Bebe Buell
A musician, writer and longtime “it girl,” Bebe Buell has lived a mystical life in the world of rock ’n’ roll — a life most could only dream of, from growing up in the South to living with nuns, weaving herself into New York City’s 1970s arts scene, raising actress Liv Tyler and juggling various creative projects of her own.
Buell’s heart has always been in music. She could have pursued acting, prolonged her successful modeling career or even married one of her many rock-star lovers, but Buell had her own life to live, her own stories to tell, her own songs to sing. And she still does.
The Scene recently caught up with Buell backstage at a 3rd & Lindsley show dedicated to New York City’s ’60s and ’70s rock scene. She was there to join legendary local cover outfit The Long Players and her husband Jim Wallerstein, who formerly played with Das Damen and co-produces Buell’s music. On this recent Saturday night, Buell recounted her friendships with Patti Smith and Nico before singing “Because the Night,” “Femme Fatale” and other tunes in her rich contralto croon. While the show was dedicated to others’ music, Buell has her own discography — dating back to the ’80s and featuring a wide range of raw, energetic rock tunes both as a solo artist and with her bands The B-Sides and The Gargoyles. Throughout her music career, she’s worked with heavy hitters including Todd Rundgren, Rick Derringer and Ric Ocasek, as well as local legends like Jon Tiven and Dave Roe.
Buell spent most of her life in NYC. But after recording a track for Plowboy Records’ tribute album You Don’t Know Me: Rediscovering Eddy Arnold in 2012, she was enticed by the spiritual connection she felt with Nashville. Since relocating, she says she’s formed countless friendships and performed at just about every venue in town, including frequent appearances at the recurring Thee Rock N’ Roll Residency.
Bebe Buell
“I wanted to come here to really get good at my craft,” says Buell. “Getting to live in this town and be an active participant in the musical community is a dream come true.”
Last year, Buell released her second book — Rebel Soul: Musings, Music & Magic. A follow-up to 2001’s Rebel Heart, the book is a mosaic of memories that combines past experiences and present insights. Landing somewhere between memoir and scrapbook, Rebel Soul invites readers to consider not just the glamour but also the pain of a rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.
“I watched that life swallow up a lot of women that couldn’t hold on to their identity, and drug dependency destroyed a lot of beautiful lives,” says Buell.
“I live it every day,” says Buell of honoring those memories without getting lost in the past. “I’m an active singer, songwriter, performer, writer. I have bestsellers. I am not just sitting there, melancholy, thinking about the cool guys I dated when I was 24.”
Frustrated by local challenges such as the GOP-controlled state legislature’s attacks on reproductive rights, Buell was considering leaving Tennessee when Rebel Soul was released. But events like the Covenant School shooting and the subsequent expulsions of Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson — along with the Republican supermajority’s attempted expulsion of Knoxville Democrat Gloria Johnson — have since convinced her to stay. “I’m not turning my back on this town,” she says.
“I realized that I want to be here to help with the change. I want to use my voice, not to hurt anybody, not to call people names, not to finger-point, not to point out what’s obviously wrong — we already know what’s wrong. What we need to do now is focus on what we can do to make it right.”
Photographed by Angelina Castillo; hair and makeup by Emaline Briggs, BBC Nashville
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