Becoming Almost Famous My Back Pages in Music Writing and Life

by Fong-Torres, Ben

• ISBN13: 9780879308803
• ISBN10: 087930880X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-01
• Publisher: Backbeat

Summary

This volume collects many of the best articles from veteran Rolling Stone writer Ben Fong-Torres. While many will recognize Ben as he was portrayed in Cameron Crowe's hit film Almost Famous, his thoughtful and engaging stories have been providing a backstage view for over 30 years. This book features a slew of entertaining and informative music and pop-culture pieces, as well as personal essays about growing up Asian-American and about Ben's interest in radio broadcasting. Through insightful introductions to every article, Fong-Torres offers an inside view of the writing and editing process, from getting an assignment and developing an idea to an article's completion in printed form.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
David Felton
Introduction	xiii
Acknowledgments	xix
Supersession: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young	1	(12)
Joe Cocker Is Not a Mad Dog	13	(8)
Janis: The Scene in Larkspur	21	(4)
The Rolling Stone Interview: Grace Slick and Paul Kantner	25	(16)
Cruisin' with Cheech & Chong	41	(8)
Al Green: ``I've Got to Be Free, and Then I Can Sing''	49	(6)
The Band with Dylan: ``It's Right On the Dot''	55	(6)
Lounging with the Wicked Mr. Pickett	61	(4)
Emmylou Harris: Whole Wheat Honky Tonk	65	(10)
Steve Martin: More than Just a Pretty Face	75	(8)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones	83	(8)
Paul McCartney: ``What I Meant Was . . .''	91	(4)
Michael Nesmith Shakes the Monkee from His Back	95	(10)
Groupies of the `80s: Still Grabbin' for the Stars	105	(8)
Why Linda Ronstadt Spent Valentine's Day Alone	113	(8)
Hank Ballard's Fistful of Hits	121	(6)
Lou Reed: The Prince of Darkness Lightens Up	127	(6)
A Mind-Blowing Array of Music: The Summer of Love	133	(6)
Land of the Dead: San Francisco, Where It All Began	139	(4)
I Don't Wanna Hear Your Body Talk!	143	(4)
Sinatra: Night and Day	147	(10)
Dusty Springfield: ``That Noise Is the Joy''	157	(8)
George Harrison: A Love-Haight Relationship	165	(6)
Sheryl Crow: ``I'm Where I'm Supposed to Be''	171	(6)
Al Green, Soul Savior	177	(6)
Rhythm `n' Whites	183	(6)
The Night Rock `n' Roll Woke Nobody	189	(4)
My Hour in the Top 40 Hot Seat	193	(6)
The Gawk `n' Roll Hall of Fame	199	(4)
A Banquet on a Ping-Pong Table	203	(4)
Larry Ching: Till the End of Time	207	(6)
Cycling through China and Going Home	213	(8)
Barry, My Brother . . .	221	(8)
Being Almost Famous	229	(6)
Index	235	(10)
Biography	245	(2)
Publication Credits	247	(2)
Picture Credits	249