that all us ladies know we’re invited to The Blacks next show!)

After speaking to Chris Conte, the drummer of the local band Craig, I got the inside scoop on the local groupie scene, at least through one rock star’s eyes. “We hope they’d be more promiscuous!” laughs Chris about his groupies The Craigettes. This group of local females, headed by Angela Stockdale, is largely responsible for the marketing and promotion of the band. “We’ve purposely tried to focus our promotion on women only,” says Chris, stating that the band has a spoof-oriented marketing strategy that includes contests at live shows. “The Craigettes help us to get more fans, come to all the shows, and set up most of our contests.” Not your traditional groupies, The Craigettes are more like extreme fans.

It’s not just the local male musicians who have groupies. Amanda Lirange, of Standard Deviation and The Deadites, says, “I do get hit on after shows, and it’s definitely by way more women than men.” One female fan approached her after a show and offered, “I have never met you before, but I really want to make out with you.”

And ladies, we all know that there’s something devastatingly sexy about a man performing on stage. So as long as there are rock bands, there will be groupies. According to one local musician who wishes to remain anonymous for reasons you will soon understand, “The last three girlfriends that I’ve had were met at shows that I played in Worcester. I would have done better if they punched me out and stole my wallet.”

Look for the new film “Groupies,” a comedy set in the world of rock-n-roll groupies and starring Amy Poehler from Saturday Night Live, in 2007.

Our Picks for Best Rock Movies

This is Spinal Tap 1984
Almost Famous 2001
Hard Day’s Night 1964
The Decline of Western Civilization 1981
The Kids Are Alright 1978
Sid and Nancy 1986
Some Kind of Monster 2004
Gimme Shelter 1970
Don’t Look Back 1967
Hedwig and the Angry Inch 2001
The Ruttles: All You Need Is Cash 1978
Hail Hail Rock ‘n’ Roll 1987

OK, and our choice for best punkass-kid-rapper-turned-Calvin-Klein-underwear-model-turned-respectable-actor-after-wearing-a-member-extension-for-a-film-role in a rock-n-roll flick? That’s right, Mark Wahlberg in Rock Star…proof that bad British accents, hair extensions, Def Leppard impersonations, Jennifer Aniston, and more clichés than you can shake a stick at are a potent combination.

And best aging actor/rockstar wanna-be quote on groupieness?   I’d love to be a pop idol. Of course, my groupies are now between 40 and 50.” – Kevin Bacon

Want to see the ultimate expose of backstage shenanigans? Check out the film Groupies from 1970. At times hilarious, at times close to tragic, this classic 60s documentary follows the fortunes & dilemmas of real life groupies on their relentless search for a new kind of kick. Get the DVD and you’ll see classic live performances by Joe Cocker, Ten Years After, Terry Reid and Spooky Tooth.