'Groupies' were women ahead of the curve, says Baron Wolman
Photographer Baron Wolman speaks with Shad about immortalizing the oft-maligned groupies of the golden age of Rock & Roll.
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Baron Wolman, Miss Pamela (1968) (Baron Wolman/Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival)
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Q17:10'Groupies' take centre stage in Wolman photography exhibit
Groupies were more than just the band's "playthings". Photographer Baron Wolman wants to challenge the one-dimensional image of women who ran with bands in the glory days of Rock & Roll.
"Some of the groupies knew more about the music than the band did," the celebrated photographer tells Shad, adding that they were fashion influencers, forward thinkers and fellow music geeks.
Rock & Roll photographer Baron Wolman with the 1969 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine centred on the real life stories of 'groupies' (Ben Jamieson/CBC)
In his new exhibition Forever Young: Groupies and other Electric Ladies, Wolman presents these young women in a new light. He joins Shad to discuss their importance, not only in the music scene, but also in pushing back against the repression of previous decades.
"They were ahead of the curve in asserting their identities," he says.
WEB EXTRA | Wolman came to fame for his informal cover portraits of rock stars for Rolling Stone — but some of his favourite portraits were of lesser known figures. He affectionately remembers the day he shot a portrait of Lacy, below.
