Marshall Crenshaw

Honest Heart of Rock 1989

Marshall Crenshaw, LA 1989

Guitar was your first instrument?

Yes, but I can’t even remember why. I just always wanted to have a guitar. My dad had one, but he couldn’t play, and I was allowed to drag it around the yard and bang on it. It was one of my toys. When I was about six I got one of my own. I don’t really remember deliberately choosing to play guitar. I just did it.

How did you come to an appearance in La Bamba as Buddy Holly?

That one came to me. They called me, and at first I thought, “Oh, no, a replay of Beatlemania.” I was reluctant, and said no at first. But I read the script, and I had enjoyed being in Peggy Sue Got Married. I like the creative atmosphere of making films. It’s a good hang. The story was good, and I was drawn into it because it’s about ’50s rock, something which I’m partial to. I knew if I didn’t do it, they would get somebody else and I’d probably regret not being in the film. So I did it and it worked out great.