Russell Hammond, played by Billy Crudup, was based on Betts. “Crudup’s look, and much more, is a tribute to Dickey,” Crowe told Rolling Stone in 2017. “Dickey seemed like a quiet guy with ...

Dickey Betts, the guitarist and co-founder of Southern ... He was widely credited as the inspiration for Billy Crudup’s character of Russell in Cameron Crowe’s film “Almost Famous.” ...