Terry Gross

My guest Cameron Crowe is known for writing the screenplay for Fast Times at Ridgemont High and writing and directing Say Anything, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, and Almost Famous, for which he won an Oscar for Best Screenplay.

It's the story of a 15-year-old who in 1973 manages to become a rock critic and somehow get backstage interviews with important musicians.

By the age of 16, he's published in Rolling Stone and even writes a cover story.

As improbable as that may sound, it's based on Crowe's own life as a teenage music writer.

His new memoir, The Uncooled,

© BF-WATCH TV 2021

Let's start with a clip from early on in Almost Famous.

The Cameron Crowe character, William, is about 11, listening to an argument between his mother, played by Frances McDormand, and his older sister, played by Zooey Deschanel.

The mother speaks first.

You've been kissing.

Yes, you have.

Yes, you have.

I can tell.

You can't tell.

Not only can I tell, I know who it is.

It's Daryl.

Honey, they're on pot.

Honey, you want to rebel against knowledge.

I'm trying to give you the cliff notes on how to live life in this world.

Cameron Crowe, welcome back to Fresh Air.