what are the best music biographies

100 Must-Read Musician Memoirs and Biographies

Ashley Holstrom

Ashley Holstrom helps make books at Sourcebooks. She lives near Chicago with her cat named after Hemingway and her bookshelves organized by color. Newsletter: Crooked Reads . Twitter: @alholstrom .

View All posts by Ashley Holstrom

At least, that’s how I ended up obsessed with Guns N’ Roses. And The Doors. And Motley Crue. And Aerosmith. And, in the future, many more that I’m holding on to for just the right moment.

Here are 100 musician memoirs and biographies, sorted by the music’s genre (loosely defined), to get you rockin’ and rollin’ and movin’ and groovin’.

Country/Folk

My Cross to Bear by Gregg Allman

Bound for Glory by Woody Guthrie

Rat Girl by Kristin Hersh

Love, Janis by Laura Joplin

Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn, George Vecsey

Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography by Jimmy McDonough

Reba: My Story by Reba McEntire, Tom Carter

It’s a Long Story: My Life by Willie Nelson

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock by Gene Odom, Frank Dorman

Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir by Linda Ronstadt

The 50th Law by 50 Cent, Robert Greene

Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm by Percy Carey, Ronald Wimberly

Fight the Power: Rap, Race, and Reality by Chuck D, Yusuf Jah

The Way I Am by Eminem

Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption-from South Central to Hollywood by Ice-T, Douglas Century

Unashamed by Lecrae Moore

The Tao of Wu by The RZA

The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur

How to Ruin Everything: Essays by George Watsky

Gone ‘Til November by Lil Wayne

The Good Life by Tony Bennett

The Godfather of Soul: An Autobiography by James Brown

Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker by Stanley Crouch

Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis

Can’t Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters by Robert Gordon

Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography of B.B. King by B.B. King, David Ritz

John Coltrane: His Life and Music by Lewis Porter

Jazz Cleopatra: Josephine Baker in Her Time by Phyllis Rose

Now and Then… by Gil Scott-Heron

Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong by Terry Teachout

Pop/Punk/Reggae/Ska

Catch a Fire: The Autobiography by Melanie B.

Black By Design: A 2-Tone Memoir by Pauline Black

Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of the Clash by Pat Gilbert

Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout by Laura Jane Grace

If Only by Geri Halliwell

Herbie Hancock: Possibilities by Herbie Hancock, Lisa Dickey

Reckless: My Life as a Pretender by Chrissie Hynde

Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs by John Lydon

I’ll Never Write My Memoirs by Grace Jones, Paul Morley

A Natural Woman: A Memoir by Carole King

Army of She: Icelandic, Iconoclastic, Irrepressible Björk by Evelyn McDonnell

Lobotomy: Surviving the Ramones by Dee Dee Ramone

Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag by Henry Rollins

Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life As a Fabulous Ronette by Ronnie Spector, Vince Waldron

Rod: The Autobiography by Rod Stewart

Diana Ross: A Biography by J. Randy Taraborrelli

In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran by Nigel John Taylor

I, Tina by Tina Turner, Kurt Loder

Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley by Timothy White

Pharrell: Places and Spaces I’ve Been by Pharrell Williams

Rock ‘n’ Roll

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine

Between a Heart and a Rock Place: A Memoir by Pat Benatar

Chuck Berry: The Autobiography by Chuck Berry

Moonage Daydream: The Life & Times of Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie

Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein

Lips Unsealed: A Memoir by Belinda Carlisle

Cash by Johnny Cash

Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton

Journals by Kurt Cobain

Not Dead Yet by Phil Collins

Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello

  Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix by Charles R. Cross

Neon Angel by Cherie Currie

Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division by Deborah Curtis

Hammer of the Gods by Stephen Davis

Things The Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett

Fleetwood: My Life and Adventures in Fleetwood Mac by Mick Fleetwood, Stephen Davis

Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon

Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick

Diary of a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star by Ian Hunter

Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol

Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury by Lesley-Ann Jones

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

White Line Fever by Lemmy Kilmister

The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee

Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead by Phil Lesh

Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love by Courtney Love

The Long Hard Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson

Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd by Nick Mason, Philip Dodd

It’s So Easy: And Other Lies by Duff McKagan

Autobiography by Morrissey

Joan Jett by Todd Oldham, Joan Jett

I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne

Rocks: My Life in and out of Aerosmith by Joe Perry

Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley

Life by Keith Richards

Crazy from the Heat by David Lee Roth

Bird Lives!: The High Life & Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker by Ross Russell

Slash by Slash, Anthony Bozza

Somebody to Love?: A Rock-and-Roll Memoir by Grace Slick, Andrea Cagan

Just Kids by Patti Smith

Face the Music: A Life Exposed by Paul Stanley

Seven Deadly Sins: Settling the Argument Between Born Bad and Damaged Good by Corey Taylor

Who I Am by Pete Townshend

The Real Frank Zappa Book by Frank Zappa, Peter Occhiogrosso

Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke by Peter Guralnick

Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday, William Dufty

Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz

Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues by Elijah Wald

Hit Me, Fred: Recollections of a Sideman by Fred Wesley

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Best Music Autobiographies: 20 Memoirs From Legendary Rockers

Exploring the life and times of rock’n’roll’s most iconic stars, the best music autobiographies give us an insider’s look at stardom.

Providing a unique opportunity to glimpse into the minds of rock’n’roll’s most legendary figures, the best music autobiographies serve as a reminder of just how much these icons have shaped popular culture. From blues-rock journeyman Eric Clapton to genre-shaping visionary David Bowie , these memoirs delve deep into their authors’ psyches, going beyond their stage-based antics to explore their upbringing and give us a behind-the-scenes insight into their experiences of fame and stardom. Here, then, are the best music autobiographies – books that provide an intimate look at the lives and careers of some of the industry’s most legendary figures.

Listen to our Rock Classics playlist here , and check out the best music autobiographies, below.

20: chrissie hynde: ‘reckless: my life as a pretender’ (2015).

Reckless: My Life As A Pretender , by Chrissie Hynde, is a humorous and frank account of the new wave era songwriter’s life story. Known for her incomparable voice, style and attitude, Hynde weaves a witty and colourful narrative that follows her career journey from Akron, Ohio, to London in the 70s, where she formed Pretenders . Hynde candidly describes her harrowing experiences with grief following the deaths of bandmates James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, and reveals intimate details about her exploration of music, love and identity. Full of vivid storytelling, Reckless is a sharp-witted and eye-opening read among the best music autobiographies.

19: John Densmore: ‘Riders On The Storm: My Life With Jim Morrison And The Doors’ (1990)

Taking readers on a journey through his experiences as a founding member of The Doors , drummer John Densmore’s memoir, Riders On The Storm: My Life With Jim Morrison And The Doors , preceded the release of Oliver Stone’s 1991 Doors biopic, starring Val Kilmer. Given that Densmore acted as a consultant for that film, it’s hardly a surprise to discover that his memoir is just as compelling, recalling the time he spent making music with one of the best rock frontmen of all time , Jim Morrison , along with bandmates Ray Manzarek (keyboards) and Robby Krieger (guitar). The drummer guides readers through the wild ride of The Doors’ Los Angeles origins and on to their ascent as classic rock’s warrior kings. Readers will be fascinated by Densmore’s candid revelations about living in the eye of the storm that was the 60s counterculture, replete with details about all aspects of his life during that era, as well as reflecting upon how it shaped who he is today.

18: Debbie Harry: ‘Face It: A Memoir’ (2019)

Covering everything from her CBGB-era punk beginnings in the 70s, as the frontwoman for Blondie, to her various side projects as an actress and solo artist, Debbie Harry’s memoir, Face It , is a typically provocative account of her rise to frame. Unafraid to share secrets and embarrassing moments from her life – from details about her wild romantic relationships to discussing her struggles with heroin addiction, Harry’s frankness makes Face It a truly eye-opening read. Offering a window into her deep insights into how she fought bouts of depression, the book is a truly self-reflective primer on how to maintain a sense of confidence while navigating the darker aspects of fame.

17: Neil Young: ‘Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream’ (2012)

A gold rush of memories, Neil Young ’s memoir Waging Heavy Peace is an idiosyncratic and non-linear retelling of the singer-songwriter’s life. One of the best music autobiographies of recent years, it details the ups and downs of Young’s career, from his days as a folk-rock pioneer to becoming one of the best songwriters of all time . Through this book, readers get to see how the Canadian rocker has infused his music with personal stories and emotions that transcend generations. Speaking candidly about his passion for recording music and writing songs that have become evergreen classics, Young reflects on both his successes and failures, offering valuable lessons on how to be creative without compromising your values or goals. His words will inspire any budding creative.

16: Rod Stewart: ‘Rod: The Autobiography’ (2012)

Rod Stewart’s memoir, Rod: The Autobiography , is an entertaining and amusing story that goes beyond handbags and gladrags to follow Stewart’s career path from London mod to world-renowned rock star. The former Faces frontman and Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? hitmaker recounts his rollicking journey with impish humour, his natural charisma shining through every page as he reflects on the struggles and successes he has experienced during his long career. Throughout it all, while recounting stories about early influences such as Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, Stewart remains self-deprecating and witty while never forgetting to mention those who have helped him along the way.

