ter Bangs copies of his work, and Bangs gives William a assignment to review a Black Sabbath concert. Bangs advises William to be "honest and unmerciful". Without credentials, William cannot get into the San Diego Sports Arena. He meets semi-groupies who call themselves "Band-Aids": Estrella Starr, Polexia Aphrodisia, Sapphire and their leader Penny Lane, with whom he starts a conversation. The Band-Aids get into the show but William is still barred from entry as the opening band, Stillwater, arrives. They bring William backstage after he critiques Stillwater's work. The guitarist, Russell Hammond, takes a liking to William. William is driven from San Diego to Hollywood by Penny to the "Riot House", the Hollywood Hyatt Hotel on Sunset Boulevard, to meet Stillwater. Penny serves as William's chauffeur, but only to get close to Russell, for whom she has feelings and shares a past relationship. William is called by Ben Fong-Torres, editor of Rolling Stone, who wants him to do a story. Ben believes William is older than he really is, and William convinces Ben to let him go on the road with Stillwater. William rides with Stillwater and the Band-Aids aboard "Doris", the band's bus, promising to keep in contact with his mother. William desires to interview each member of Stillwater separately, and finds Russell's evasion of interviews increasingly frustrating. Russell receives an electric shock onstage in Phoenix, which infuriates their manager, Dick Roswell, causing them to abandon the show. In Topeka, Kansas, a t-shirt showing Russell in focus with the rest of the band out of focus sparks an argument between lead singer Jeff and Russell. Russell and William leave, going to a teenage house party so Russell can be with people who are "real". Tripping on LSD, Russell climbs onto the roof, screaming "I am a golden god!" and instructing William to write that his last words were "I'm on drugs!" before jumping into the pool. William calls Dick to make Russell board the bus the next morning. During the tour, William forms a strong bond with Penny and loses his virginity to one of the Band-Aids. A new manager, Dennis, is hired, and it is revealed that Penny must leave the tour before New York City, where Leslie, Russell's ex-wife and current girlfriend, will join them. During a poker game, Russell allows Dick to sell the groupies to Humble Pie for and a case of Heineken. When William tells Penny, she acts nonchalant but is devastated. Penny and Doris are left behind; Dennis has piled the band into a plane for more gigs. Penny travels to New York, showing up as the band gathers in a restaurant with Leslie. As they celebrate making the cover of Rolling Stone, Dick forces Penny to leave as Leslie grows suspicious. William follows Penny to her hotel room, finding her overdosed on quaaludes. While keeping her awake he confesses he loves her just before doctors arrive. Penny reveals her real name (Lady Goodman) to him, a secret she has told very few. Penny thanks William for saving her before returning home to San Diego. Stillwater's plane is caught in a thunderstorm and loses altitude. With death apparently imminent, the group confesses their secrets. During a quarrel, Penny is referred to as "that groupie". William defends Penny, reminding the band that they declared they were "in this for the fans", but Penny was their most adoring fan. The plane emerges from the storm unharmed, leaving the band to ponder the changed atmosphere. William continues to San Francisco to finish the story, parting ways with the band. Russell tells him to write whatever he wants. William submits an article, but the Rolling Stone editors dismiss it as a "puff piece". Bangs advises him to be "honest and unmerciful". William rewrites the article, telling the truth. The Rolling Stone editors are eager to publish it until the fact checker reports that Russell has denied everything, making William look like a liar, and the story is dropped. Sitting dejected in the airport, William encounters his sister. Now a stewardess, she offers to take him anywhere; William chooses to return home in order to make her reconcile with their mother. Sapphire talks to Russell about Penny's attempted suicide. She reveals that William saved her life and chastises Russell for denying William's story. Russell asks Penny for her address so they can talk in person; she gives him William's address, and Russell, thinking the address is Penny's, enters the house to find Elaine. Learning who he is, she lets him see William. They reconcile, and Russell reveals that he called Rolling Stone to tell them William's story is true. Russell finally gives William an interview. The film ends with Stillwater touring on their bus while William, Anita and Elaine share a meal together. Penny is at the airport on her way to Morocco as she promised.

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