Arguing Semantics: The truth behind the G-word

Ever since the Blue Jean Babies informally disbanded and stopped using the infamous G-word to avoid confrontation in romantic relationships, I can’t help but feeling that we caved to societal pressure. We did it to save face, but in doing so, we also gave up on the reformation we wanted so badly.

A Google search of “groupie definition” returned few fully adequate descriptions (except the one on Urban Dictionary posted by one of the BBA’s), and a lot of them were quite negative. Still, there does seem to be a general trend toward recognizing the positive and loving relationship between a groupie and her band(s), so I have hope that the reclamation of the word might be taking hold. Hard work pays off.

Let’s see some definitions that are floating around.

TRUE: a fan of a rock group who usually follows the group around on concert tours
TRUE: an enthusiastic young fan (especially a young woman who follows rock groups around) - an ardent follower and admirer
FALSE: an enthusiastic fan of a pop group, especially a female teenager seeking a sexual relationship with the object of her adulation
FALSE: a young woman, often under age, who seeks to achieve status by having sex with rock musicians, roadies, security, and other band-related guys

Groupies are generally perceived as girls who perform sexual favors for bands, but I would broaden that definition to include girls (or sometimes guys) who perform any type of favors for bands. In a way, they’re sort of like extra band members, who sell merchandise and write reviews and make T-shirts, rather than playing an instrument.

It’s distressing to hear the word “slut” used interchangeably with “groupie” so often. In the ’60s and ’70s, groupies were essentially rock music’s most glamorous female fans. They were sophisticated, intelligent, stylish women who also loved rock and roll and were able to become a part of the rock scene. Of course they were sexy, but they weren’t sleazy. They conducted themselves with class and poise, and the only reason they’re occasionally looked on unfavorably now is because of their high-profile relationships. While I always defend sexual promiscuity, these groupies were no more promiscuous than any average girl. Suggesting that they were sluts is a false and baseless claim.

One of the myths about groupies is that they’re leeching off of famous people to try to attain fame for themselves. Totally absurd. Back in the day, groupies were fortunate in that rock and roll was popular. They got special perks because the music scene they were a part of was mainstream. And good for them. I bet it was really fun. Nowadays though, almost all of the good music is strictly underground, so the fame aspect is completely removed from the equation. Sucks for the bands, but in a way, maybe it’s even better for the groupies because it creates a stronger sense of unity and sisterhood among them. Instead of competing to stay relevant to pop culture, they’re able to support and nurture each other, while working for the bands on a considerably more manageable level.

I never would have heard of the Handcuffs or the Crash Street Kids or RTX or Sexual Harassment or Stonehand if not for the groupie network.

Another thing that bothers me is the misuse of the word. Sure, it’s misused in the sense that sexual promiscuity is implied, but even if you can’t divorce the word “groupie” from “slut,” at least give groupies the elite position of being rock and roll sluts. Groupies follow rock bands. There are no sports groupies or political groupies or theater groupies. They simply cannot exist, because the words don’t correlate. “Groupie” is not a generic term for hot, enthusiastic, female fan. A groupie is a rock fan, specifically.

Alas, in the same sense that hair metal committed suicide rather than being killed by grunge, groupies destroyed themselves by acting like sloppy, immature whores. By the late 1970s, they had completely tainted their own good name. Somehow in the process of trying to be as cool as Miss Pamela, girls started blowing roadies and squatting on beer bottles. They ruined the image and the word, and that was why modern groupie groups formed to reclaim it.

The world at large may be mostly unaware, but I believe that on a small scale, people are starting to listen.