If you read rock journalism during the ‘70’s you were probably equal-parts delighted, astounded and repulsed by the writings of Lester Bangs. His opinionated demeanor was established as a child when his Mother pushed him to become a Jehovah’s Witness and bolstered by his successful campaign to refuse to dress for PE class. Being much smarter than the average bear and a pushy bastard to boot he was described by some as America’s Greatest Rock Critic while others considered him a drunken buffoon. The man spoke his own truth no matter how badly it hurt to read and though he spoke his truths of others he kept his insecurities and self-truths to himself.
In the 2000 movie, “Almost Famous”, Cameron Crowe gives his
own semi-autobiographical account of his life as an aspiring 15 year old rock journalist
on assignment for Rolling Stone Magazine and we are introduced to Lester who is
masterfully played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. As Lester mentors young William (Cameron) he
breaks character and shares some of his insecurities when he says:
“We are uncool and though uncool people don’t tend to get
the girl, being uncool can help you develop a little spine. It’s too easy out there for the handsome and
the hip. —Their
work almost never lasts. The only
true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when
you are uncool.”
Those words rang out to me and I realized that many of my stories share self-deprecating accounts of my own uncoolness or attempts to cast my truths in a more favorable light making me, in the words of Lester Bangs, a very wealthy man. With that said, I welcome you to explore this collection of short (and some not-so-short) vignettes which I have called the Almost Famous Collection.
Go ahead and click on the “Almost Famous” tab above. I have lots of material to add.