15: Eric Clapton: ‘Clapton: The Autobiography’ (2007)

The music industry is filled with legends, but few have had as big an impact as Eric Clapton. With a career spanning almost six decades, Clapton’s influence on popular music has been profound and enduring, so it’s hardly a surprise that his autobiography is also remarkable. Already known for his virtuoso guitar talents, Clapton’s writing style is accessible and heart-rending, containing stories such as the tragic death of his four-year-old son and his personal triumph of overcoming alcoholism. By candidly detailing his difficult upbringing, his childhood struggles with abandonment and identity, and the romantic relationships that defined different stages of his life, this is a must-read among the best music autobiographies.

14: Bob Dylan: ‘Chronicles: Volume One’ (2004)

Bob Dylan, the era-defining songwriter, caused a cultural earthquake when he released Chronicles: Volume One . Often cryptic and mysterious in his lyrics, nobody expected Dylan to reflect upon his life and career as eruditely as he does here, running as he does through a series of honest and introspective stories and recollections. From his early days as an up-and-coming folk musician in New York City’s Greenwich Village to his rise to global stardom and the subsequent demands of living with the baggage of the “voice of his generation” tag, Dylan offers an intimate look at how his journey has shaped him both as an artist and a human being. An enlightening entry among the best music autobiographies, Chronicles: Volume One has a raw honesty that captures the essence of Dylan’s unique voice, providing readers with an insight into the mind of one of a truly world-changing artist.

13: Keith Richards: ‘Life’ (2010)

It goes without saying that Keith Richards is the ultimate rock’n’roll survivor. Giving us a first-hand look at the wild world of The Rolling Stones, the legendary guitarist’s biography, Life , chronicles his life from childhood to adulthood and everything in between, including his humble beginnings growing up in Dartford, England, and international fame as the spiritual figurehead of one of the British Invasion’s most notorious rock bands. An intimate portrait of Richards’ personal journey through celebrity, Life features stories about Richards’ escapades with Mick Jagger, as well as his headline-grabbing experiences with drugs. In addition to humorous anecdotes about life on the road, the guitarist talks candidly about how he was able to emerge from addiction intact and how music has been a source of solace throughout his life.

12: Phil Collins: ‘Not Dead Yet: The Autobiography’ (2016)

Phil Collins ’ autobiography, Not Dead Yet , is an honest recount of his life and career. From the start, Collins speaks openly about his upbringing – he was drawn to music from an early age, taking up the drums at five years old and eventually becoming the drummer for prog-rock band Genesis. Written with great humility, the book moves between periods in Collins’ life, discussing his experiences with divorce as well as his professional successes, such as recording with Genesis and launching a successful solo career. Whether speaking about recording sessions or touring experiences, it becomes clear that Collins has lived an extraordinary life full of unique moments that have helped shape him into the star we know today.

11: Peter Hook: ‘Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division’ (2012)

As the bassist for Joy Division – one of the most influential post-punk bands of the late 70s – Peter Hook provides an intimate look at the band’s rise to prominence in Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division . Through a series of personal reflections, he takes readers behind the scenes to explore how Joy Division created its foreboding sound. Revealing unknown details about life on tour and what it was like working alongside frontman Ian Curtis , who committed suicide at age 23, the book offers captivating accounts of the band’s turbulent history. Through Hook’s words, we come to understand why Joy Division was so special – they were able to take dark themes such as death and despair and turn them into something beautiful through their music. Having penned one of the best music biographies of all time, Hook then went and did it all over again with a follow-up. Substance: Inside New Order , which continues the story of his game-changing career.

10: David Bowie with Mick Rock: ‘Moonage Daydream: The Life And Times Of Ziggy Stardust’ (2002)

Moonage Daydream: The Life And Times Of Ziggy Stardust is a captivating visual biography documenting the incredible rise to fame of one of music’s most influential figures. Alongside extraordinary photographs by Mick Rock, the ever mysterious David Bowie himself recounts his creative journey from glam-rock provocateur to art-rock Renaissance man, providing an insightful look into his genius and offering a rare glimpse into the work he created in the 70s. Capturing the energy and spirit of Ziggy Stardust’s artistic inception, Moonage Daydream truly highlights how Bowie’s contributions to popular culture profoundly affected music for generations to come.

9: Johnny Marr: ‘Set The Boy Free: The Autobiography’ (2016)

Set The Boy Free , the autobiography of The Smiths ’ guitarist Johnny Marr , serves as an incredible and honest look at the indie sensation’s life. Following Marr from his childhood in Manchester, England, to becoming one of the best guitarists of all time , the book vividly recounts his experience teaming up with Morrissey to form The Smiths, and how the pair revolutionised the 80s indie-rock scene. Weaving together tales from throughout his life – growing up as a working-class kid on a council estate; falling in love with the guitar – Marr’s autobiography offers a definitive take on how he did the unthinkable and made guitar music cool again.

8: Nile Rodgers: ‘Le Freak: An Upside Down Story Of Family, Disco And Destiny’ (2011)

Le Freak: An Upside Down Story Of Family, Disco And Destiny invites readers to learn more about the life of one of the world’s most influential musicians – the guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers . From his early days as a session musician to becoming a gatekeeper of funk and disco as the guitarist for Chic , Rodgers tells a rich and captivating story, drawing from his unconventional upbringing as well as his personal accounts of mental-health issues, and substance abuse. An intimate look at how the genre-defying artist found success despite life’s many roadblocks (he would go on to produce records for David Bowie, Duran Duran and Madonna , and collaborate with Daft Punk on the globe-straddling hit Get Lucky), Rodgers strings together anecdotes that are both funny and heartbreaking, and his free-spirited energy sees him faithfully recapture moments of joy and sorrow through vivid accounts of his career highs and lows.

7: Stephen Morris: ‘Record Play Pause: Confessions Of A Post-Punk Percussionist’ (2019)

Much like his bandmate Peter Hook, drummer Stephen Morris’ memoir Record Play Pause is an account of Joy Division’s early punk and post-punk days in 70s Britain. Through his personal recollections, readers gain an inside view into what it was like for Morris to be part of the musical revolution Joy Division engendered, as the drummer offers a glimpse into his childhood in Macclesfield, as well as his teenage years spent largely discovering music and exploring the sounds that would define him for years to come. From getting his first drum set at 14, through to recording with Joy Division, this memoir provides a candid look at how post-punk began. Record Play Pause also has a sequel, Fast Forward , which takes the story into the New Order era and also deserves a mention among the best music autobiographies.

6: Rob Halford: ‘Confess: The Autobiography’ (2020)

Rob Halford, the lead singer of the heavy metal band Judas Priest, gave fans a raw and honest look at his life in his autobiography, Confess . As he reflects on his career, personal struggles and relationships, it’s easy to see why Halford has become an icon for heavy metal music over the years, so diehard fans of Judas Priest will definitely want to pick up this book and read more about the man behind some of their favourite songs. Confess offers an in-depth look into Halford’s surprisingly multi-faceted life, with plenty of stories about his time in Judas Priest, touring the world, coming out as a pioneering LGBTQ+ icon and dealing with addiction issues. Halford also talks candidly about how it felt to be a rock star in a genre that wasn’t always accepted by mainstream society. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of heavy metal, this book is an insightful entry among the best music biographies.

5: Ozzy Osbourne: ‘I Am Ozzy’ (2009)

As the “Godfather Of Heavy Metal”, Ozzy Osbourne uses I Am Ozzy as a chance to run through his thrilling and tumultuous career, allowing fans to get a deeper look at his life as he recounts all his ups and downs in an honest and often humorous way. Written in a conversational style that feels as though you’re sitting with a long-lost friend, I Am Ozzy gives readers insight into what it was like growing up in post-war England, becoming the frontman for hard-rock giants Black Sabbath, dealing with drug addiction and depression, and finding success again with solo hits such as Crazy Train. Osbourne also dives into his latter years, discussing his family and how his wife, Sharon, is responsible for putting him on the path to sobriety.

4: Nick Mason: ‘Inside Out: A Personal History Of Pink Floyd’ (2004)

Inside Out: A Personal History Of Pink Floyd , by drummer Nick Mason, is a must-read for any fan of the iconic band. In this first-hand account of the group’s history, Mason recounts Pink Floyd’s incredible journey, from their early psychedelic-rock days to their massive prog-rock successes in the 70s and 80s. With vivid detail, Mason takes readers through every major moment in the group’s history, including the stories behind their first hit single, Arnold Layne, and their ambitious concept album The Wall. Throughout, Mason paints an evocative picture of life inside one of Britain’s most renowned bands, not only addressing the creative process but also shedding light on moments of joy and camaraderie, when his bandmates supported each other during some of the toughest times. It’s an engaging and fascinating read.

3: Bruce Springsteen: ‘Born To Run’ (2016)

Born To Run is a testament to Bruce Springsteen’s personal resilience and his unwavering commitment to the spirit of rock’n’roll. Chronicling The Boss’ early days growing up in New Jersey, as well as his rise to fame as the lead songwriter in The E Street Band, it’s an emotional journey from the man’s own viewpoint, filled with both joy and sorrow. As well as Springsteen’s recollections of life on tour, we also get honest accounts of his long-standing relationships with family members. From tales of personal struggles and career triumphs to reflections on the power of music in our lives, Born To Run is one of the best music autobiographies out there, regardless of whether you’re a Springsteen fan or not.

