I didn't know much about him before the movie and I still don't know much more than his ability to rival out of control rock stars run away libidos.
I think just a little more of his actual accomplishments would have helped us understand him more. Also, there are ways to help the audience figure out the date without projecting it onto the screen. I imagine they were getting into the early years of the hiv epidemic but I guess him taking advantage of a student was more important.