<Li> Eric Stonestreet as Sheldon the Desk Clerk </Li> <P> Crowe used a composite of the bands he had known to come up with Stillwater, the emerging act that welcomes the young journalist into its sphere, then becomes wary of his intentions . Seventies rocker Peter Frampton served as a technical consultant on the film . Crowe and his then - wife, musician Nancy Wilson of Heart, co-wrote three of the five Stillwater songs in the film, and Frampton wrote the other two, with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam playing lead guitar on all of the Stillwater songs . </P> <P> Crowe based the character of Penny Lane on the real - life Pennie Lane Trumbull and her group of female promoters who called themselves the Flying Garter Girls Group . Though they were not in the Flying Garter Girls group, various other women have been described as Crowe's inspiration, for instance Pamela Des Barres and Bebe Buell . </P> <P> The character of William Miller's mother (played by Frances McDormand) was based on Crowe's own mother, who even showed up on the set to keep an eye on him while he worked . Though he asked his mother not to bother McDormand, the two women ended up getting along well . </P>

Who is penny lane in almost famous based on