2: Elton John: ‘Me’ (2019)

Elton John’s Me is a witty and self-effacing autobiography that traces the life of one of Britain’s greatest songwriters. Covering decades of John’s emotional ups and downs, the book offers revealing accounts of his drug addiction, his troubled love life and his struggle to come to terms with his sexuality, as well as his career as a celebrated singer-songwriter. With behind-the-scenes stories about how some of his best-loved songs were written, John speaks most profoundly about the impact fame has had on him, and Me explores themes such as loneliness and depression to great effect. A companion piece to the 2019 biopic Rocketman , starring Taron Egerton, Me does wonders in capturing the essence of Elton John.

1: Anthony Kiedis: ‘Scar Tissue’ (2004)

Anthony Kiedis’ memoir, Scar Tissue , is a revealing and no-holds-barred account of the Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman’s life. Following Kiedis through both tremendous career success and deep personal pain, readers will discover the highs and lows of a life lived on the edge – expect rampant substance abuse, wild sexual escapades, broken relationships and many other extreme experiences. Kiedis writes candidly about his struggles with addiction as well as his spiritual journey to sobriety while balancing his personal life with the demands of being in one of the best 90s bands . Kiedis also shares stories from his unconventional childhood growing up in Los Angeles, where fame was always nearby – he even recounts once being babysat by Sonny And Cher. In the end, Scar Tissue is a heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting read, as Kiedis eventually finds peace through self-acceptance and redemption. And that’s why it tops our list of the best rock autobiographies.

Now check out the best music biographies .

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Passionate and highly personal accounts of extraordinary lives, the best music memoirs offer everything from creative insights to rock’n’roll excess.

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Many musicians have a great story to tell about their action-packed lives – and the best music memoirs are always passionate and highly personal. Some focus on creative journeys and a search for artistic fulfillment; some offer accounts of wild parties and other rock’n’roll excesses. Some classics, such as Woody Guthrie’s Bound For Glory and Miles Davis ’ Miles: The Autobiography , were written decades ago, but there have been some great modern additions to the canon, by greats such as Elton John , Patti Smith, Keith Richards , and Debbie Harry.

Here are our 30 best music memoirs of all time. Think we’ve missed one of yours? Let us know in the comments section, below.

30: Woody Guthrie: Bound For Glory (EP Dutton, 1943)

The autobiography of Woody Guthrie, written with the help of his first wife, Marjorie, detailed the folk singer’s travels across America and his experiences as a fruit-picker living in a hobo camp. Bound For Glory has its own charm as it explains the background behind one of the 20th-century’s most important musicians. Guthrie’s boyhood gang, who features in the memoir, provided the inspiration for the name of Bob Geldof’s band The Boomtown Rats.

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29: george melly: owning up (penguin, 1965).

Owning Up was singer George Melly’s first-hand account of the professional jazz world of the 50s. After giving up work in an art gallery, Melly was drawn into the jazz revival. In Owning Up , the first of a series of memoirs by the Liverpudlian, Melly humorously describes an endless round of pubs, clubs, seedy guest-houses and transport cafés, and the weird array of musicians, drunks, and eccentrics that were part of that vanished music scene.

28: Booker T Jones: Time Is Right: My Life Note By Note (Omnibus, 2019)

Booker T Jones , the leader of the acclaimed Stax Records house band Booker T And The MGs, is integral to the history of 60s soul music. His self-penned memoir is full of great stories about musicians such as Otis Redding and Dr John – and offers an interesting account of his own musical education, including his love of Blue Note pianist Horace Silver . He is also modest about his own talent, writing in praise of Ray Charles , for example, that he could not match his way of playing ‘I Got A Woman’. “Ray played with such precision and did not miss a note or beat, every note exactly in place, singing at the same time! I couldn’t even play it in time.” This, by the way, comes from the man who helped create the instrumental masterpiece ‘Green Onions’ , a song Barack Obama invited him to perform at The White House.

27: Chuck Berry: The Autobiography (Harmony Books, 1987)

Chuck Berry was keen to let everyone know that he had not paid for a ghostwriter. “The book is entirely written, phrase by phrase, by yours truly, Chuck Berry,” he wrote in the introduction to his 1987 autobiography. It’s no surprise that the man who wrote classics such as ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ and ‘Johnny B Goode’ has a clever way with words as he offers a compelling view of being subject to the injustices of racism while also charting his place in the founding of rock’n’roll.

26: Nile Rodgers: Le Freak (Little, Brown, 2011)

Nile Rodgers, the child of jazz-obsessed junkies, had an action-packed life. He jammed with Jimi Hendrix , toured with Big Bird on Sesame Street ’s roadshow, and played in the legendary Apollo Theatre house band. He was also a key part of the “sex, drugs and disco ” revolution of the 70s as the co-founder and guitarist for Chic. His memoir is an exhilarating, blunt tale of an amazing musical journey.

25: Iggy Pop: I Need More (Karz-Cohl Publishing, 1997)

Iggy Pop , who was born James Osterberg, was considered one of the grand old men of punk rock when he wrote what he described as “a kind of autobiography in fragments” in the late 90s. The book ranges from his childhood in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the evolution of his seminal rock band, The Stooges. Pop details his reckless adventures and troubles in his own frank and indomitable manner.

24: Boy George: Take It Like A Man (HarperCollins, 1995)

Boy George, the star of Culture Club , was characteristically provocative in an autobiography that showed off his droll wit. He deals with his childhood as the self-dubbed “pink sheep” of a large working-class family, and talks about coming out and his teenage fascination with David Bowie and Marc Bolan . His is funny about his jet-setting life as a pop celebrity and open about his heroin addiction. He also deals with his bizarre spat with author Anthony Burgess, who had criticized his abilities as a musician.

23: James Brown: The Godfather Of Soul (Da Capo Press, 1986)

James Brown opens up about his dirt-poor childhood in an Augusta brothel and how he went on to overcome huge obstacles to find wealth and fame. There are good anecdotes about Little Richard , Elvis Presley , Tina Turner, and Otis Redding , but the most vivid parts of the book are about Brown’s time in a juvenile center. He also discusses the brave stand he took following the assassination of his friend Martin Luther King .

22: Quincy Jones: Q: The Autobiography Of Quincy Jones (Hodder & Stoughton, 2001)

Quincy Jones is one of the most significant producer/arranger/composers of the modern era and Q is an acutely personal book. Jones gives a no-holds-barred account of his life, from his mother’s mental illness to working with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson . He also discusses his own nervous breakdown after the triumph of Thriller , and his failed marriages.

21: Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner’s Daughter (Knopf Doubleday, 2010)

Loretta Lynn has lived a remarkable life and her memoir tells the story of her impoverished childhood in Kentucky, her marriage at 13, her six children, and how she battled to become one of the most influential songwriters and singers in country music. Her powerful story is told in a feisty, open style, detailing how she bucked against a life where “there was always a man telling me what to do”. The audio version was brilliantly narrated by actress Sissy Spacek.

20: Gil Scott-Heron: The Last Holiday (Grove Press, 2012)

Songwriter, poet, and activist Gil Scott-Heron died at 62 in May 2011. His posthumously published memoir, The Last Holiday , is an elegiac finale to his musical and literary career. He offers a perceptive, funny, and compassionate account of his life, its tribulations, and the inspirations for his brilliant, socially-conscious music.

19: James Fearnley: Here Comes Everybody: The Story Of The Pogues (Faber, 2012)

The Pogues first formed in 1982 as Pogue Mahone (Gaelic for “kiss my arse”) and were one of the groundbreaking bands of the era. James Fearnley, The Pogues’ accordion player, brings to life the youthful friendships, the bust-ups, the grim gigs and the drunkenness of his times with a band fronted by the alcoholic Shane McGowan.

18: Willie Nelson: It’s A Long Story: My Life (Little, Brown, 2015)

There have been numerous books about Willie Nelson – including his own 1988 publication, Willie: An Autobiography – but the most unvarnished is 2015’s It’s A Long Story: My Life . This book captures Nelson’s humor and spirit and goes off at interesting tangents. The country music singer, an avid reader, talks about the influence of the TS Eliot poem ‘East Coker’ on his own song ‘Still Is Still Moving To Me’. Nelson is a true one-off and that shines through in this tale.

17 Jay-Z: Decoded (Random House, 2010)

From drug dealer to multimillionaire rapper, Jay-Z ’s story, as told in Decoded , is gripping. Part art book, part lyrical compilation, and part personal narrative, Decoded is also a defense of rap music. “Rap took the remnants of a dying society and created something new,” says the man born Shawn Carter in New York in 1969.

16: Johnny Marr: Set The Boy Free (Penguin, 2017)

Johnny Marr’s autobiography, Set The Boy Free , was, unsurprisingly, less grandiose than Morrissey ’s memoir. The Smiths had a huge influence on music in the 80s and Marr was one of the most influential guitarists of his generation. His memoir, which deals with the break-up of the band and his subsequent career, is witty and moving. Some of the most affecting parts are his memories of growing up in Ardwick Green, Manchester.

15: Roger Daltrey: Roger Daltrey, My Story: Thanks A Lot Mr. Kibblewhite (Blink Publishing, 2018)

The Who members have a rich story to tell. After Pete Townshend ’s Who Am I , published in 2013, there came Roger Daltrey’s punchy memoir, which told the story of his journey to rock stardom. It’s a funny and open account. (The title, incidentally, refers to the headmaster who expelled Daltrey from Acton County Grammar School when he was 15. Daltrey’s generation could certainly hold a grudge.)

