FEATURE:
Kings, Queens and Pawns
The Idolisation of Legendary Music Figures and How Darker Truths Are Often Buried
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THE more that we hear about…
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accusations of sexual assault being aimed at men in the music industry – whether artists or those behind the scenes -, it makes me appalled at the fact these acts happened. How brave it is of the women who came forward; also how repulsive it is that these men were allowed to work and will probably not be as punished and tarnished as much as they should! How many of these men accused and found guilty are subjected to prison time rather than simply being fired or shunned by the industry?! It is also making me think historically. I was reading an old interview where Stephen Fry said that a lot of teenage girls who had sex with male artists decades ago would not see themselves as victims. This tone almost suggests they are not scarred or damaged by that experience. Even if there was a grubby culture of groupies which, thankfully, is almost non-existence, that is not to say that they were in control or are not victims. This feeling that was the way things are. It was a badge of honour for those girls. For a start, the way the media portrayed these men as gods was no doubt an allure for these young fans. The responsible adults in no way responsible or caring. A really seedy and disturbing past that we seem to largely ignore when we play and idolise these artists. I am guilty of it myself. Playing certain artists who have in the past indulge in the groupie lifestyle or who have definitely had sex with minors. It is that horrible sense of complacency we get. Almost conditioned to feel that, as they are remarkable artists and have achieved a lot, then we dare not mention their pasts. I am not besmirching their legacy and importance. I feel that there is this whole side of music worship where we almost shrug off or bury some of the darker and more sworded elements.
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Whether people see it as a product of the time. Groupie culture being consensual and part of that lifestyle. It is that sense of entitlement male artists – for the vast majority of time; I have no doubt there were occasions of female artists and young male fans having sex – that really galls! Not doing anything to push against this. Whether it is legends like The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin or any other massive artist of the 1960s and 1970s, one can only imagine how many occasions there were when there was something exploitative happening behind closed doors (and inside tour buses). Before I go on and expand, I want to defend the use of the word ‘groupie’. Certainly today, and in the past, it is a celebration of fandom. The loyalty and passion fans have for an artist. In this sense, I am referring to occasions of young female fans engaging in sexual intercourse with older male artists and how one cannot excuse the artists who encouraged this. If it was a sense of liberation and freedom for many young women/girls, it is not something that should have been almost glamourised and allowed to happen. The Glasgow Guardian explained how the ‘groupie’ has changed. How that word is often sexist and misogynistic:
“The problematic groupie role may reflect the wider issues of sexism in the music industry, as it sustains the idea of musicians being male and fans being female, as well as showing women and girls to be fans of the people rather than the music. It is also an extension of the frustrating male gatekeeping of music endured by female fans and creates harmful female stereotypes. The most sinister dangers of the groupie idea came to the surface in the fallout of the #MeToo movement, with 2017 bringing about many allegations on social media of sexual misconduct from male musicians, particularly among men in the rock and indie scene in the UK and America. Allegations featured past encounters with young female fans, such as Jesse Lacey of Brand New, who, throughout his career, used his power as an idolised musician to manipulate young fans; and members of Nothing But Thieves who strongly deny accusations of sexual assault but admitted that, “a misuse of the imbalance of power may have occurred”.
PHOTO CREDIT: William Lovelace/Getty Images
With the role of the groupie tinged with the objectification of women and the manipulation of young fans, it seems impossible that it could continue to exist in the modern-day music scene. However, in the age of female sexual liberation, perhaps we would be too quick to judge groupies as sexual objects existing solely for the pleasure of male musicians. In general, it is the harmful stereotypes and the abuse of power in the groupie culture, rather than the existence of the groupie herself that causes the issues. Perhaps then, they can continue to exist, so long as the encounters are between consenting adults. This however raises further questions over the deep-rooted sexism problem of the entertainment industry as a whole and the differences in attitudes towards male and female stars. After all, why are there no male groupies?
We might consider the “stan” to be the modern groupie, as many social media fandoms obsess over band members and artists in similar ways. Nowadays though, female musicians are idolised to the same extent and, for the most part, this is increasingly less sexual. Stans do still fantasise about meeting their idols but are much less vocal about actually wanting to have sexual encounters with them. While the power may still lie with the musicians, social media allows for celebrities to remain accountable and the rise of cancel culture, despite all the negativity it may bring, might be enough of a threat to stop bands from exploiting fans, even if it was acceptable in the seventies”.
