A review by sofiamarielg
I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie by Pamela Des Barres

5.0

I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. To say that Des Barres isn't the best writer in the world would be too obvious of an understatement - her prose is a mess, littered with lyrics and diary excerpts that don't always help to keep the story chugging along - but it's hard to ignore the honesty that lies behind her shoddy wordsmanship. Despite my best efforts, I ended up empathizing with Des Barres as she chronicles her journey from high school Beatle-maniac to the best-known "band-aid" in the rock scene. She immediately creates a sense of intimacy that drags you into the scene with her, every page demanding the same undivided attention she seeks from her many idols. Throughout the book, her voice is 100% american valley girl, with a few instances here or there to make thoughtful universal statements (such as when she speaks about her spirituality), which appear like very transparent attempts to attribute a deeper meaning to the events she describes. The real merit in this book lies in her vivid descriptions of the music scene of the time, and the portraits of the people she meets along the way. It's a worthwhile read for those interested in hearing from a (radically) different voice about the 60s, or for anyone who has ever enjoyed a song by The Byrds.