14: Mötley Crüe: The Dirt: Confessions Of The World’s Most Notorious Rock Band (HarperCollins, 2001)

Mötley Crüe ’s off-stage antics were as wild as their music, and the 2001 memoir The Dirt was a collective autobiography written by Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil, and Nikki Sixx. A genuinely entertaining, shocking book, it became a bestseller in 2001. In March 2019 a film adaptation was given its Netflix debut.

13: Johnny Cash: Cash (HarperCollins, 2000)

There have been several biographies about country music legend Johnny Cash , but in 2000 he gave his own revealing account of his life. He covered the early days at Sun Records – with Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis – to his rise as a country superstar. Cash offers interesting details about his own complex character and opens up about his recurring addiction to amphetamines and his shortcomings as a father. This follow-up to 1986’s The Man In Black memoir is also full of wonderful oddities, such as the time he was nearly disemboweled by an ostrich.

12: Marianne Faithfull: Memories, Dreams And Reflections (HarperCollins, 2007)

Many of the stories about Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger almost belong to folklore, but she proves herself to be a witty, eccentric storyteller in Memories, Dreams And Reflections . Her background is fascinating, too. Her father was an ex-MI6 spy who had interrogated Himmler. As well as stories about fellow musicians, the singer, who had a hit with ‘As Tears Go By’, reflects on poet Allen Ginsberg. She also recalls how, high on smack, she walked away from the part of Lady Macbeth given to her by Roman Polanski. The book is a quirky treat.

11: Debbie Harry: Face It (HarperCollins, 2019)

As part of Blondie , singer and actress Debbie Harry was one of the most original and successful female singers of the 70s. Her tales of stardom are vivid, and her account of growing up is self-deprecating and amusing; there are stories galore of sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll in this entertaining memoir. She also offers surprises, as with her recollections about her passion for jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday , Dizzy Gillespie, and Ornette Coleman.

10: Elvis Costello: Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink (Penguin, 2016)

For Elvis Costello fans, the 2016 memoir Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink was rich in details about his own writing process and the experiences and emotions that inspired classic songs such as ‘Alison’ and ‘Oliver’s Army’. Costello offers wry details about his background – his father, Ross MacManus, was a dance-hall performer – and the stories about his collaborations with giants such as Paul McCartney , Burt Bacharach , and Allen Toussaint are riveting.

9: Bruce Springsteen: Born To Run (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

The man known as “The Boss” has been one of the most dominant figures in rock music for more than 40 years. His forthright memoir sheds light on his long-standing battle with depression, his troubled relationship with his father, and his own searing ambitions. This is an enjoyable, candid self-portrait by a fine songwriter and complicated man.

8: Chrissie Hynde: Reckless: My Life As A Pretender (Ebury, 2015)

Singer-songwriter Chrissie Hynde admits in the prologue to her memoir that she waited to publish her autobiography until her straitlaced parents had died: “I would have had to leave out the bad language and tell a lot of lies about what I’d been doing all that time I was gone.” The result is a compelling, candid account of the music business, one filled with memorable anecdotes and harrowing revelations.

7: Eric Clapton: The Autobiography (Cornerstone, 2007)

Eric Clapton’s account of his life is stark and painfully honest. He deals with his strange background, his addiction problems, and his “ruthless” pursuit of musical excellence. The guitarist, who gained fame with The Yardbirds and Cream , also covers the love triangle that involved Clapton, Pattie Boyd, and George Harrison . Clapton’s autobiography is notably devoid of the defensiveness and evasions normally found in celebrity memoirs.

6: Kim Gordan: Girl In A Band (Faber, 2015)

Kim Gordon was the charismatic frontwoman in Sonic Youth – alongside husband Thurston Moore. In this fascinating memoir, she recalls their shambolic early days, her feud with Courtney Love, and the cut-throat music business of the early 80s. “Women aren’t allowed to be kick-ass. I refused to play the game,” says Gordon. Her descriptions of New York in the 80s, when Sonic Youth formed, are especially fine sections.

5: Elton John: Me (Pan Macmillan, 2019)

Elton John says he has lived “an extraordinary life” and his autobiography, Me , is a hilarious, candid window into that life. John recalls the life-changing lucky stroke of teaming up with songwriter Bernie Taupin and offers an honest appraisal of how his life fell apart as a superstar, when he became hooked on drugs. There are also lots of funny stories about fellow musicians such as Freddie Mercury and Rod Stewart .

4: Miles Davis: Miles: The Autobiography (Simon & Schuster, 1989)

The memoir from one of the greatest jazz men of all time is rich in stories, self-analysis, and reflections on music. There are some lovely passages in which he recalls his excitement at hearing Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie in a St Louis nightclub in 1944. It was his first live exposure to bebop . The constant use of profanity in the book caused controversy, as did his candid reflections on his own failings, including his problems with drug addiction. His behavior is sometimes repulsive – he admits to pimping to support his habit – but Miles remains an eminently readable autobiography.

3: Bob Dylan: Chronicles: Volume One (Simon & Schuster, 2004)

This modest, plain-spoken, and thoughtful opening installment of Bob Dylan’s memoirs deals with his life as folk troubadour in Greenwich Village in the early 60s. The way he talks about musical mentors such as Hank Williams , Woody Guthrie and Johnny Cash is touching. As you would expect from someone who has won The Nobel Prize In Literature, he is also well-read, and expresses his admiration for Balzac and Chekhov, among others. The tone of the book becomes more cutting when he is dealing with his own growing fame. This offbeat, ruminative book is a must-read for Dylan fans.

2: Patti Smith: Just Kids (Ecco, 2010)

Patti Smith gives a heartfelt account of her artistic education and love affair with her friend Robert Mapplethorpe in the evocative memoir Just Kids . Her account of working in a factory and living in a succession of squalid New York apartments is intense and edgy, as she worked her way towards becoming an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album, Horses . Just Kids won the prestigious 2010 National Book Award For Nonfiction.

1: Keith Richards: Life (Orion, 2011)

Keith Richards ’ life story pulsates with outlandish tales. His accounts of growing up in wartime Dartford are fascinating and, from the moment he signs to Decca Records with The Rolling Stones , he is at the center of the British music scene. Richards holds little back about his wild, drug-filled days in music, but he also conveys his rapturous delight at the music he loved, especially from blues stars such as Howlin’ Wolf , Little Walter , and Muddy Waters .

Looking for more? Discover the best illustrated music books of all time .

January 29, 2020 at 10:41 pm

Another excellent read is ‘Is That It?’ by Bob Geldof, a straightforward, tell it like it is autobiography.

Malcolm McLean

May 11, 2020 at 2:32 pm

A great list there! I also loved Jake Shears’s memoir ‘Boys Keep Swinging’, Tracey Thorn’s ‘Bedsit Disco Queen’ and Viv Albertine’s ‘Clothes, Music. Boys.’ Anyone interested in music fan memoirs could check out the one I recently wrote and released, from a pop superfan’s perspective – ‘Freak Like Me: Confessions of a 90s pop groupie’. It’s a pretty lighthearted book, full of 90s and early 2000s pop nostalgia, a collection of my memories as a teenage pop hanger-on, attending Top of the Pops week in, week out, and watching the changing chart music landscape, all whilst finding my place in the world. Check it out if it sounds up anyone’s street!

Nicholas Curcio

June 5, 2021 at 2:38 pm

Raise Up Off Me: A Portrait of Hampton Hawes

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The 10 Best Memoirs by Musicians

From Britney Spears' long-awaited biography to Jay-Z's innovative memoir.

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From music superstars like Elton John to pop queens like Britney Spears , a plethora of musicians have embarked upon writing an autobiography, hoping to take fans behind the scenes of an extraordinary life. Rock legends like Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen have chronicled their respective paths to fame, while singer-songwriter Alicia Keys decided to get candid, opening up about everything from her childhood to what it means to be a woman in the music industry. Here, we round up 10 of the best memoirs by musicians available to read in 2023.

Andy Cohen Books 'The Meaning of Mariah Carey' by Mariah Carey with Michaela Angela Davis

Most of us are well acquainted with Mariah Carey's music career, but in her revealing memoir, the "Fantasy" singer takes fans behind the scenes of her private life. From her difficult childhood growing up in Long Island, New York, to her allegedly abusive marriage to music executive Tommy Mottola, Carey's book is a frank account of her incredible rise to fame. Carey also offers readers a glimpse of her songwriting process while exploring her identity as a biracial woman in the music industry. Not to be missed.

Gallery Books 'The Woman in Me' by Britney Spears

Following the end of Britney Spears' 13-year conservatorship , fans have been waiting to hear the superstar's story in her own words. With The Woman in Me, due October 24 from Gallery Books, Spears explores her rise to fame, her journey with motherhood, and her experiences breaking free from conservatorship, which became worldwide news. Catapulted to fame with 1998's "Baby One More Time," Spears has had an incomparable career, and she's finally ready to share her truth with readers everywhere.

Henry Holt and Co. 'Me' by Elton John

Having been born as Reginald Dwight in London on March 25, 1947, Elton John started making a name for himself in the '70s thanks to his iconic glam rock persona. In Me, John gets candid about his childhood, how he broke into the music industry, and how he overcame a decade-long drug addiction. From his friendships with fellow musicians like Freddie Mercury and John Lennon to his marriage to David Furnish, John's memoir chronicles the life of one of the world's most noted singers.

