This is a very good movie.  If you haven't seen it and want a good story, check it out.  The soundtrack alone is worth it.  8)

Not to mention that it is based on a true story.

When he was 15, a young Cameron Crowe became the youngest reporter ever for Rolling Stone magazine.  He was sent on tour with several rock bands, The Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin being the biggest two.

A lot of those bands can be seen in the band from the movie, Stillwater.  In fact, compare Stillwater and the album covers from the movie to The Allman Brothers, and the images are almost the same.  Compare Stillwater to "Live At Filmore East" and you can see this.

Peter Frampton is also a friend from those days.  In fact, Cameron wrote the liner notes for "Frampton Comes Alive".  Peter Frampton was also music coordinator for the movie, and played a small part.  When they performed the last concert scene in the movie, they performed at the Hollywood Palladium.  During a break, Peter Frampton entertained the extras for a half hour, getting on stage with the Stillwater band (the actors actually played, it was NOT dubbed in afterwards).

I was there, and can tell you it was really great.  For that gig, I got paid $100, free food and cigarettes (remember, this was set in the 1970's, so some of us smoked for the "feel" of the time), and got to see Peter Frampton play.  All that, and money also!  :)

As a side not, this was the second time I worked on a Cameron Crowe movie.  I had a small part in "Fast Times At Ridgemont High", because it was filmed at my high school (Van Nuys High) during my senior year in 1983.

I just thought I would throw in some trivia there.  Of any of Mr. Crowe's movies, this is the most realistic, because it is based on real events.

Hey, thanks for the info!  I didn't know that it was based on a true story.  The movie wasn't what I expected at all and I was pleasantly surprised.

I noted quite a few lines said in the movie that came from other sources.  Ie: after drinking the acid laced beer and standing on the roof about to dive into the pool, he says "I'm a golden god"... well, I have the book "Hammer Of The Gods" and they have a pic of Robert Plant standing on a balcony at the Continental Hyatt (Riot) House (also in the movie) shouting out the same line.  :)

Like I said, I was quite surprised at some of the historical information, like the "Band-Aid" girls, etc...

Side tracking a little, is it true they had to censor a bit out of the movie "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" to avoid an X-rating?  I was told that back in '85 when I first saw the movie.

Also, I really like the show "Family Guy" and they did a spoof on the slow motion pool/masterbation sequence from the movie with Meg and the newsguy.  Hilarious, my roommates didn't catch on to the significance of the scene until I explained it to them.  ;D

I love Almost Famous!  Even if you hate the movie, it's hard to dislike the soundtrack.

Wasn't the part where they're in the airplane and they think they're going to crash based on a similar experience Cameron Crowe had when traveling with the Allman Brothers?  I thought I saw/read that somewhere.

My favorite part of the movie is the morning after the band's fight, when they're riding on the bus and singing along to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer."  Gives me chills!

A side note about Fast Times at Ridgemont High (Mr 80s can correct me if I'm incorrect)--the movie is based on an ethnographic research study/book Cameron Crowe wrote.  That would be interesting to read!

Geez, and I read the hardcover version a the local library back in 1986.  They still had the book several years ago when I last check it out.  Hmmm....   ;)