Music Biographies (and the like)

I'm always looking for more reading in this genre, whether it means autobiographies, biographies, oral histories,  or photography collections. 

I've recently loved Nick Mason's 'Inside Out - A Personal History of Pink Floyd' and, of course, my re-read of Crystal Zevon's 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead,' written post-mortem based on Warren's journals and hours of interviews with his friends.

The photography in the full-size of Mason's book makes the hefty weight worth it (this is not a book you read lying down in bed) and his candid literary voice is charming.

by Renee on January 30, 2010 11:34 AM

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Has anybody read any of the Jeff Buckley books? Looking for a recommendation there.

by That Guy on February 2, 2010 4:24 PM

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Good music bios that I've read....

The Dirt - Motley Crue
The Big Man - Clarence Clemons
3862 Days - Blur
Man in Black - Johnny Cash
Getting High - Oasis

by supashoppa on February 2, 2010 5:03 PM

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What's the tone of Clarence's book?

by Renee on February 2, 2010 8:43 PM

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marcus gray had a great bio of the clash ("the last gang in town") and there is a post-r&r hof version of the book out: "return of the last gang in town". the first book was great, i may have to pick up the update.

by gordon getgo on February 3, 2010 12:27 PM

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The Clarence book is a must for any Bruce fan. The book alternates chapters from Clarence and his co-writer to myths. Clarence talks in chapters about stories meeting Bruce, stories about his life, stories on the road, etc. The co-writer's chapters talk of seeing Clarence and Bruce from a spectator. A lot of insight on what it's like to travel with the band, to have lunch with Clarence, etc. The Myth chapters are vague recollections of moments in his life that may or may not be true, since there's no proof that they happened. Such as playing pool with Hunter S Thompson and Castro in Cuba, to a road trip with Bruce and Matsui of the Yankees.

If you're a Bruce/E Street fan, a definite read.

by supashoppa on February 3, 2010 3:41 PM

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Sooo...I'm a huge book nerd. I will read just about anything but being a music fan as well I love reading biographies. Among them...

(Just last Fall I went on a Clash tangent.*)

Antonino D'Ambrosi's, Let Fury Have The Hour: the Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer. (Loved this book.)

Chris Salewicz', Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer.

(Though, already mentioned...) Marcus Gray, The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town.

Not a book but I also watched The Clash: Westway To The World. Really enjoyed it.

(Currently I am on an 'Outlaw Country' kick.)

Colin Escott, Hank Williams.

Waylon Jennings & Lenny Kaye, Waylon: An Autobiography.

(And now reading...) Joe Nick Patoski's, Willie Nelson.

by rhyte on February 3, 2010 8:54 PM

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Being a music-nut I love reading biographies. Not everyone I've read have been worth it but here are some that have:

White Line Fever by Lemmy Kilmister
Not a big Motörhead-fan myself but it was highly entertaining and made me more of a fan.

Five Against One by Kim Neely
This was the first Pearl Jam biography I ever read and through the years I've found some of what's said in it to be contradicting but that's a typical Pearl Jam-thing. ;)

Being a KoRn fan I of course had to read both
Save Me From Myself by Brian 'Head' Welch and
Got The Life by Fieldy
Not being a religious person myself I had no issues with the religious themes of both books but rather found it interesting how differently two persons, who came from similar backgrounds chose to let religion into their lives and how that changed them.

The Long Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson
Once again, not a huge fan of Manson but I've always found him fascinating. Let's just say the book added to that by giving me insight into a humor I really like.

The Dirt by Mötley Crüe and Herione Diaries by Nikki Sixx
Two must reads for Crüe-fans but I'd like to point out that anyone would gain from reading Sixx's book. It's one of those books that stays with you.

Currently I'm reading Watch You Bleed - The saga of Gun's n' Roses by Stephen Davis and Gentlemen (33 1/3) by Bob Gendron.
I think you can guess which one of those I find most interesting. ;)

by Tea on February 4, 2010 3:22 AM

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The oral history of the Replacements by James Walsh is good

I slept with Joey Ramone is great

and

Things the grandchildren should know by Mark Oliver Everett (E from the Eeels) is a wonderful book

by Jay on February 4, 2010 11:01 AM

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A friend, who's a major Buckley fan, recommemded me Dream Brother.

by Tea on February 6, 2010 6:24 PM

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I like the stuff Henry Rollins writes. I own The Portable Henry Rollins and pick it up every now and then. He went through some pretty dark and traumatic things and writes not only from a perspective of wanting to understand himself and how things affected him, but also wanting to understand the places and other people he encounters. A lot of autobiographical rock writing is very self-centered, and the only person you walk away from reading it understanding is the writer, whereas Rollins is genuinely curious about what makes others tick too and there's a lot of exploration of what it means to be human, not just what it means to be Henry Rollins. He offers an interesting perspective on L. A. too.

by Stephanie on February 7, 2010 11:15 AM

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I can't recommend this book enough...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Band_Could_Be_Your_Life

detailed look into the bands that formed what most of take for granted in music today.

by Tidal on February 7, 2010 2:27 PM

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A very good book indeed - almost a manual for DIY

by Jay on February 8, 2010 10:28 AM

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Those are great Stephanie. I like "Art To Choke Hearts" and "Pissing In the Gene Pool" the best, I think.

Other favorites:

And I Don't Want To Live This Life by Deborah Spungen - If you're a fan of "Sid And Nancy", and want more back story, I highly recommend it.

Be My Baby by Ronnie Spector - She was married to Phil Spector, so you could just imagine the nutty shenanigans.

Fleetwood by Mick Fleetwood - Proves they're not just a boring Soft Rock band.

Touching From A Distance by Deborah Curtis - The movie "Closer" was based on this.

Bio to avoid - When I Grow Up by Juliana Hatfield

by Deb NY on February 10, 2010 6:32 PM

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Wants:
*The Big Man - Clarence Clemons
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Band_Could_Be_Your_Life"
*And I Don't Want To Live This Life by Deborah Spungen
*Fleetwood by Mick Fleetwood

"Waylon Jennings & Lenny Kaye, Waylon: An Autobiography" I enjoyed the hell outta that book.

"Watch You Bleed - The saga of Gun's n' Roses by Stephen Davis " what'd you think? I wouldn't mind reading a GNR book.

The only Rollins I've read is Get in the Van. It seems inevitable I'll read more because there are just SO many and he's very entertaining.

Deb, I like your inclusion of a bio to avoid. I'll add to that list "Gigantic: The Story of Frank Black & The Pixies." It's terribly biased and full of nonsense. Apparently, the writer asked Frank to contribute and when he refused, the tone of the book became hostile.

by Renee on February 12, 2010 10:13 PM

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I'm currently reading "Watch You Bleed". Or really, I've been reading it for the last 6 months. My copy of it is too bulky to carry around so the only place I can read it is in bed. *hee*

It's somewhat focused on Axl (although I've read band biographies that has been much more focused on one person) but it's still an interesting read if you're a former or current Gn'R fan.

"And I Don't Want To Live This Life" by Deborah Spungen was one of the first biographies I ever read and so far I've re-read it twice. Although I find the 'Sid & Nancy'-story intriguing I like it more for the portrait of a mother's struggle to understand and help her child.

by Tea on February 24, 2010 9:33 AM

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