Dey Street Books 'The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music' by Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl has had one of the most unbelievable careers in rock, from his early days drumming for Nirvana to his role as lead singer of the Foo Fighters. In The Storyteller, Grohl shares anecdotes from throughout his life, coming face-to-face with music royalty like Paul McCartney and Iggy Pop and building a family outside of fame. From his childhood as an aspiring musician to what it was like working with Kurt Cobain, Grohl's memoir is a fascinating insight into an inimitable career.

Simon & Schuster 'Chronicles: Volume One' by Bob Dylan

Chronicles: Volume One is the first memoir from Bob Dylan , one of America's most important singer-songwriters. The book gives readers snapshots of three specific moments in Dylan's career, starting in 1961, jumping to 1970, and ending in 1989. Each segment charts Dylan's creative process, delving into unexpected moments from his life and sharing insight into how an icon came to be. Since its 2004 release, fans have been eagerly awaiting a follow-up to the celebrated memoir, which Dylan is rumored to be writing.

Da Capo Press 'I Put A Spell On You: The Autobiography Of Nina Simone' by Nina Simone with Stephen Cleary

First released in 1992, I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina Simone was re-released in 2003 following the singer's death. As well as charting her incredible recording career and exemplary singing voice, the memoir also covers her personal life, exploring her failed marriages, serious health issues, a suicide attempt, and challenging business decisions. Ultimately, Simone's book is a testament to her strength in the face of adversity and a celebration of her unforgettable musical career.

Simon & Schuster 'Born to Run' by Bruce Springsteen

In his acclaimed biography, Bruce Springsteen opens up about his youth in New Jersey and explains the inspirations that led him to pursue a career in music. From the founding of the E Street Band to the successes that followed, Springsteen doesn't hold anything back. He followed up his memoir with a Broadway tenure in which he read extracts from Born to Run and performed songs from throughout his career. Overall, Born to Run is an important insight into a quintessential American musician.

Flatiron Books 'More Myself: A Journey' by Alicia Keys with Michelle Burford

Alicia Keys has connected with listeners all over the world with her jaw-dropping voice and personal lyrics. In More Myself: A Journey, Keys takes readers back to her early childhood in Harlem and Hell's Kitchen, exploring difficult familial relationships alongside the events that led to her starting a singing career. As well as being a biography, Keys' memoir explores what it means to be a woman in the public eye and the journey she's been on to discover her true self away from the spotlight.

Dey Street Books 'Open Book' by Jessica Simpson

In Open Book, Jessica Simpson candidly talks about her climb to the top, from her disastrous Mickey Mouse Club audition to competing with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in the charts. Simpson doesn't hold anything back, detailing her struggle with alcoholism, her failed marriage to Nick Lachey, and romantic dalliances with John Mayer and Johnny Knoxville. Following forays into acting, fashion, and business, Simpson reckoned with her career and herself, exposing the positives and the negatives of a life in the public eye.

One World 'Decoded' by Jay-Z

Decoded takes Jay-Z fans on a journey from Shawn Carter's early days to the creation of a hip-hop legend. By combining biographical details from throughout his life with the dissemination of his own lyrics, Jay-Z builds a picture of how he rose to fame and what it took to get there. An important look at hip-hop artistry, creatively written in an innovative format, Decoded provides a unique insight into one of music's most lauded figures.

Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness , and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.

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The 15 most essential music bios (and autobiographies) so far this century

From sleater-kinney to springsteen, these are the tomes most deserving of joining the pantheon of essential musical memoirs.

Back in 2012, The A.V. Club asked if there was life left in the world of music memoirs . On one hand, it was obviously a rhetorical question—is anyone really going to say, “No, no more autobiographies from musicians, please”?—but the larger point was salient. Namely, that this young century had seen a glut of shoddily written and poorly edited books by famous artists (whether ghostwritten or not), that did the genre no favors. (Paging Neil Young’s Waging Heavy Peace .)

Lucky, then, to have so many counterexamples. The past 22 years have seen the release of not only tremendous memoirs and musical biographies, but among them some that belong in the highest echelons of the field—books that should be essential reading even for those who aren’t fans of the artist. The following are the ones that rose to the top when The A.V. Club looked back upon which music bios and memoirs were the most impactful, the most artful, and resonated far beyond the page. There are plenty of great books about the music industry not on this list (or about multiple artists, like Alex Ross’ must-read book on 20th century classical music, The Rest Is Noise ) that just didn’t fit the biography/autobiography designation. But when it comes to the singular stories of notable musicians and their lives, careers, and music, these are the ones we’ll recommend in perpetuity.

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Carrie Brownstein, Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl [2015]

Sleater-Kinney is one of two families that Brownstein explores in this candid, heartfelt memoir. Hunger ’s childhood photos attest to the Brownsteins’ deep love, though a lack of communication made it difficult to fully process her mother’s anorexia and her father coming out. Her book’s dedication to bandmates Corin Tucker and Janet Weiss makes clear that Sleater-Kinney is (or was, anyway) as much a family as the Brownsteins, and her depiction of the band’s early days is a thrilling origin story. She makes repeatedly clear that Sleater-Kinney’s work—and music in general—is her lifeblood. One oft-quoted line from the book sums up her passion: “This is what it is to be a fan: curious, open, desiring for connection, to feel like art has chosen you, claimed you as its witness.” [David Brusie]

Hanif Abdurraqib, Go Ahead In The Rain: Notes On A Tribe Called Quest [2019]

Abdurraqib’s book is part history, part memoir. Abdurraqib was born in 1983, so he was 7 when A Tribe Called Quest began and 15 upon its 1998 breakup. Along the way—and in post-Tribe years of solo records and a surprisingly fruitful 2016 reunion—Abdurraqib grows alongside Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The book is at its most poignant when examining the often contentious relationship between Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. They reconcile shortly before Phife’s death at 45 from complications due to diabetes, which is also the subject of Abdurraqib’s open letter to Phife’s mom, the book’s most heartbreaking moment. Abdurraqib’s Tribe expertise inspires the reader to seek out albums, playlists, and songs, with a spirit of exploration that reflects the group itself. [David Brusie]

Bob Dylan, Chronicles: Volume One [2004]

During Bob Dylan’s 1960s and ’70s heyday, he was an inscrutable figure, inclined either toward reclusiveness or puckish obfuscation. The greatest trick he pulls with his memoir Chronicles is to convince readers he’s finally telling his story straight, from the perspective of a gentle, neighborly old family man, who likes Little League baseball, American history, and vintage rock ’n’ roll. Devoted Dylanologists have debunked a lot of this book, proven that some of the anecdotes about recording sessions or the post-Woody Guthrie folk scene couldn’t have happened the way the author describes them. But Dylan’s exaggerations are themselves telling. Really, this is a book that illuminates where his songs come from: via scraps of newspapers, lost pop artifacts, and the lived experiences that a genius has transformed into myth. [Noel Murray]

Flea, Acid For The Children [2019]

Flea, acid for the children   [2019].

Red Hot Chili Peppers fans know the band for their goofier antics, but one layer deeper reveals an underlying through line across their history: the potent musicianship and quiet vulnerability of bassist Michael Balzary, a.k.a. Flea. Acid For The Children , outside of a handful of time jumps, takes place entirely before the formation of the Peppers; at its core, it’s the story of a music-obsessed Australian with a musically heroic but violent alcoholic stepfather. Graduating into his teen years, Flea gets some notoriety by being himself: awkward, wild, and overly dedicated to his musical craft. A handful of future-celebrity cameos make everything feel destined (like actor Laurence Fishburne as a former roommate), but the real juice is reading about a shy, sensitive boy becoming an outrageous, sensitive man. [Dan Bogosian]

Kristin Hersh, Don’t Suck, Don’t Die: Giving Up Vic Chesnutt [2015]

The late Vic Chesnutt was a brilliant singer-songwriter who was equal parts lovable and frustrating. In the piercing chronicle Don’t Suck, Don’t Die, musician Kristin Hersh uses vivid, engaging prose to capture Chesnutt’s complicated nature. The pair frequently toured together, and the book shines when she draws on her own personal, intimate observations, gleaned from their time on the road. “We didn’t stand a chance because when you were good, the work was true,” she writes. In the end, Don’t Suck, Don’t Die is a moving portrait of an artistic genius—and a vulnerable manual on how to navigate immense grief after the death of someone we love. [Annie Zaleski]

Herbie Hancock, Possibilities [2014]

Herbie Hancock has a ton of great stories, as you might guess of someone who was in Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet, played space-jazz with Mwandishi, and got real loose with Headhunters. But in his 2014 memoir Possibilities , he’s at his best when he’s talking about his artistic motivations. His taste is omnivorous—how many of bebop’s brightest stars have also been credited with helping to birth hip-hop, or have collaborated with Congolese electronic group Konono Nº1?—and he writes eagerly about how he’s evolved as an artist; when he gets into the whys and hows of that evolution, the book really sings. As great as it is on paper, the audiobook is highly recommended, if only to hear Herbie imitate Miles’ famous rasp to call himself a “motherfucker.” [Marty Sartini Garner]

Robin D.G. Kelley, Thelonious Monk: The Life And Times Of An American Original [2009]

Thelonious Monk spent his entire life waiting for the world to recognize his brilliance, and when it finally happened, in the mid-1960s, the jazz world moved on with alarming speed. Robin D.G. Kelley approaches Monk’s life as a tragedy, one beset by mental illness and the everyday oppression that comes with being Black in America, as well as a lack of consistent recognition that’s frequently surprising given Monk’s reputation now. Kelley walks patiently through the man’s life, from his time as a tent-revival accompanist through his all-night gigs in Manhattan clubs, and while he does write at length about how Monk’s emotional and mental struggles colored both his playing and his life, he does so without sensationalizing—or stripping him of the incredible genius he developed by sitting at a piano and chasing his own sound for years and years. [Marty Sartini Garner]

Tegan And Sara Quinn, High School [2019]

Most music memoirs are about getting to the good stuff, when an artist starts to hit it big and enter the glory years. Not so with High School —it’s right there in the title. Tegan and Sara Quinn begin and end their back-and-forth autobiography (the two alternate chapters throughout) with their formative years in secondary education, the tale concluding just as the pair score a vital performance showcase and first glimpse the possibility of a future in music. But that’s what makes it so vital: The Canadian twins nail the hyperbolic emotional volatility of being a teen, connecting it to a passion for music in a way few artists have managed without losing the everything- cranked-to-11 intensity of adolescence. It’s artfully—and painfully—relatable (and soon to be a TV show .)[Alex McLevy]

Keith Richards, Life [2010]

Keith richards, life   [2010].

