Lester Bangs

Leslie Conway Bangs (December 14, 1948 – April 30, 1982) was an American music journalist, author and musician. A very influential, if not founding, voice in rock music criticism, Bangs died in New York City, overdosing after treating a cold with Darvon and Valium.

Legacy

• Bangs is briefly mentioned in the 1988 R.E.M. hit "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)".
• Science fiction author Bruce Sterling's story Dori Bangs (1989) was inspired by Bangs (along with the underground comic book artist Dori Seda). Sterling speculates on what Bangs might have done had he lived longer.
• Bangs is depicted by Philip Seymour Hoffman in Cameron Crowe's autobiographical film Almost Famous (2000), in which a budding music journalist idolizes him.