I'm compiling a Christmas want list and a big part of it will consist of bios of rock bands and artists. Musical insight is highly valued, but I must confess that I really dig all the dirty and sleazy backstage details. A nice balance of both is ideal.

I already have tons of these types of books, but there are so many out there I think I could buy a new one every day for the rest of my life and still not have all the worthwhile ones. Some of my personal favorites include:

The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones
Hammer of the Gods (Led Zeppelin)
The Love You Make (The Beatles)
'Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky (Hendrix)
Before I Get Old (The Who)
No One Here Gets Out Alive (Doors)

... and many more. What are your favorite rock bios? Recommendations, please!

Not exactly "rock", but Lady Sings the Blues, the Billie Holiday autobio is a must have.

The Miles Davis autobio is also a great read.

C

Ian McLagan's All The Rage.
Not quite a biography: the collection of Tom Waits interviews Innocent When You Dream.

Since you mentioned artists also...I thought I should mention

"Last Train To Memphis" and
"Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley" both by Peter Guralnick.

It is a two book series on the life of Elvis Presley written in excruciating precise detail. The first book focuses on his early life and the second book (which I'm reading now) focuses on the army years all the way to his death.

About 700 pages that cover the years 1960 to 1977 in an impressive and thorough presentation. "Careless Love" explores as the title suggests: "the unmaking of Elvis." It's an incredibly interesting and revealing look at the world's first rock and roll star slowly breaking down.

There are hundreds and hundreds of books on Elvis---this is the definitive and end-all/be-all book about Elvis.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-12-05 19:28 by Justin.

Justin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since you mentioned artists also...I thought I
> should mention
>
> "Last Train To Memphis" and
> "Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley"
> both by Peter Guralnick.
>
> It is a two book series on the life of Elvis
> Presley written in excruciating precise detail.
> The first book focuses on his early life and the
> second book (which I'm reading now) focuses on the
> army years all the way to his death.
>
> About 700 pages that cover the years 1960 to 1977
> in an impressive and thorough presentation.
> "Careless Love" explores as the title suggests:
> "the unmaking of Elvis." It's an incredibly
> interesting and revealing look at the world's
> first rock and roll star slowly breaking down.
>
> There are hundreds and hundreds of books on
> Elvis---this is the definitive and end-all/be-all
> book about Elvis.

Cool, thanks for the recommendation. I'm just realizing that although I have dozens of rock bios I don't have one of Elvis. Sacrilege! (Although in my defense I did read the Goldman Elvis bio years ago - checked it out from the library. Pretty good read although I understand a lot of people have questioned its accuracy over the years).

Not really a bio as such, but "Bill Wyman's Blues Odessey" is an excellent book. Lots of info (as always from the ever-thorough Bill).

"No Anchovies, Please"

ohnonotyouagain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Justin Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Since you mentioned artists also...I thought I
> > should mention
> >
> > "Last Train To Memphis" and
> > "Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley"
> > both by Peter Guralnick.
> >
> > It is a two book series on the life of Elvis
> > Presley written in excruciating precise detail.
>
> > The first book focuses on his early life and
> the
> > second book (which I'm reading now) focuses on
> the
> > army years all the way to his death.
> >
> > About 700 pages that cover the years 1960 to
> 1977
> > in an impressive and thorough presentation.
> > "Careless Love" explores as the title suggests:
> > "the unmaking of Elvis." It's an incredibly
> > interesting and revealing look at the world's
> > first rock and roll star slowly breaking down.
> >
> > There are hundreds and hundreds of books on
> > Elvis---this is the definitive and
> end-all/be-all
> > book about Elvis.
>
> Cool, thanks for the recommendation. I'm just
> realizing that although I have dozens of rock bios
> I don't have one of Elvis. Sacrilege! (Although in
> my defense I did read the Goldman Elvis bio years
> ago - checked it out from the library. Pretty good
> read although I understand a lot of people have
> questioned its accuracy over the years).



No prob! hope you grab them. You can buy them real cheap used on Amazon through private sellers.

Yes, the Goldman bio is completely dissmisable. Riddled with errors and at this point--completely outdated. The Guralnick books are the ONLY thing you'll need to understand the fall of Elvis Presley.

if one memoir of a particular phase & one autobiography count:
James Phelge's Nankering With the Stones
Andrew Oldham's Stoned (and 2Stoned, but i like the first volume way more)

i dont like the band but i think the story of mötley crüe "THE DIRT" was the best i've ever read! it's so @#$%& up, so wild and stupid, so american, so wasted and so funny!