Even Keith Richards seems a little astounded by how well his memory has served him. It’s understandable: Given the copious amounts of drugs the guitarist for the Rolling Stones has done over the course of his life, anyone would be forgiven for blacking out entire months, or maybe years. Instead, the garrulous and freewheeling icon holds court (with help from ghostwriter James Fox) on everything from his earliest beginnings to the depths of his addiction days with equally eagle-eyed description. Much like the chaos that seemed to perpetually surround the band, there’s a sense of frenetic abandon to the tale, an intensity that gives it the heady rush of a dishy beach read (when he and Mick Jagger turn on each other, oh, the zingers that ensue), even while making plenty of time to ruminate on the value of a passionate, devoted love of music above all else. It’s downright irreplaceable, innit? [Alex McLevy]

Patti Smith, Just Kids [2010]

Patti Smith was already a decorated poet and musician before writing the memoir Just Kids . Still, the tender chronicle of her decades-long relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe catapulted her into literature’s upper echelons, as the book became an award-winning best-seller; among other things, it won the 2010 National Book Award for Nonfiction. The honors are well deserved: Set against a backdrop of a bohemian New York City that no longer exists, Just Kids is an intimate look at the inner workings of a complex relationship. Smith uses elegant, precise, and vivid language throughout to describe what it’s like to come of age when you’re marching to your own beat—giving Just Kids the feel of a vulnerable, honest guide to growing up even when gracefulness is in short supply. [Annie Zaleski]

Bruce Springsteen, Born To Run [2016]

For decades, Bruce Springsteen sprinkled pieces of his autobiography into his song intros, repeated nightly at his concerts like liturgy. For his official autobiography, the Boss reassembled those pieces and filled in some gaps, explaining his struggles with depression and the squalor he endured as a child. Those insights are invaluable. But the real revelations in Born To Run have to do with the music. Bruce gets downright wonky here, talking about his early days in the New Jersey club scene, where the only way to make a dollar was to flatten the audience, gig after gig. This book asks fans to think about Springsteen’s songs the way he thinks of them: in terms of how they’ll work in a live setting. Their visceral punch and their epic aspirations now make even more sense. [Noel Murray]

John Taylor, In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, & Duran Duran [2013]

As Duran Duran’s bassist, John Taylor is tasked with laying down lively grooves with pinpoint precision. That sense of rhythm and clarity permeates the writing in his memoir, In The Pleasure Groove . The book follows Taylor as he evolves from an eager young music fan growing up in Birmingham, England, into a daydreaming art school student and then a music superstar with Duran Duran. Although there are plenty of ’80s-related memories and references to long-ago debauchery, In The Pleasure Groove is most affecting when Taylor digs deep and reflects on the more personal aspects of his life and career. His candid reminiscences about his family, and insights about getting (and staying) sober, in particular, are quite moving. [Annie Zaleski]

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Mo’ Meta Blues; The World According To Questlove [2013]

At first glance, Questlove’s first memoir, Mo’ Meta Blues , comes across like an especially enjoyable hang session nerding out with a fellow music fan, someone unafraid to admit just how emotionally meaningful the records that connected with you growing up really are. But as you get deeper, you realize the book is actually a skeleton key of sorts to his entire musical career—tracing the path that led him to obsessive perfection of his instrument, obsessive devotion to musical curation, and the beauty to be found by channeling feeling into technique—something too many musical memoirs quietly pass by. [Alex McLevy]

Kathy Valentine, All I Ever Wanted: A Rock: A Rock ‘N’ Roll Memoir [2020]

In her memoir, All I Ever Wanted , The Go-Go’s’ bassist Kathy Valentine blows the fun-loving image of the group to bits. The book has its share of salacious rock ’n’ roll stories, but it is Valentine’s honest and unflinching account of growing up unsupervised in a single-parent household that is the most engrossing—and difficult—to read. This includes a pregnancy and its termination at 12, which she revisits at 23, when she goes for the procedure again, then performs with The Go-Go’s the very next day. Valentine speaks candidly about her addiction, her destructive behavior, and the people she hurt, taking full responsibility for her actions. Despite her negligent upbringing, there are no complaints or accusations. This is perhaps All I Ever Wanted ’s strongest statement: acceptance without resentment. [Lily Moayeri]

Michelle Zauner, Crying In H Mart [2021]

Michelle Zauner, a.k.a. the band Japanese Breakfast, has been a fixture on the New York Times Best Seller list since the release of her raw, grief-filled memoir, Crying In H Mart, about a year ago. The book (which was preceded by a viral New Yorker essay of the same name) focuses on Zauner’s experience of her mother’s cancer diagnosis and eventual death. There are numerous flashbacks to Zauner’s relationship with her mother, which are at times devastatingly tender, and at others, brutal to the point of cruelty. Somehow, the mouth-watering and sensual food descriptions threaded throughout soften these blows. Zauner puts her lyrical skills to work painting detailed scenarios steeped in emotion so heightened, you can almost taste it. Do not read if you have recently lost a loved one: Crying In H Mart may send you off the deep end. [Lily Moayeri]

Our 20 Favorite Music Memoirs

From rock stars to country darlings to jazz singers, these books reveal the lives behind the lyrics.

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links.

You know their songs; you know their moves. You might even be able to recite a few of their best anecdotes from late night television. But nothing reveals as much about a musician as their memoir. At once escapist and nostalgic, transporting and scandalous, these books aren’t just for diehard fans who can list every track on an album’s B-side. Memoirs have a sense of voice that provides a new level of intimacy. Here, we’ve selected twenty of our favorites, presented in no particular order. Get up close and personal to your favorite performers with these stories of love, loss, and phenomenal music.

Simon & Schuster Chronicles: Volume One, by Bob Dylan

One of the most talented American songwriters puts his storytelling abilities to use in his first memoir. In signature fashion, Dylan puts his own spin on the genre, moving non-linearly through his boyhood in Minnesota and his life as an artist in New York City. Alongside the buzz of daily life—the bars frequented, musicians met, couches hopped—he details how his conception of songwriting evolves, focusing on the creation of “New Morning” and “Oh Mercy.” This memoir is as transportive as it gets: entertaining, poetic, and quintessentially Dylan.

Da Capo Press I Put A Spell On You, by Nina Simone

It was a teacher who first recognized the musical brilliance of Nina Simone, and it didn’t take long for the rest of the world to see it, too. This autobiography follows Simone from her girlhood in North Carolina to studying piano at Juilliard; then, it explores her foray into nightclub singing and the role she played in civil rights protests. It does not shy away from the darker aspects of Simone’s life, detailing the discrimination she faced as a Black performer and her lifelong struggles with mental health. Insightful and moving, this memoir proves just as mesmerizing as Simone’s music.

Ecco Press Just Kids, by Patti Smith

New York City the late sixties. Patti Smith is a starving artist—quite literally. This lyrical and heartfelt memoir is as much an ode to the sixties art scene as it is to Smith’s relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, who would become her lover, collaborator, and lifelong friend. The city, with all its grittiness and culture, comes alive in these pages; encounters with the likes of Hendrix and Warhol lurk around every corner. At the story’s core, however, is Smith’s sincerity and ambition, as she explores what it means to grow out of adolescence and build a life within this particular slice of the world.

Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words

While not exactly a memoir, this is the closest readers can get to a telling of Mercury’s own life. Created using an assemblage of interviews spanning two decades, the book is written entirely in his own words, arranged to shed light on his childhood, the rise of Queen, his personal life, and the cost of fame. In some places, Mercury’s attitudes and opinions can seem contradictory, as the arrangers combine material from a duration of many years. The effect is a nuanced and all-encompassing look at the star, with the real treat being the charisma, wit, and thoughtfulness of Mercury’s own voice.

Blue Rider Press Never Broken, by Jewel

Going from rags to riches once is a feat worthy of a fairytale, but twice? Growing up in Alaska, Jewel overcame poverty and neglect, emancipated herself from her parents, and secured a position at a prestigious art school. In her early twenties, she found herself battling homelessness and kidney infections, then rising to fame after taking gigs at San Diego coffee shops. Never Broken is woven together by Jewel’s own wisdom, with passages of advice and life lessons alongside the story. Her ability to persevere is what makes this a remarkable read, full of heart and wisdom.

Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner

“In fact, she was both my first and second words: Umma, then Mom. I called to her in two languages. Even then I must have known that no one would ever love me as much as she would,” Japanese Breakfast frontwoman Michelle Zauner writes in her memoir. In plain-spoken but powerful language, Zauner addresses her grief over her mother’s cancer, all while remembering their strained but close relationship. She examines food as a source of bonding, as she and her mother come together over plates of Korean cuisine (prepare for your stomach to grumble). She also explores identity, detailing the complications of growing up Korean American in a country that wants to fit her in one box or another. Crying in H Mart is raw and relatable, unflinching in its exploration of loss and self-discovery.

More Myself, by Alicia Keys

You wouldn’t think the crooner of “Empire State of Mind” had difficulties with self expression, but in her memoir, you learn otherwise. Known for her laid-back and rather private persona, Keys’ memoir proves remarkably honest, raising questions about motherhood and what it means to be an artist. She relates her struggles with perfectionism—those high standards set by herself as well as the industry—and how she learned how to stand on her own two feet. Unlike a traditional memoir, some passages are narrated by those closest to her, allowing for a unique take on the star.

Grand Central Publishing Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove

Questlove’s memoir is not your mother’s memoir. Instead, it’s something much more fun. In this quasi-scrapbook, Questlove ties together music history with personal history, linking playlists with pictures, interviews, emails, etc. His enthusiasm is infectious. At the core of it are Questlove’s experiences in the industry within and without The Roots, raising questions about what it takes to make something to be proud of. Engaging, nostalgic, and brilliant, this is clearly the work of a musical nerd—feel free to let him share his passion with you.

Simon & Schuster Born to Run, by Bruce Springsteen

They call him The Boss for a reason. Springsteen’s 2016 autobiography Born to Run lives up to the hype. It takes you from his Catholic upbringing in a small town in New Jersey to his rise to global superstardom. His grandmother doted on him, perhaps too much. His father was distant. His mother was busy keeping the family afloat, financially and emotionally. But seeing Elvis on television gave him hope that life was more than just tedium and struggle. Springsteen took a bus to New York City for his Columbia Records audition, carrying a guitar that didn’t even have a case. Snippets like these bring his story to life, making one think that it won’t be long before his story is brought to the big screen.

Grand Central Publishing Acid for the Children, by Flea

As he tells it, Flea is lucky to be alive, and, as his fans would agree, the world is better for it. In his 2019 memoir Acid For The Children , Flea takes the reader from the love-filled yet broken homes of his early childhood to his chaotic youth in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. He unflinchingly details a coming-of-age story full of self-destruction, petty crime, sex, drugs, music, and, of course, the formation of friendships that became the foundation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Let everyone’s favorite bassist take you on a poetic, often hilarious ride that explains, well, a lot.

Three Rivers Press Lady Sings the Blues, by Billie Holiday

As a child, she ran errands for a whorehouse. As an adult, she struggled with heroin addiction that led to her early death. Originally released in 1956, this memoir gives a frank and moving account of Billie Holiday’s rise from a Baltimore childhood to life as a jazz and swing superstar, but even success couldn’t protect her from the evils of racism and Jim Crow laws. Holiday candidly details racial prejudice, sexual abuse, and the difficulties of her adult love life. Raw but powerful, this memoir reveals Billie Holiday’s struggles, but also the fire within one of the twentieth century’s greatest talents.

One World Decoded, by Jay-Z

Decoded is neither a traditional memoir nor a rap manifesto; rather, it meets somewhere between the two. Jay-Z combines recollections of his youth and his time in the industry with lyrical annotations examining rap as an art form. Passages on music history follow lessons in street slang. The rough-and-tumble world in which Shawn Carter grew up isn’t romanticized, but evoked with frank, insightful detail. Provocative and revelatory about the modern cultural world, Decoded is an exceptional read for a music lover.

Broken Horses, by Brandi Carlile

At age eight, Brandi Carlile felt most at home singing on stage—it was the rest of the time that she felt like an outcast. In Broken Horses , Carlile raises questions about faith, sexuality, and music, discussing her strained but wonderful childhood in the northwest and the ups and downs of her career. In a startling scene where fifteen-year-old Carlile prepares to be baptized, the pastor asks her to repent for her homosexuality. Despite this, her faith grew, as did her love for music and performance. Entertaining, funny, and refreshingly honest, Broken Horses will make you a Carlile fan, if you aren’t already.

imusti Life, by Keith Richards

From a choirboy singing for the Queen to a rock god, legendary guitarist Keith Richards has had quite the life. This memoir traces his early passion for music, kindled by his Louis Armstrong-loving mother and grandfather, all the way through to the rise of the Rolling Stones in the ‘60s and ‘70s. His humor is a welcome addition to a book one might expect to contain only gritty anecdotes about escaping from British police, tips about English sausages, and instructions on how to win a knife fight. Through his drug use, marriages, and the band’s ups and downs, Richards’s desire to create remains the core of his identity. It’s that passion that translates so well into this memoir, making for a remarkable and entertaining read.

Rayo Celia: My Life, by Celia Cruz

With the recent announcement that she will be featured on United States quarters in 2024, this is the perfect time to revisit Cruz’s autobiography. Based on hundreds of hours of recorded interviews, it sheds light into Cruz’s notoriously private life, her childhood in Cuba, and her rise to become the Queen of Salsa. The book proves as authentic and captivating as Cruz was.

MCD High School, by Tegan and Sara Quinn

The 90s. Grunge is in. Being different is, well, out. Sisters Tegan and Sara narrate alternating chapters in this coming-of-age meets coming-out story. It’s an introspective look not only at what it means to be a teenage girl, but a twin at that, delving into both the competition and the closeness that comes with the relationship. Tackling a tricky social landscape, their parents’ divorce, and their sexuality, Tegan and Sara’s memoir is both inspiring and relatable. Prepare to revisit your own high school insecurities.

One World The Beautiful Ones, by Prince

Much like his life, the expansive memoir Prince envisioned was cut short by his untimely death. But with The Beautiful Ones , we get a glimpse into what turned a young kid from Minneapolis into the visionary we know today. The opening features handwritten chapters detailing his early years, including how his mother’s eyes and father’s piano influenced him. The remainder of the memoir is the creative work of Dan Piepenbring, Prince’s chosen collaborator, sharing a treasure trove of photographs, hand-written lyrics, and quotes from interviews recorded throughout his life.

Grand Central Publishing Coal Miner's Daughter, by Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn was married at thirteen and had four children by the time she was eighteen. Her husband gave her a guitar when she was twenty-four. From there, her rise from poverty to country music royalty began, leading her to become the first woman named as the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year. Written in Lynn’s native Kentucky vernacular, this book reads with all the spunk, thoughtfulness, and beauty of her songs.

Harpercollins Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business, by Dolly Parton

Even if you don’t know country music, you know Dolly. Famous for her ear-catching songs, philanthropic efforts, and Mae West appearance, this memoir reveals the story behind the icon. Published in 1994, Parton’s memoir is a heartfelt, up-by-the-bootstraps tale. One of twelve children, she was raised by Tennessee sharecroppers, and at eighteen, she boarded a Greyhound bus with a guitar. Her luggage? Three paper bags from the grocery store. Parton tells of her rise to fame and her navigation of the industry with characteristic humor and charm.

Audible Break Shot, by James Taylor

Available in audiobook form only, Break Shot is a new spin on the memoir. It’s a beautiful piece of spoken word artistry narrated by James Taylor himself, focusing on the first two decades of his life. It follows the crumbling of his family, much like the ‘break-shot’ of a pool game, that sent his loved ones into distant, isolated corners. Detailing his parents’ divorce and his own battles with addiction and mental health, this memoir is as intimate as it gets. Woven throughout are his songs, making for a thoroughly enjoyable and heartfelt listen.

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10 Great Musical Biographies That Tell the Stories Behind Your Favorite Artists

September 29, 2023

You might know all the songs and albums of your favorite musicians, but do you know the experiences and inspirations behind their work? Luckily, you can find out by listening to some great musical biographies on Spotify. 

With picks that include memoirs from legendary stars including Dave Grohl , Billie Eilish , Gucci Mane , and Dolly Parton , you can discover all the wisdom these greats have to share. 

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music

Written and narrated by dave grohl.

Dave Grohl’s autobiography, The Storyteller , sheds light on what it’s like to be a kid from Springfield, Virginia, who goes on to live out his craziest dreams as a musician. The rock icon reflects on everything from hitting the road with Scream at 18, to his time in Nirvana and the Foo Fighters . He remembers jamming with Iggy Pop and dancing with AC/DC and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band . He tells stories about drumming for Tom Petty and meeting Paul McCartney at Royal Albert Hall. Grohl even recounts unexpected moments like bedtime stories with Joan Jett to a chance meeting with Little Richard . 

The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl

Written and narrated by melanie chisholm.

After five women answered a newspaper ad, the Spice Girls were born. They recorded their first single, “ Wannabe ,” and nearly overnight, Melanie “Melanie C” Chisholm went from small-town girl to Sporty Spice.

The Sporty One follows the meteoric rise of Melanie C and The Spice Girls, from the incredible highs of playing at Wembley, conquering the BRITs, and closing the 2012 Olympics, to the difficult lows. For the first time ever, Melanie C talks about the pressures of fame, the shaming and bullying she experienced, the struggles she has had with her body image and mental health, and the difficulty of finding herself when the whole world knew her name.

