style council: I'm With the (Hus)Band

Okay, I gotta fess up. Before I got hitched, I dated my fair share of band dudes. The talley includes one singer, two guitar players, and oh yeah a drummer, who now just happens to be my spouse. No he doesn’t pound the skins anymore, but he is still a rockstar, both in my heart and in his chosen profession: a chef. I know, lucky me huh?

While I don’t think I was ever a “groupie” or (sadly) a “muse,” back in those days, I will admit to carrying the occasional amp into soundcheck, and handing out a flyer here and there, and ok, selling merch a couple of times too. This was way before I became a serious music journalist so there was no danger of tarnishing my rep by supporting a boyfriend’s band that sucked (and there were a couple). Thank god that’s not an issue anymore because looking back, I know love is not only blind, but deaf when it comes to hot musician types.

Anyway, my rock n’ roll past isn’t nearly as juicy as that of a few of my pals, but suffice to say, me and many of my LA-bred girlfriends have each left a few famous (well mine were almost-famous) brooding punkers and long-haired glamsters in our wake. Sorry, I aint naming names though.

Pamela Des Barres did names names and they were HUGE. She’s from a different generation, sure, but I think we could all relate to the awe and lust she conveyed for her rock god lovers in her literary confection of a book, “I’m With The Band.” I mean, this woman had relationships with (and yes, the respect of) everyone from Jimmy Page to Mick Jagger. And you know, she wasn’t just about the guy all the time. She was creative and musical and poetic all by herself. Still is.

Des Barres inspired my pal Leslie Gardner, designer of the Smashing Grandpa t-shirt line from the very beginning, so it was like fate when a mutual friend brought them together for a new line inspired by prose and themes from the book- which was just re-released with additional text last month.

The two had a party at the Chateau Marmont last night to celebrate the collaboration and, lets just put it this way, if I was a groupie, my head would have been even more in the clouds than it already was (the party was in Marmont's penthouse). My pubescent crush, John Taylor from Duran Duran was there, looking all tall and sophisticated. Shit, he looks better now than he ever did when he starred in sexy videos like "Rio" and "Girls On Film"... and in my schoolgirl fantasies. Didn’t get a picture of him though… Guess I was just too damn shy.

But look who I did get a picture of?

None other than the Style Council’s #1 fan, Mr. Dave Navarro (thanks to council member Caroline). I’ve actually met Dave a million times before, like back in the Jane’s Addiction/Club Scream days, but decided not to mention when we spoke ‘cause you know, he was a junkie then and stuff. If I barely remember those days, he surely doesn’t. A friend of mine (not at the party) actually dated him for a couple of years. Again, didn’t mention it.
I did, however thank him for his support of the blog and tell him -with my hubby right behind me- that I didn’t think the “Style Council naked” thing was gonna happen (although I can’t speak for everyone, so keep checking the other gal’s posts). He was super cool and even put on this spiffy jacket for the pictures, because “if I’m gonna take a photo for the Style Council, I should look stylish.” And indeed he does. The hat is a sharp touch but I think his best accessory was his so hot-you-want-to-hate-her-but-you-can't-cuz-she's-totally-sweet wife Carmen Electra, who posed for a pic with our girl Ginger Goldmine.

Imagine a party with all your closest friends and some of your favorite rockers mixed in, and you’ll get the idea of what a fabuloso bash this was. Here’s a few more hot shots featuring a bit of both.

Our hot pal Heidi Richman (of Heidi’s Night of Beauty- who supplied Urban Decay lip gloss for the goodie bag) with our fave Indie 103.1 radio host (along with Dave, of course) Steve Jones of Jonesy's Jukebox. He’s making a face because my camera didn’t work at first and, cranky but cute Brit he is, he tired of holding his smile.

Our favorite K-ROQ radio host Rodney Bingenheimer with actress/singer India Dupre.

Our favorite rock club DJ Joseph Brooks (Bang!) and the glamorous Kim Goddess.

Read the full party report in my Nightranger column next week, and read all about Bang!'s temporary new home, Urb mag's new tsar and a couple of females who aren't just "with" the band but leading it (The Sounds and Dirty Harry) in this week's column.

Posted By Lina Lecaro