Category Books

Becoming Almost Famous: My Back Pages in Music, Writing, and Life »

Authors: Ben Fong-Torres
ISBN-13: 9780879308803, ISBN-10: 087930880X
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Leonard, Hal Corporation
Date Published: May 2006
Edition: (Non-applicable)

Author Biography: Ben Fong-Torres

Book Synopsis

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.

	Supersession : Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young	1
	Joe Cocker is not a mad dog	13
	Janis : the scene in Larkspur	21
	The Rolling Stone interview : Grace Slick and Paul Kantner	25
	Cruisin' with Cheech & Chong	41
	Al Green : "I've got to be free, and then I can sing"	49
	The Band with Dylan : "it's right on the dot"	55
	Lounging with the wicked Mr. Pickett	61
	Emmylou Harris : whole wheat honky tonk	65
	Steve Martin : more than just a pretty face	75
	Ladies and gentlemen, the Rolling Stones	83
	Paul McCartney : "what I meant was ..."	91
	Michael Nesmith shakes the Monkee from his back	95
	Groupies of the '80s : still grabbin' for the stars	105
	Why Linda Ronstadt spent Valentine's Day alone	113
	Hank Ballard's fistful of hits	121
	Lou Reed : the prince of darkness lightens up	127
	A mind-blowing array of music : the summer of love	133
	Land of the Dead : San Francisco, where it all began	139
	I don't wanna hear your body talk!	143
	Sinatra : night and day	147
	Dusty Springfield : "that noise is the joy"	157
	George Harrison : a love-Haight relationship	165
	Sheryl Crow : "I'm where I'm supposed to be"	171
	Al Green, soul savior	177
	Rhythm 'n' whites	183
	The night rock 'n' roll woke nobody	189
	My hour in the top 40 hot seat	193
	The gawk 'n' roll hall of fame	199
	A banquet on a ping-pong table	203
	Larry Ching : till the end of time	207
	Cycling through China and going home	213
	Barry, my brother ...	221
	Being almost famous	229