I’m re-watching the movie
Almost Famous
the semi-autobiographical
coming of age story
of William Miller aka Cameron Crowe
who was a contributing editor
of Rolling Stone
at 16
the movie focuses on
young William
virtually running away from home
with a rock and roll band
the fictitious “Stillwater”
in the company of one groupie
Penny Lane
there’s a scene
where the band almost splits up
and one of the lead band members
takes young Billy off to a party
where the band leader
gets zoo’d on acid
and Billy is forced to call
the band
to come rescue him
the resultant angst
makes for good movie making
yet every time I see the bus scene
after the party scene
where Russell is still bug eyed
and everyone is on the bus
Elton John’s Tiny Dancer
comes on
and one by one
each person on the bus
sits staring ahead
and joining in
at which point
Billy turns to Penny
and says
“I have to go home”
and Penny smiles and says
“you are home”
as they all continue to sing
for me…
that right there?
that capsulizes
what all of us were doing
in the 70’s
all the hippies and heads
the rockers and groupies
even the straights
we were all
looking for home….
