Take Another Little Piece of My Heart: A Groupie Grows Up

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Picking up where I'm With the Band left off, the world's most well-known groupie discusses life off the road--marriage to a rock star, motherhood, and of course, plenty of celebrity shenanigans. 35,000 first printing. $35,000 ad/promo. Tour.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1992

About the author

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Pamela Des Barres aka Miss Pamela (born Pamela Ann Miller on September 9, 1948) is a former rock and roll groupie, author, and magazine writer.

Des Barres was born in Reseda, California. Her mother was a housewife and her father worked for Anheuser-Busch and occasionally worked as a gold miner. She idolized the Beatles and Elvis Presley as a child, and fantasized about meeting and dating her favorite Beatle, Paul McCartney.

A high school acquaintaince introduced Pamela to Don Van Vliet, better known as Captain Beefheart, a musician and friend of Frank Zappa. Vliet in turn introduced her to Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, which drew her to the rock music scene on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. She started to spend her time with The Byrds and other bands, and when she graduated from high school in 1966, she took various jobs that would allow her to live near the Sunset Strip and pursue relationships with rock musicians. She famously paired up with Nick St. Nicholas, Mick Jagger, Keith Moon, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Page, Chris Hillman, Noel Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Waylon Jennings, Ray Davies, David Gilmour, Frank Zappa and actor Don Johnson.

She was also a member of The GTOs, an all-girl singing group formed by Zappa. The group started out as the Laurel Canyon Ballet Company, and began performing as an opening act for Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. The group's act was performance art, a mix of music and spoken word, since none of its members could sing or play an instrument. They released an album, Permanent Damage in 1969, backed by Zappa and Jeff Beck. The group dissolved a month after the album's release because some of its members were arrested for drug possession.

In the 1970s Des Barres decided to pursue a career as an actress, and acted in a few movies, including Zappa's 200 Motels, commercials, and a year acting on the soap opera Search For Tomorrow in 1974. After a downturn in her acting career she went to work as a nanny for Zappa's children, Dweezil and Moon Unit.

On October 29, 1977, she married Michael Des Barres who had been lead singer for the first band signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label, Detective, Silverhead and, briefly, for Power Station. They have a son, Nicholas Dean Des Barres, born on September 30, 1978. The couple divorced in the summer of 1991, due to Michael Des Barres' alleged infidelities.

Des Barres wrote two books about her experience as a groupie, I'm With The Band (1987) and Take Another Little Piece of My Heart: A Groupie Grows Up (1993), as well as two non-fiction books, Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon and Let's Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies (Chicago Review Press, 2007). She currently writes articles for online and print publications. (from Wikipedia)"

Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 50 votes)
5 stars
17(34%)
4 stars
20(40%)
3 stars
13(26%)
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0(0%)
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50 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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I truly adored her very first book. It was an absolute delight as it delved deep into the times, captured the mood so beautifully, and even seemed to touch upon the stars. It was like a magical journey through a world that was both familiar and yet full of surprises.

However, as the story progressed and the focus shifted from Miss P's enchanting tales about the times to her personal life, something seemed to go amiss. It just didn't have the same allure anymore. In fact, it wasn't anywhere near as interesting as it had been in the beginning.

I came to this realization not too far into the book, and it was a bit of a disappointment. I had such high hopes, but alas, it just wasn't going to hold my interest at all. What a pity it is.

It makes me wonder if perhaps the author should have stuck with the original theme and not ventured so much into the personal aspects. Maybe then, it would have remained the captivating read that it started out to be.

Nevertheless, I still have fond memories of that first part of the book and will always cherish the moments when it transported me to that wonderful world of the times, the mood, and the stars.

July 15,2025
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Follow up to "I'm With the Band."

It was an okay read. The marriage drama, which seemed to drag on at times, along with the new age advice that didn't quite resonate with me, and the problem child interludes, all in all, bored me. I found myself constantly longing to read more of her escapades.

However, at the same time, I truly appreciated her honesty. She openly admits that she was codependent, which takes a lot of courage. Her seemingly genuine appreciation for people and life also shone through in the book. It was these aspects that made me give the book a bit more credit than I might have otherwise.

Overall, while it wasn't a perfect read for me, it did have its redeeming qualities. I'm still left with a bit of a desire to know more about her adventures and experiences. Maybe there will be a sequel that delves deeper into the parts that really interested me.
July 15,2025
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It was truly a waste of my precious time.

This book was nothing like the first one that had initially captured my interest.

Instead of delving into the engaging and unique topics that the first book had explored, this one seemed to focus solely on her marriage, or rather, a rather mundane and uninteresting account of it.

It also touched on her son Nick, but in a way that didn't add much depth or excitement to the story.

I had expected so much more from this author, especially after being so impressed with the first book.

However, this one left me feeling disappointed and frustrated.

I would not recommend this book to others who are looking for a captivating and thought-provoking read.

It simply failed to deliver on all fronts.

July 15,2025
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Slightly amusing, but her first book was a lot better!


This statement implies that the current work or experience being referred to is only moderately entertaining. There is a hint of disappointment as it is being compared unfavorably to her first book. It makes one wonder what made the first book so much better. Was it the plot, the writing style, or perhaps the characters?


Maybe the author has evolved in her writing, but in a way that doesn't quite resonate as strongly with the reader. Or perhaps the expectations were set too high based on the success of the first book. Either way, it's clear that the current offering has not quite lived up to the standard set by its predecessor.


Despite this, there may still be some redeeming qualities to the current work. It could be that with a bit more polish or a different approach, it could have been a stronger piece. However, as it stands, it falls short of the mark set by the author's first book.

July 15,2025
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Great!

I truly desire more books, an abundance of stories, and countless tellings from Miss Pamela!!

It's难以置信 that I had never even heard of her before.

She is precisely who I have always aspired to be.

Not the one in the spotlight herself, but rather the friend of the spotlight!

I have an intense love for her writing style.

It makes me feel as if I know her on a personal level.

Her words seem to reach out and touch my heart, drawing me into her world with ease.

I can't wait to explore more of her works and discover the hidden gems within.

Each story she tells is like a precious gift, waiting to be unwrapped and cherished.

Miss Pamela has truly captured my imagination, and I am eager for more.
July 15,2025
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While I adored "Let spend the night" and "I'm with the band" to the core and simply couldn't put them down, I encountered a significant struggle in completing this particular book.

The first half of it was overshadowed by the disintegration of her marriage, which made the reading experience rather depressing. It was as if a dark cloud loomed over those pages, making it a bit of a chore to get through.

However, the second half proved to be more accessible and, in certain parts, it even reminded me of her other wonderful works. It was as if a glimmer of hope emerged, allowing me to engage more fully with the story.

Despite the initial hurdle, I'm glad I persevered and was able to experience the different aspects of this book. It's a testament to the author's talent that even when faced with challenges, she can still draw readers in and keep them engaged.
July 15,2025
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I have this strange and wonderful feeling that I have just embarked on a journey through time. It's an experience that is truly addicting. Every moment feels like a new adventure, filled with excitement and anticipation. I find myself longing for more of this unique sensation.


The idea of time travel has always fascinated me, and now that I seem to have had a taste of it, I can't get enough. It makes me wonder about all the possibilities that lie ahead. What other eras could I visit? What secrets could I uncover?


I am eager to explore further and see where this journey takes me. Whether it's visiting the past to witness historical events or traveling to the future to catch a glimpse of what's to come, I know that each moment will be unforgettable. Time travel has opened up a whole new world for me, and I can't wait to discover more.

July 15,2025
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Follow up to "I'm with the band"

Pamela is truly a captivating storyteller, and she just isn't done sharing her remarkable tales with us.

The book "I'm with the band" was a thrilling read, and now, with the follow-up, we get to delve even deeper into Pamela's world.

Her experiences in the music industry are both fascinating and entertaining.

From her wild adventures on the road with various bands to her relationships with some of the biggest names in music, Pamela's stories are a must-read for any music lover.

The follow-up promises to be just as engaging, if not more so.

We can't wait to see what new secrets and anecdotes Pamela has in store for us.

Loved it!
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