I was watching the Cameron Crowe movie Almost Famous the other night; it had been several years and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. For starters, the soundtrack kicks ass. But on a deeper level, the story captures the earnest, dogged pursuit of fame as a key objective.
We’re all familiar with the dark side of fame. Everyone ranging from Elvis and Michael Jackson to the cast of Different Strokes has had their sordid and heartbreaking tales picked over repeatedly. But what about the category of artists who find fame, only to have it overshadow their abilities. True, so many would give anything for a shot, just one, at being famous. But a quick glance at the list below is a reminder that it’s possible to be famous for the wrong reasons.
- Robert Reed – “Who?” would be a likely reaction, as we identify Reed as his most recognizable portrayal – even-tempered architect Mike Brady. Reed studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and mastered Shakespeare. He was chosen as Mr. Brady only after fellow actor Gene Hackman was deemed too unfamiliar.
- Peter Frampton – In the early 1970s, Frampton worked as a session guitarist for Jerry Lee Lewis and George Harrison, among others, before beginning a respected but largely obscure solo career. In 1976, he discovered a voice box and made a live album. He was never obscure, nor properly respected, again.
- Stephen King – Stephen King might have sold a gazillion books but I can rarely get people beyond his hardcore fans, of which I include myself, to give him a chance. “Nah,” they say, dismissively. “Too scary.” Sure, all those embossed blood-red letter covers and film adaptations helped establish King as a “horrormeister” and household name in the 1970s and 80s. Yet I believe this notierity obscured his mastery of other, more varied genres.
So if you’re reading this post and waiting for your moment to arrive, then please reconsider. Moments come and go. But perception has a way of lingering.
shishkabobgirldad 