[1] The song was inspired by the manufactured nature of the Monkees and was released as a single on January 9, 1967, reaching number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, but failing to chart in the United Kingdom.

[6] The manufactured nature of the group caused the Byrds' bassist, Chris Hillman, and lead guitarist, Jim McGuinn, to look upon the current state of the pop world with more than a little cynicism—something that was reflected in the song's lyrics.

[6] Musically, "So You Want to be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" features a driving, circular Rickenbacker guitar riff by McGuinn[7] and what Conners has called an "unstoppable bass hook" from Hillman.

[5] Hillman has stated that he composed the song's bass part during a recording session for South African musician Hugh Masekela.

[5][8] In addition, "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" features the sound of hysterical teenage pop fans screaming.

We were thumbing through a teen magazine and looking at all the unfamiliar faces and we couldn't help thinking: "Wow, what's happening … all of a sudden here is everyone and his brother and his sister-in-law and his mother and even his pet bullfrog singing rock 'n' roll."

[12] To promote the song, the band performed it on a number of television programs, including Popside, Top of the Pops, Drop In, The David Frost Show, and Beat-Club.

[13] The band also performed "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" as the final song of their appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival, with the help of guest musicians Hugh Masekela and Big Black.

[17] Hookfoot, the British group who served as Elton John's backing band for a number of years, also released the song as a single in 1974.

[26] Also, the Dutch rock band Golden Earring covered the song as a bonus track on their This Wheel's on Fire CD single.