BARON WOLMAN's GROUPIES AND OTHER ELECTRIC LADIES-- EXHIBITION and BOOK

No one took better care to illuminate the true beauty as well as creative freak splendor of women in the late 1960s than Baron Wolman.

 Like fellow photographer David Bailey (LINK) he celebrated rather than sensationalized this wildchild and highly creative female demographic. Indeed, his well attended photography exhibition on 10.22.15 at Mouche Gallery in Beverly Hills drew rather a few of them, come to celebrate his new book Groupies and Other Electric Ladies, published by ACC Editions.

Below, Baron Wolman is seen peeking out between the three surviving members of The GTOs (the groupies/performers/recording artists troupe that his photos helped in immortalizing,) Mercy Peters, business exec Linda Parker and famed author Pamela Des Barres (formerly Miss Mercy Fontenot, Miss Sparky and Miss Pamela Miller, respectively) with extra beauteous Catherine James (since all are still beauteous) finding the sweet spot leaning right next to the photographer. 
 

Catherine James, also seen below with her writer friend Donna Lethal, was cited in the now classic Rolling Stone Magazine "Groupies" issue (initial showcase of these photos, photo top left) as its classiest representative. She remains a class act, what with a well received autobiography Dandelion (my take LINK) that covered much ground about her successfully surviving child abuse. 

Wolman was chief photographer of Rolling Stone from its inception to 1970, and photographed every single music icon from that era you could name.  Of his many '60s' subjects in RS, perhaps his best remembered were the formal studio shots in the "Groupies" issue, published Feb. 15, 1969. The first major expose on the subject (and the sole piece waxing sympathetic amongst others following,) Editor Jann Wenner advertised the significance of this issue in the New York Times in advance of publication. 

Baron Wolman then branched out into fashion, celebrity, sports and aerial photography over the years, eventually relocating from the hubbub of Northern California to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I had to have my own copy of these iconic as well as
gorgeous black and white portraits, so Mr. Wolman is shown here signing his book for me, left. Below right, the late Miss Cinderella of The GTOS, onetime spouse of celebrated musician John Cale. 

The invitation to the event displayed the book's cover graphics as well as the exhibition information.  Wolman has many other published books of his photography on myriad  subjects available.