Almost Famous turns 20

The year is 1973, a precocious 15-year-old journalist is on tour with America’s hottest rock band, and he’s about to get the story of his life. Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical tale of music, fame, growing up, and “Tiny Dancer” sing-alongs premiered 20 years ago.

The Stillwater actors went through what became known as “Rock School,” where they worked with real-life rockers Peter Frampton and Nancy Wilson to convincingly play musicians and solidify the band as a group. "For a number of weeks, the band rehearsed to playback,” recalls Lee, “and all the while I'm letting my hair grow and it's getting longer and longer."

Eventually, Crowe brought more people in to give them an audience. "Cameron wanted Kate Hudson and the girls to come in and watch us perform," adds Lee. "We would do a set so that everybody could start to get a feel of what the band was becoming. It was then that everything really started to come together."