 The character of Ben Fong Torres, like the character Lester Bangs,  was not a work of fiction, but in fact a one time senior editor and  writer for Rolling Stone, who was with them from near the beginning  through to the early eighties. During his time with Rolling Stone he  famously interviewed Dylan and The Doors, amongst many others, and  since leaving he has published a number of books, including "The  Doors by The Doors" (in collaboration with The Doors), and "Hickory  Wind," a Gram Parsons biography.