Rock Biographies

[Newch91]

I havent read many, but Clapton's is good

Love that one. One of my favorite biographies. I'm still wondering how he's still alive.

That was an awesome biogrpahy....I couldn't put that book down. I read it in like 3 days. Like you said, how Clapton is still alive is a complete mystery to me. The abuse his body took back in the day is insane.

Same with me. I could not put the book down, except to eat and sleep. I read it my junior year of high school and read it during class. Didn't know who his actual parents were when he was growing up, drug addict, alcoholic, 5 ulsers where he could have easily died, and his son dying. What a life.

[peacegirl]

I've read quite a few and like most of them...Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, Courtney Love, Pearl Jam, Slash, The Doors/Jim Morrison, ...if its someone or a band you're interested in they are usually pretty good. One of my favorites would have to be No One Here Gets Out Alive about Jim Morrison. I think I've read it twice

I have Duff McKagan's (GNR) on hold from my library right now. Am looking forward to reading that one

[stargirl69]

I have read a heap of music biographies but the ones that really stood out for me were,Led Zeppelin:Hammer of the Gods,Aerosmith:Walk This Way,Keith Richards:Life and Motley Crue:Dirt.
I can't stand Motley Crue but a friend gave me their copy, insisting I read it.I couldn't put it down,those guys were such twisted fucks.

[Newch91]

I forgot to mention I loved Led Zeppelin: Hammer of the Gods. I read that every year in high school and I think I've read 10 times.

[Kathi]

Best rock biography I ever read was "Touching From A Distance: Ian Curtis And Joy Division" by Ian's widow Deborah. It's much better than the film based on it ("Control") as the book is much more honest, and the film was made by a friend/fan who was more interested in perpetuating the myth of Ian Curtis than portraying him as a human being. I find the truth about him, flaws and all, much more interesting than the fiction.

I'll have to check this one out, thanks!

The last one I read was This Is A Call - very good, and it tells you a lot about the scene he grew up in.

[Constant Recoil...]

I just recently started reading them...as in I'v only read 3. Steven Tylers book "Does the noise in my head bother you" is wild. It sounds like he is talking to you. Also I have read PJ20 and 5against1. Borrowing "The Heroin Diaries" from a friend soon, they said it was good. Thanks to this thread looks like I now have a whole list

[tybird]

Nick Mason's book on Pink Floyd was a winner....as was "Chapter and Verse.." the story of Genesis. I also enjoyed "Shakey" and "Hammer of the Gods." Pamela Des Barres' first book, "I'm with the Band" was also a good read.

[merkinball]

Shakey was great.

Dylan's Chronicles is a good read, as is Behind the Shades (on Dylan).

Probably my favorite autobiography is Bill Graham Presents, by Bill Graham. Great look at a unique person (and time).

[Thirty Bills Unpaid]

Shakey was great.

Dylan's Chronicles is a good read, as is Behind the Shades (on Dylan).

Probably my favorite autobiography is Bill Graham Presents, by Bill Graham. Great look at a unique person (and time).

Never dug Shakey- as much as i like Neil, the writing seemed very dry to me.

I Am Ozzy was an entertaining read. He's a legitimate nutbar.

[frazba]

Are you sitting comfortably?

Good, I'll begin...

Turned On - Rollins
Redemption Song - Joe Strummer
Dear Boy - Keith Moon
No Irish, no blacks, no dogs - Johnny Rotten/Lydon
Lost in the Woods - Syd Barrett and The Pink Floyd
Keith Richards - Life
Musgrave of the Marshes - John Peel
A life in Music - John Peel
Englands Dreaming - Jon Savage (not a biography/autobiography, but a brilliant book on the early UK punk scene)
No-one here gets out alive - Jim Morrison
Light My Fire - Ray Manzarek
Take it like a Man - Boy George
Bad Seed - Nick Cave
Some People are Crazy - John Martyn
Lowside of the Road - Tom Waits
Shakey - NY

are all brilliant books, I've listed the subject of the book rather than the author 'cos I can't remember who wrote them. There are more but my memory is a bit dodgy. I didn't enjoy the Kurt one (the one Charles Cross wrote) at all. I enjoyed Hammer of the Gods but I'd regard it as fiction rather than an accurate account of Led Zep's career.

[pirlo21]

I really enjoyed this one on Shannon Hoon & Blind Melon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Devil-One-Shoul ... 852&sr=8-1

[Thirty Bills Unpaid]

I really enjoyed this one on Shannon Hoon & Blind Melon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Devil-One-Shoul ... 852&sr=8-1

Going to be buying this one- never even knew it was out there!

[frazba]

How could I forget 'Wilco:Learning How to Die' by Greg Kot, great book on an amazing band.

[pandora]

I liked Janis 1974 Documentary

[randallanddarcy]

Here's some good ones. Just off the top of my head. PJ haven't really had a good one. Some of this list is unauthorized biogs, some are written with approval but no direct artist input, and some are authorized:

"How Black was Our Sabbath"-Black Sabbath-written by a couple of their road crew.
"I Am Ozzy"-Ozzy
"Run To The Hills"-Iron Maiden
"Scar Tissue"-Anthony Kiedis
"Mr. Big"-Don Arden (Sharon Osbourne's dad and legendary agent/promoter/manager/label owner/gangster)
"Life"-Keef
"Hammer of the Gods"-Zep
"Stairway to Heaven"-Zep
"Off the Rails"-Rudy Sarzo (played on Ozzy's Blizzard... and Diary... tours with Randy Rhoads)
"Shakey"-Neil Young
"Zero to Sixty"-Neil Young (this is a weighty Uncle Neil geekoid one. It was a bit too detailed for me).
"Slash"-Slash
"When Giants Walked the Earth"-Led Zep
"The Spider With the Platinum Hair"-Mick Ronson (Bowie's original guitarist with the Spiders From Mars)
"Open Up and Bleed"-Iggy Pop
"Grunge is Dead"-various
"Everybody Loves Our Town"-various
"No-one Here Gets Out Alive"-The Doors/Morrison
"Wonderland Avenue"-Danny Sugarman (A MUST READ)
"Room Full of Mirrors"-Jimi Hendrix
"Heavier Than Heaven"-Nirvana
"The Dirt"-Motley Crue
"Gods, Gangsters and Honour"-various (written by a music lawyer-some crackin' stories)
"Moon the Loon" "AKA "Full Moon"-Keith Moon, written by his PA, 'Dougal'. This might be out now under a different name. My friend's copy is from 1983 or summat and has this title, but I think it's been retitled since. It's a fucking must-read!)
"A Long Strange Trip"-Grateful Dead (brilliant read, and I don't even like the Grateful Dead)

I've yet to check out Tony Iommi's one and Johnny Ramone's one, but I will!