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The music scene has changed in the wake of #MeToo. I know a groupie culture can mean women who consensually hung out with artists and D.J. and hooked up. There is the darker and more disturbing application that links to underage girls and this sense of status to be had with hooking up with a famous artist. It is a complex area to tread into. Different sides that debate as to whether a groupie is a good word or not. Articles like this provide their own dynamic and interpretation. I am both glad that the modern use of the word is something more about fandom and something less illicit and illegal. I bring this up because a new film, Priscilla, is out. It is about Priscilla’s relationship with Elvis. The King of Rock and Roll. Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, you can see the plot here. The film does not shy away from some of the tougher moments. Abuse and sexual assault. Some of the more torrid elements of the relationship. Whilst Elvis Presley felt a lot of love for Priscilla, there is also that aspect of her being a pawn at times. A queen who deserved nothing but respect, she was often subjected to cruelty and negligence. It made me think about the music culture decades ago and attitudes towards women. From young and underage fans almost being encouraged to engage in debauchery with male artists who, in turn, did very little to stop it, to cases of stars who were unsavoury and violent towards women. I am sure we can all think of many artists who this applies to. What is angering is how this side of the artists is almost seen as minor compared to their musical legacy. That argument of whether we can separate the artist from the art. Priscilla is based on the 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me, by Priscilla Presley. It very open, moving and shocking at times. How much of this do we consider when celebrating and enjoying the music of artists?! Should their personal lives impact how we see their legacy?!
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It is something that applies to male artists more. The disposability of women. Whether they are seen as ‘muses’ and, therefore, are treated cruelly because they inspire their music – ‘muse’ is another horrible and dismissive term -; or there s a sense that stardom means they are free to do what they please, I think about this a lot. So many artists played on radio and seen as heroes. When you think back to their past and some of their behaviour, you do wonder why this is not called out. Is it ancient history?! I do struggle with that. As much the criminality and depravity that was hushed, accepted or seen as desirable then. That has not totally gone away. There is still some of that practise happening today with some bands. Even Matty Healy of the 1975 – who I do mention a lot, but for good reason – kissing female fans onstage seems exploitative and icky! Willing or not, it seems less about artists being grateful and showing fans compassion. It is that entitlement and seeing women as objects. Young girls and women’s fandom and support often does not get talked about. How important they are to moulding artists. Their role in music history. I think they were often exploited and seen as prizes rather than people. The music history book is littered with occasions of women being abused and tormented by male artists. With new revelations and allegations coming out almost by the week, it causes me to think where we have come from. How women were viewed. Objectified, vilified; seen as disposable and subservient. So many huge artists engaging in some truly awful behaviour. How much do we think about those women and how important they were. How strong they were. Their stories are not often heard. Their importance not celebrated and spotlighted. Reading about Priscilla and some of the moving scenes that people will see compelled me to address the music culture. The misogyny and abuse that has been present for years.
Maybe we have come some way in that respect now, though we still blindly idolise these artists and their music. Many male artists and industry figures today engaging in the same deplorable way as artists of the past. And, still, women not being believed or feeling fearful of coming forward. We are stricter now on men who are accused. In the sense that we will not forget or allow them to profit and live as they did going forward. How much do we look back and reassess the value and purity of some of these almost God-like figures?! Is there an internal balance and conversation where we weight things up, or are we told that a lot of what happened was consensual and okay?! That it was part of the scene. I know I said the ‘groupie’ is often applied in a sexist way. Women liberated and huge fans of artists rather than this seedy and exploitative viewpoint. Even so, there are plenty of occasions of male artists taking advantage of their stardom and infallibility. Do films like Priscilla change how we see someone like Elvis Presley?! Does knowing that underage female fans were in bed with certain groups and male artists change our perception of their music?! Whether you argue against some of my points and have different perspectives, it is clear that power and control has been used in dark ways. Artists using their pull in a very grubby way. It is okay for fans to judge how they view an artist and see their music but, the more we hear about the darker and more abusive sides of some artists and the women/girls who were victims (again, whether you classify them as such is your prerogative), the more we need to step back and take stock. We idolise the artist and mark their contributions and importance. I wonder how much time we take to see the women. Either those impacted by abuse and exploitation, or those who made the artists what they were – either through their loyalty and fandom or being their inspiration. In admiring and lionising the kings, we definitely cannot disregard or overlook…
THE queens.