Almost Famous (dir. Cameron Crowe), is almost my favorite movie of all time. It’s definitely my favorite music related movie. It’s a semi-fictional story based upon the director’s life himself. While parts are definitely made up or embellished, other amazing facts remain true (for example Crowe really was a teenage kid writing for Rollingstone magazine, covering bands such as Led Zeppelin and The Allman Brothers Band).

Anyways, I bring it up because 1. It’s a great movie. 2. A specific scene has always haunted me.

Somewhere within the first half of the film, the main character Will meets with seasoned rock critic Lester Bangs (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman). The script is as follows:

BANGS
Well, your writing is damn good. It’s just a shame you missed out on rock and roll.

WILLIAM
I did?

BANGS
Oh yeah. It’s over.

WILLIAM
Over?

BANGS
Over. You got here just in time for the death rattle, the last gasp, the last grope.

WILLIAM
Well. At least I’m here for that.

Lester tells William this in the 70’s. The 70’s man. It’s been over 30 years - are we stupid for still making “Rock n’ Roll” music? I first saw the movie right in the middle of my “band” days - I thought it was a fucking great piece of dialogue, but I suppressed the feelings of truth behind it for a long time. I guess at the time I took William’s stand point: “At least I’m here for that”. Now, after being out of a band for over a year, and working full time with music and reviewing tons of music, I’m more inclined to Bang’s point of view.

It’s over right?