
I was sixteen when Rolling Stone editors Jason Fine and Kevin O’Donnell sat me down in the New York office to find out more about the young kid who kept sending them stories.
I was skipping school to tour with rock bands and conducting interviews with every rock musician I came across. I had no knowledge of the 2000 comedy-drama Almost Famous until, when on tour with Ashley Simpson, singer/songwriter Lucy Walsh told me I reminded her of "Penny Lane." I watched the film and instantly understood her comparison. With effort, I got in touch with writer/director Cameron Crowe through a friend of his at the San Diego Door (now the San Diego Union). The aim was to show him a new Penny Lane had landed, and she was more than just a gal with a great coat.
Long story short, Crowe wrote me an email of encouragement in my future endeavors.
A spiteful girl from Boston sent Rolling Stone an email telling them I was just a “groupie,” and because I was not officially an intern we parted ways due to liability.
I’m now 35 - still behind the scenes in rock-and-roll, still writing, still a free spirit, still in touch with the folks at RS, and I have a great lawyer if anyone wants to pull a fast one like the sweet girl from Boston.
No one has my story, though they try to match it.
Some of you witnessed the madness of my beginning take place. Some of you were an accomplice. Some of you thought it was a phase, and some of you were just jealous.
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Photo by Jamie Colette
Copyright
Kate Catalina
2021