The 10 Worst Openers

THE LEAST PROMISING INTERVIEW OPENERS CAMERON CROWE HAS ENCOUNTERED

1. “This gun is loaded.” – Buddy Miles

2. “Let’s do it in the bar.” – Stephen Stills

3. “Hold on, aren’t you the one who called me the Liberace of Rock?” – Elton John

4. “You’re too young to grasp my complete musical scope.” – Steve Miller

5. “I changed my mind.” – Pete Townshend

6. “We don’t believe in tape recorders.” – ZZ Top

7. “Is there any way you can write nice things about me without talking to me per se?” – Richard Dreyfuss

8. “There’s nobody here except a few ghosts and I don’t care. Let’s rap.” – Bob Weir

9. “I think I just saw a body drop right outside that window. Did you just see a body drop? Let’s go outside and see. I know I saw a body drop.” – David Bowie

Cameron Crowe began contributing to national magazines like Rolling Stone and Creem while still attending junior high school in San Diego. Despite the unpromising beginnings listed above, most of Crowe’s interviews and profiles turned out swell, but then he had the bright idea of going back to high school for a year. The result was Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and a career in films that includes, most recently, the Crowe-directed Singles, the acclaimed portrait of Seattle’s postmodern rock and coffee bar culture.

Courtesy of The Book of Rock Lists – Dave Marsh/James Bernard – Fireside/Simon & Schuster