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

by Ben Fong-Torres

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.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

270 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Benjamin Fong-Torres (Fāng Zhènháo) is an American rock journalist, author, and broadcaster best known for his association with Rolling Stone magazine (through 1981) and the San Francisco Chronicle (from around 1982).

Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, Fong-Torres' father, Ricardo Fong-Torres (born Fong Kwok Seung), changed his surname to Torres and posed as a Filipino citizen in order to emigrate to the United States. His family later adopted the hyphenated surname, Fong-Torres. He is the brother of Shirley Fong-Torres.

He was portrayed in the 2000 film Almost Famous by actor Terry Chen. The fictional version of Fong-Torres was character William Miller's editor at Rolling Stone.

In real life, Fong-Torres was a writer and senior editor of Rolling Stone from almost the magazine's inception. He conducted interviews for Rolling Stone of entertainment figures including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, comedian Steve Martin and Linda Ronstadt's first cover story in 1975. A Fong-Torres interview with Ray Charles was awarded the Deems Taylor Award for Magazine Writing in 1974.

Fong-Torres was also a rock DJ for San Francisco radio station KSAN-FM in the 1970s. On television, he is the Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of the Chinese New Year Parade broadcast on KTVU (Fox) in San Francisco. In recent years, he has published Hickory Wind, a biography of Gram Parsons; The Rice Room, a memoir; The Hits Just Keep on Coming, a history of Top 40 radio, and two compilations of past articles, Not Fade Away and Becoming Almost Famous (published in May 2006). His book with The Doors (The Doors By The Doors) was published by Hyperion in November 2006. Since July 2005, he has written the bi-weekly column "Radio Waves" in the San Francisco Chronicle's Sunday Datebook. He is also a contributing editor to Parade magazine, and the music editor for TONEAudio, a web-based audio publication. He is now the host of "Backstage" which is aired from 7-9 am and 7-9 pm on San Francisco's KFRC-FM.

Reviews

[Slaa!!! · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't quite know what I thought of this book. Or really I do. I thought it was quite dull. DESPERATELY DULL. This book is primarily a collection of articles written throughout the years, but it seems like all of his most interesting articles had already been published in previous books (he kept referring to them!) and these articles were just THE DREGS. Which is strange, since he spent years at Rolling Stone and other magazines/publications. Was this really the best that was left? A few articles seemed more like essays written by high schoolers. It was interesting learning a few new tidbits here and there about the various musicians, but... not worth reading the whole book, really. Seems like he just wanted to take advantage of the Almost Famous spotlight and threw this together. Speaking of Almost Famous, despite the title, the only bit about Almost Famous was at the very end - and he spent much of that article defending himself, and trying to show that unlike the way he is depicted in the movie, he REALLY DOES HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR. He even went so far as to give an example of a joke he once made. See how funny he is?????? Anyway. Sorry, Ben. I will give you another try when I finally read your Gram Parsons book that has been sitting on my shelf for the last few years. DON'T LET ME DOWN.

[Ramesh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't nearly what I expected. I was hoping for inside scoop on the artists BFT has covered over the years. Instead, he delivered an education in journalism and media outlets as much as the artists themselves. Some of the stories were interesting, with new angles about some the great acts in rock history. Many of the stories though were mundane details about interviewing artists that just aren't that interesting.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

After visiting Berkley outside of San Francisco, I discovered that author Ben Fong-Torres had been one of its alumni. Any fan of the film "Almost Famous" and rock and roll should read this book as Fong-Torres describes working with bands and artists while writing for "Rolling Stone" magazine. He also reveals what it was like to be portrayed in Cameron Crowe's film, "Almost Famous".

[Angela Natividad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong anthology of favorite essays if you're into rock 'n' roll, Rolling Stone, writing, or -- better still -- all three.

Fong-Torres paints a realistic picture of what was going on in the background with the editing process, himself and the stars. You also find out what's going on with the hyphen in his name.

Good shit.

[Jef Rouner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. It’s neat to watch the evolution of music told through them-contemporary pieces. Fong-Torres is a hell of a written, though the book gets loaded down with death as the ‘80s fade. My favorite bit was actually about Larry Ching, the 80yo Chinese crooner who had a hit record shortly before he died. As a music journalist, it just made me feel good to read it.

[Butch]

This is a biography of Ben Fong-Torres, a writer for Rolling Stone magazine in it's hey day of the 70's. Some good articles in it and fun pictures with pop stars, but not always that interesting of a read as a book.

[Sarah]

not on overdrive

[Jeremy Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a Rolling Stone?
I was vaguely aware of Ben Fong-Torres for some time as a writer for Rolling Stone, but he leapt into focus after being featured in Almost Famous, Cameron Crowe's excellent film about the US music scene in the early 70's (which is also autobiographical: Crowe began his career as a - startlingly young - writer for the magazine, and Fong-Torres was his editor). This collection of his pieces was released in the wake of that movie (and contains a brief account of what it was like to see an actor portraying him in the story), following on from Not Fade Away, his first anthology. I haven't read that but, based on my experience of this collection, I'm sure it won't be long before I do.

The author has an easy, unforced style which is showcased nicely by this collection of thoughtful and engaging stories. Beginning with a classic interview with CSNY in 1969, there are pieces on Al Green, Paul McCartney, Lou Reed and Michael Nesmith, amongst others. The second part of the book sees the author branching out from Rolling Stone into more mainstream media such as GQ and the San Francisco Chronicle; this diversification is reflected in some more personal topics which includes a moving account of a trip he took back to rural China to visit his extended family for the first time, and a description of the life and death of his elder brother. None of the articles here are very long, but they've all been so skilfully honed by the master journalist that is their author you get the picture immediately. Recommended.

Originally reviewed 10 February 2015

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be. I wanted to read many Rolling Stone articles and other articles with Fong-Torres perspectives and recollections of the times and times since. I used to read Rolling Stone in the 80s maybe a couple in 78 and 79. Its bittersweet to go back and remember things. I remember the issue from when John Lennon was killed.

[Brett buckner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh … ben Fong-Torres is a legend in rock journalism these selections of his best of articles isn’t great … less the writing than the actual subjects.