In the halfway point of all the lunacy neighbourhood Michael Jackson's death, one matter is constant: Al Sharpton. In the era of renown there is one universal law: if there's a dishonour or death, Al Sharpton will be there. From Tawana Brawley to James Brown, he's earliest in band for a media circus. Sharpton is fractional of a want unwritten law of groupies, sycophants, and hangers-on who construct their lives on the backs, beds, and bank accounts of celebrities. These are the members of real-life entourages who from time to time go on the payroll but always questionably accommodate their fame master.
For the worst of them, they arguably leash a notoriety down the path to self-destruction. At best they become Kato Kaelin clones, launching dubious careers powered by the stolen immediacy of the star's orbit. Famous only for conspiratory someone famous.
As the King of Pop's posse heads for the unemployment line, here are a few stories of other groupies and hangers-on. May they assist as stimulation and cautionary tale. The lifespan of a roll entourage associate is almost as pithy as the her stars to whom they suck up. Pamela Des Barres Des Barres is the total dear dame of groupies.
While still in stiff votaries in the '60s, she began hanging in L.A. nightclubs looking to shoplift up with the stupefy musicians she idolized. She landed a trade as Frank Zappa's babysitter, which led her into the cosmos - and beds - of nearly every idol of the era, including Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, and Jimi Hendrix's bassist, Noel Redding. Zappa even assembled a dispose with Des Barres and some other groupies under the superiority GTO's. They made one album in 1969.
Pamela ended up settling down with Power Station choir girl Michael Des Barres in 1977. In an ironic wrick they cleft over his infidelity. She's now an ordained priest performing "rock & summerset weddings." No guarantees on how big the marriages last. Nancy Spungen Spungen was a '70s groupie who did metre in New York City chasing down mug bands similarly to the Ramones and New York Dolls.
She then set her sights on London, where she hooked up with the Sex Pistols. After being rebuffed by choir member Johnny Rotten, Spungen settled in with bassist Sid Vicious. The two became the John & Yoko of the junkie goon netherworld until she was found stabbed to liquidation in the bathroom of the elbow-room the connect shared at New York's Hotel Chelsea.
So ended a drug-addled fairy tale. Eugene Landy Probably the only toady with a Ph.D., Dr. Landy hand-me-down to assist records to disc jockeys and succinctly managed jazz guitarist/singer George Benson before earning a doctorate in psychology.
Throughout the '80s, Landy crossed nearly every prompt trade with his only client, preceding Beach Boy Brian Wilson. His "services" included charging $35,000 a month to play host to Wilson 24 hours a day, co-writing an album, allegedly naming himself the beneficiary of the troubled artist's will, and allegedly ghostwriting Wilson's autobiography. Landy was at long last stripped of his medical certify and barred from contacting Wilson. He died of lung cancer in 2006.
Memphis Mafia Elvis Presley's "Memphis Mafia" serves as the blueprint for any luminary entourage. The "mafia" was a hoard of Elvis' adolescence friends who were charged with protecting, agreeing with, and enabling the King. Dozens of members were either on the payroll or else given proper gifts of jewelry, cars, and homes.
Some of their responsibilities included playing "War" with Elvis - a plot that confused hurling fireworks at one another. They also were in foray of directing women to the King's bedroom. Chances are the Memphis Mafia had a stern set decree profitable hire after Presley's '77 death.
Two-Foot Fred Nashville's Big & Rich have gone to great lengths to recreate Elvis' Memphis Mafia with their own "Muzik Mafia." Members of their entourage bear rings consummate with lighting-bolt logo that recalls Elvis' "TCB" (Taking Care of Business) '70s catchphrase/branding. At the center of the Muzik Mafia circus is Two-Foot Fred, who is absolutely 3 feet 2 inches. See Fred meeting John Rich in a bar.
See Rich put Fred in the band's "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" video. See Fred's dwelling in the entourage secured. According to the Mafia's sanctioned Web site, Two-Foot Fred's craft is to "love everybody, and to condition down the walls powerful you what's rectitude and what's wrong." Nice accomplishment if you can get it. Nico The Velvet Underground's manager, Andy Warhol (who knew a fraction about hangers-on), convinced the belt to let German mania nonpareil Nico tattle lead.
She was a fellow of Warhol's "Superstars," a coterie of models, misfits, and wannabes who embodied Warhol's "15 minutes of fame" motto. The incident that she was tint insensitive (according to multi-instrumentalist John Cale) didn't faze Warhol. She was in the band, whose '67 debut, "The Velvet Underground & Nico," was mostly ignored upon untie but has since become one the most controlling and revered albums in jar history. It's also the incomparable wrapper of a groupie usual on to obtain pivotal good fortune on her own merits.
Nico maintained an on-again/off-again solitary race until her ruin in 1988. Bubbles Bubbles is the only chimpanzee sponger in music history. Michael Jackson rescued him from a cancer experimentation clinic in 1985 at the ne plus ultra of his '80s power. When "Webster's" Emmanuel Lewis wasn't available, Jackson carried Bubbles down the red carpet at premieres and Hollywood parties.
At night-time Bubbles slept in a crib next to Jackson. The icon's buddy was fundamentally booted from Neverland when he started throwing his feces against the barrier and getting combative with visitors. Note to all entourage members: Play charming with the boss, and use the bathroom.
Bubbles now lives with other primate retirees in Florida. Perla Hudson Perla is another groupie attainment story. In 1992 she went to a Las Vegas Guns N' Roses show looking for a spirit to take care of Slash. She liked his put on the compensate for of Rolling Stone. Perla made it backstage and partied with the top-hatted guitarist.
They partied through the Gunners' breakup. They partied through Slash's dissolution (yes, he was married). And they partied until they tied the knot. Mrs. Hudson not only got a heavy-metal derivation (they have two kids), she also got a career.
Her Facebook period lists her as "Wife of Rock Legend Slash," and her Twitter estimation boasts nearly 4,000 followers. Recent tweet: "Slash resting in Norway." Once a groupie, always a groupie.
