The Industry of Cool

I found Lester Bangs’ advice to William especially significant to this film. From the start of the movie he pretty much explains exactly what is to come: “They’ll buy you drinks, you’ll meet girls, they’ll try to fly you places for free…I know. It sounds great. But they are not your friends.” Much later he even tells him that “friendship is the booze they feed you”. Of course, naïve old William gets caught up in the whole road trip and ends up getting hurt. (As some of my peers noted, a big part of this movie does have to do with his coming of age story.) The “they” Bangs had warned him about, and that did, indeed, screw him over are the rock n’ rollers. Lester blames this sad misfortune on “the industry of cool”. The band members of Stillwater (and all stars in general) eventually get so caught up with trying to make millions, fitting in, and dominating society that they put everything that really matters aside. (In this case, they sacrifice their passion for music and Russell even throws Penny away.) Jeff says earlier on that “rock and roll is a lifestyle and a way of thinking…and its not about the money and popularity…but it’s a voice that says “Here I am…and fuck you if you can’t understand me.”” Unfortunately, as we watch them rise to stardom, this mindset is entirely compromised.


While Russell is on acid the truth of what he really thinks of himself comes out. He is a “golden god”. Do you think most stars really picture themselves this way?