Through media and stan culture, the seventies have been portrayed and maintained as the era of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll. Because this era is so heavily glorified, we tend to look past its largest problem: pedophilia.
With the rise of this culture came the rock groupie. The qualifications–female, a devoted fan, and underage. Their purpose, to fulfill the sexual appetite of thirty-year-old rock stars.
At 14, Lori Mattix lost her virginity to David Bowie. Most of society praises the rock singer for his defiance towards gender-norms in a time where hyper-masculinity was encouraged. But what many don’t look into is his abuse of fame and power that allowed him to groom children.
“I was an innocent girl, but the way it happened was so beautiful. I remember him looking like God and having me over a table,” said Mattix in a 2015 interview with Thrillist. “Who wouldn’t want to lose their virginity to David Bowie?”
The grooming by the late rock star still continuing years later as Mattix refers to him as ‘God’ like figure.
Unfortunately, Mattix was further taken advantage of by other beloved figures in the industry, including Led Zeppelin’s lead guitarist, Jimmy Page.
“At that point, I was 15 and totally in love with this man. I put him on a pedestal. It became so serious that Jimmy asked my mom for permission to be with me.”
What Mattix experienced wasn’t love and it certainly wasn’t a consensual relationship. Mattix, along with other children, were manipulated, exploited, and abused by adult men.
The remaining question might be: If these men were pedophiles, why didn’t anyone say anything while it was happening?
It’s just like Mattix said, these individuals have been placed a pedestal. We make them so unattainable that an abusive relationship can be happening right before our eyes and we won’t say a word. Why, you may ask? Because our society has allowed individuals with fame, power, and money to obtain anything they want to without consequence.
Read also:
Missing In Action: Queer Women In Media
College Culture: Unchecked Disordered Eating
Growing Out My Body Hair: A Journey To Myself
