First published 2025
Cameron Crowe transforms his unlikely journey from a fifteen-year-old high school graduate into a Rolling Stone correspondent covering rock's biggest names in the 1970s. Born in 1957 to parents who forbade rock music in their home, Crowe plunged into the world he was denied. His youth and earnestness opened doors that remained closed to other journalists. He traveled with Led Zeppelin on their 1975 tour, earning both himself and the band a Rolling Stone cover story. He gained exclusive access to David Bowie's transformation into The Thin White Duke because, as Bowie told him, he was young enough to be honest. Crowe chronicles his encounters with Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Joni Mitchell, and other legends who trusted him with their stories. Beyond the music industry tales that inspired Almost Famous, Crowe reveals his family story for the first time. He examines his relationship with his decorated Army officer father and his unconventional mother, both of whom shaped his path toward filmmaking hits like Jerry Maguire and Say Anything.
Genres: biography, american, memoir, music, journalism
Vibes: engaging, intimate, nostalgic, reflective, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, personal-growth
Setting: Rolling Stone
Period: 1970s, 1975
322 pages · Hardcover · Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster