Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Beverle Lorence "Bebe" Buell (born July 14, 1953) is an American fashion model and singer, and Playboy magazine's November 1974 Playmate of the Month. She is also known for dating rock musicians, and her social relationships with musical and cultural icons across four decades. She is actress Liv Tyler's mother from a brief relationship with Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler. In 2001, she wrote an autobiography (with Victor Bockris) titled Rebel Heart: An American Rock and Roll Journey. The book was a New York Times bestseller. The paperback was issued in 2002.
Filmmaker Cameron Crowe stated in interviews about his 2000 movie Almost Famous that he based the film's Penny Lane character (played by Kate Hudson) on two women he met during the early 1970s — Bebe Buell and Geraldine Edwards. He said he created some of Penny's dialogue from statements Buell had made in interviews over the years. The majority of the character was based on Geraldine Edwards, however.
Early life
Buell was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, the daughter of Dorothea Johnson, who founded the Protocol School of Washington, and Harold Lloyd Buell.
Career
Modeling
She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the November 1974 issue; her centerfold was photographed by Richard Fegley.
Music
In 1981, Buell recorded a four song EP on Rhino Records, produced by Rick Derringer and Ric Ocasek, with The Cars serving as her band on two tracks. The rock band Power Station began in 1984 when then-boyfriend John Taylor (of Duran Duran fame) pulled some famous friends together to provide backing for another of Buell's musical efforts. She also formed the band The B-Sides in 1980 but they disbanded in 1985.
She founded another band called The Gargoyles in 1985, and released a couple of singles. A few large record companies were showing interest, but they disbanded when the paternity of her daughter Liv became publicly known in 1991. She withdrew from performing for six years in the 1990s, Buell managed her daughter Liv, helping to launch her career as a successful international model and actress. She also represented actress Charis Michelsen.
After Buell's daughter left home in 1997, Buell returned to music to record a solo effort with producer Don Fleming, released in 2000. She also performed around New York with the Bebe Buell Band and, later, with Boston musicians The Rudds and The Neighborhoods' drummer Johnny Lynch to form a new band for a few shows which also included husband Jim Wallerstein.
In April 2009, the Boston duo Chester French released a tribute to Buell with their album track "Bebe Buell."
As of June 2009, the lineup for The Bebe Buell Band was: Bebe Buell on vocals, Jim Wallerstein on guitar, Pete Marshall on bass, David Matos on lead guitar, Aya on keyboards, Lindsey Anderson on guitar and Bobbie Rae on drums.
She released her first recording in ten years with a single "Air Kisses for the Masses" in May 2009 and completed recording of a full length 12 song album set for late Fall 2009. It can be downloaded on iTunes or Amazon MP3. Buell is playing a series of live shows in the New York City area to promote the single.
In September of 2011, Buell released Hard Love, an aggressive rock album influenced by grunge and glam rock. The album was produced By Bebe's husband James Wallerstein of the critically acclaimed proto-grunge band Das Damen, and Stephen DeAcutis. The 11-track record features original songs alongside covers of Gang of Four's "I Love A Man In Uniform" and "Baby Baby" by the English punk rock band The Vibrators.
Personal life
Buell developed an interest in dating musicians when, as a sixteen year old model, she started dating Barry Cowsill of The Cowsills and David Cassidy. She later lived with rock musician Todd Rundgren from 1972 to 1978. During their cohabitation, they dated other people; in 1977, she gave birth to actress/model Liv Tyler, fathered by Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith. Buell's first marriage was to sometime-musician and actor Coyote Shivers in 1992. They divorced in 1999 after a year-long separation. In 2002 she married musician Jim Wallerstein of Das Damen and Vacationland fame.