Ditto.
THE DIRT is the best one ever.

I really dug Andy Summers One Train Later, as well.

Just finished Clapton's. Very honest and at times searing. I always think the benchmark of a good auto/bio is if it's interesting even if you're not particularly fan of the subject if that makes sense.

"I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon."

guitarbastard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i dont like the band but i think the story of
> mötley crüe "THE DIRT" was the best i've ever
> read! it's so @#$%& up, so wild and stupid, so
> american, so wasted and so funny!

I don't like the band either, but I've heard many good things about this book and already had it on my list. Also on my list are two newish bios of bands I do like, the RHCP (Scar Tissue) and Jane's Addiction (Whores). Anybody read either of those? I hear they're quite good as well.

'Last Train To Memphis' - Peter Guralnick

'Careless Love' - Peter Guralnick

...2- part Elvis masterpiece.


'Dear Boy' - Tony Fletcher

..wonderful,wonderful Keith Moon bio.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-12-05 22:55 by Adrian-L.

with sssoul Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> if one memoir of a particular phase & one
> autobiography count:
> James Phelge's Nankering With the Stones
> Andrew Oldham's Stoned (and 2Stoned, but i like
> the first volume way more)

Agree totally. Also wanna add Satisfaction by Christopher Sandford,'bout Keef.

Justin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ohnonotyouagain Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Justin Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Since you mentioned artists also...I thought
> I
> > > should mention
> > >
> > > "Last Train To Memphis" and
> > > "Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis
> Presley"
> > > both by Peter Guralnick.
> > >
> > > It is a two book series on the life of Elvis
> > > Presley written in excruciating precise
> detail.
> >
> > > The first book focuses on his early life and
> > the
> > > second book (which I'm reading now) focuses
> on
> > the
> > > army years all the way to his death.
> > >
> > > About 700 pages that cover the years 1960 to
> > 1977
> > > in an impressive and thorough presentation.
> > > "Careless Love" explores as the title
> suggests:
> > > "the unmaking of Elvis." It's an incredibly
> > > interesting and revealing look at the world's
> > > first rock and roll star slowly breaking
> down.
> > >
> > > There are hundreds and hundreds of books on
> > > Elvis---this is the definitive and
> > end-all/be-all
> > > book about Elvis.
> >
> > Cool, thanks for the recommendation. I'm just
> > realizing that although I have dozens of rock
> bios
> > I don't have one of Elvis. Sacrilege! (Although
> in
> > my defense I did read the Goldman Elvis bio
> years
> > ago - checked it out from the library. Pretty
> good
> > read although I understand a lot of people have
> > questioned its accuracy over the years).
>
>
>
> No prob! hope you grab them. You can buy them
> real cheap used on Amazon through private
> sellers.
>
> Yes, the Goldman bio is completely dissmisable.
> Riddled with errors and at this point--completely
> outdated. The Guralnick books are the ONLY thing
> you'll need to understand the fall of Elvis
> Presley.


I heartily recommend James Phelge. Loved that book. Even if it wasn't about the Stones, it is very amusing as a memoir of a bunch of young knuckleheads in their first apratment.

I'm tired, I'm tired of doing what I'm told.
Things are moving way too slow.

dylan's "chronicles" is a work of poetic art and a rare gift well written. i was fascinated throughout.

Dylan's Chronicles
The Beatles Shout
Up and Down With The Rolling Stones
The Lennon Playboy Interviews
Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now
Elvis: Last Train From Memphis
The Rolling Stones It's Only Rock and Roll: The Stories Behind Every Song
Here There And Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles (great one by Geoff Emirick)
Station to Station- (one of those expensive collectables from Genesis Publishing, but an amazing picture and story guide from Geoff MacCormack about his travels with Bowie and his entorouge during the perior from Diamond Dogs tour through Station to Station where Bowie was affraid to fly so they took boats and trains everywhere)

Me, Alice by Alice Cooper.

Not really my favorite but in the "sleazy" category you might want to check out Pamela Des Barres "I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie". It's at least 15 years since I read it but as I recall it was pretty sleazy. Heres a link to Amazon with more details [www.amazon.com]

For some reason the book has Dave Navarro's name associated with it now. If that had been the case 15 years ago I probably wouldn't have bought it. He just kind of gives sleaze a bad name...