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics

Written by dolly parton, robert k. oermann.

Narrated by Dolly Parton 

Dolly Parton, Songteller goes beyond the glitz, glamor, and rhinestones to the warmth, heart, and soul of a treasured pop culture icon. In this autobiography, 10-time Grammy Award–winning artist Dolly Parton weaves her words with music and memories to give listeners the stories behind her most cherished songs.

How close did Parton come to singing “ I Will Always Love You ” as a duet with Elvis Presley ? How did she become an actress? And exactly who was “ Jolene ”? This one-of-a-kind audio experience answers the most burning questions that Parton’s fans have.

The Autobiography of Gucci Mane

Written by gucci mane and neil martinez-belkin.

Narrated by Guy Lockard

For the first time, hip-hop legend Gucci Mane tells the story of his rise, fall, and redemption in The Autobiography of Gucci Mane . With a string of influential mixtapes and street anthems that pioneered the sound of trap music in the 2000s, the rap icon inspired and mentored a new generation of artists and producers including Migos , Young Thug , Nicki Minaj , Zaytoven , Mike WiLL Made-It , and Metro Boomin .

Taking listeners back to his roots in Alabama, the streets of East Atlanta, and the studio where he found his voice, Gucci Mane reflects on his successes while also confronting his dark past, which included drug addiction, murder charges, and a prison sentence. 

But Gucci Mane has changed, and in this music bio, he provides an intimate glimpse into his radical transformation following his 2016 prison release—one that saw the rapper emerge sober, smiling, focused, and positive. This is one of music’s great comeback stories.

Born to Run

Written and narrated by bruce springsteen.

In 2009, Bruce Springsteen performed at the Super Bowl halftime show. The experience was so exhilarating that he decided to write about it, which then inspired him to tell the story of his entire life.

Vividly recounting his relentless drive to become a musician, his early days as a bar band king in New Jersey, and the rise of The E Street Band , Springsteen fills the pages of Born to Run with humor, originality, and disarming candor. For the first time, the superstar rocker shares the personal struggles that inspired his best work, and shows us why the song “ Born to Run ” reveals more than we previously realized. This isn’t just a legendary rock star’s memoir. This is a book for anyone who has ever wanted to be baptized in the holy river of rock and roll. 

Billie Eilish: In Her Own Words

Written by billie eilish.

Narrated By Billie Eilish, Maggie Baird, Patrick O’Connell

In this special audiobook companion piece, global pop phenomenon Billie Eilish walks fans through the personal highlights and special moments of her life and career, both on and off the stage. 

Billie Eilish: In Her Own Words is full of exclusive and unique content, including memories shared by her parents. Capturing the essence of Billie inside and out, listeners get personal glimpses into her childhood, her life on tour, and more, making this audio edition essential for any fan.

It’s a Long Story: My Life

Written by willie nelson and david ritz.

Narrated by Christopher Ryan Grant

It’s a Long Story is the complete, unvarnished story of Willie Nelson ‘s life. Told in his distinct voice and leaving no moment or experience unturned, the country legend takes listeners on a ride from Texas and Nashville to Hawaii and his legendary tour bus.

Nelson shines a light on all aspects of his life, including his drive to write music, the women in his life, his biggest collaborations, his lowest lows, and his highest highs—from his bankruptcy to the founding of Farm Aid.

Talking to My Angels

Written and narrated by melissa etheridge.

Following the success of her first memoir, award-winning rocker and trailblazing LGBTQIA+ icon Melissa Etheridge returns to take stock of her life in the years that have followed. 

Talking to My Angels is a profoundly honest look into Etheridge’s inner life as a woman, an artist, a mother, and a survivor. With characteristic wit and courage, Melissa delves into how numerous tragedies served as a catalyst for growth, and what the past two decades have taught her about the value of music, love, family, and life in the face of death. This audiobook also features live, stripped-down performances of many of Melissa’s songs, including “ Talking to My Angel ” and “ Here Comes the Pain .”

Chronicles of the Juice Man: A Memoir

Written by juicy j and soren baker.

Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White

The hustle still continues for hip-hop OG Juicy J in Chronicles of the Juice Man , where he shares his invaluable story as an unwavering force in the music industry. Jordan Houston’s rise to stardom was never easy. Beginning with his journey on the streets of Memphis in the ’80s, Juicy J was always inspired by music and had big dreams of becoming a superstar rapper. The Three 6 Mafia member stuck to his plan with determination, rising from a young, poor, ambitious kid to an Academy Award–winning and Grammy-nominated recording artist and entrepreneur. A never-before-seen look into one of the most influential tastemakers in the game, Chronicles of the Juice Man offers Juicy J’s wisdom as a respected industry veteran.

Tell It Like It Is: My Story

Written and narrated by aaron neville.

Tell It Like It Is shares the trials and tribulations of legendary singer and songwriter Aaron Neville through the lens of his faith, family, and music.

Scoring his first number-one hit in 1966 with “ Tell It Like It Is ,” the artist went on to form the Neville Brothers with his siblings Art , Charles , and Cyril . Aaron was the breakout star, and over the next six decades, he’s enjoyed four platinum albums, three number-one songs, and entry into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

But few people know the challenging and circuitous road Aaron took to fame. Born in a housing project in New Orleans, he struggled as a teenage father working to raise a family while building his career as a musician, surviving a stint in jail for car theft and battling heroin addiction for many years. Now for the first time, fans can discover the inside story. 

Eligible Spotify Premium users in the U.K. and Australia can now look forward to 15 hours of audiobook listening per month on any audiobook marked “Included in Premium.”  Learn all about it.  

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The 10 Best Music Books of 2023

By Pitchfork

Every year there are countless books released about music—2023 alone included dishy memoirs from Britney Spears, Barbra Streisand, and Sly Stone, plus a big-deal, authorized bio on Tupac. In our estimation, the best works tend to give the reader new ears with which to listen. What follows is a list of personal favorites from this year, as picked by Pitchfork staffers and contributors. Happy reading!

Check out all of Pitchfork’s 2023 wrap-up coverage here .

60 Songs That Explain the ’90s

In 2020, as the pandemic forced everyone who didn’t live on a megayacht to upend their entire lives, retreating into the nostalgia of one’s youth became an all-but-necessary coping mechanism. Veteran music writer Rob Harvilla felt that same urge. But instead of merely staring into the middle distance while washing dishes to Gin Blossoms’ “Hey Jealousy,” he put his musical memories to work and made an essayistic podcast called 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s . And now that very funny and startlingly insightful show—which has grown to cover more than 100 songs—has its own very funny and startlingly insightful book. (Full disclosure: I once lost money to Harvilla in a basement poker game in 2010, and recently guested on the 60 Songs podcast.)

The entire endeavor succeeds because Harvilla is so good at conveying his teenage excitement (he’s unafraid to use the descriptor “rad,” repeatedly) while also offering the wisdom of a fortysomething dad who’s been writing about music for much of his adult life. For every loving one-liner (listening to Celine Dion sing is “like drinking rosé from a fire hose”) or list of the 20 Worst Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles (don’t worry, “Party on Your Pussy” makes the Top 10), there are sober reflections on Courtney Love reading Kurt Cobain’s suicide note, or how white rap fans (like him, like me) would be smart to understand that they’re eavesdropping when they listen to a song like Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day.” Earnest, empathetic, and admirably goofy, Harvilla is an ideal guide to the most random decade in pop history. –Ryan Dombal

All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Black Punk Now

When James Spooner first logged on in 2001, he immediately Googled “Black punk.” A blank screen stared back at him: There were zero links. Spooner knew this was inaccurate—he had countless Black punk friends and collaborators—but the experience underscored that if no one else was going to document his culture, then it was up to him. This is what motivated Spooner to create the Afropunk documentary and festival, as well as compile this new anthology of writing alongside Black Card author Chris L. Terry.

Black Punk Now uses a multi-genre approach, from fiction to graphics to screenplays, to showcase the ways Black punks move through the world. In “The Princess and the Pit,” Mariah Stovall explores the racialized beauty standards of punk shows via a feminist fairytale. The script for comedian Kash Abdulmalik’s short film, Let Me Be Understood , meditates on one musician’s desire to have an honest relationship with his father.

The collection’s greatest strength is how it captures the pure joy felt by its contributors while living on the fringes, the integrity they’ve gained from being misunderstood by the white establishment. (As contributor Bobby Hackney Jr. puts it, what is more punk than challenging what people think “Black” is supposed to be?) Taken together, these works show readers that “punk” is a commitment to liberation from the tedium of mainstream culture, and a way to demand much more. –Mary Retta

The Golden Voice: The Ballad of Cambodian Rock’s Lost Queen

One of the best graphic novels of the year is a riveting portrait of an undersung musical hero and an intense document of wartime Cambodia. Gregory Cahill tells the story of Ros Serey Sothea, the prolific ’60s and ’70s Cambodian rock singer who seemed to rocket from rice farmer to national treasure overnight. It’s an underdog story told through the lens of the Cambodian Civil War’s propaganda machine.

Scenes of Cambodian rock’n’roll club nights and studio recording sessions are depicted in a blissful sunrise palette of deep reds and oranges, with sheet music floating translucently into the ether. Music is central to the experience of enjoying the book; there’s an accompanying playlist, and each page has track cues, so the sound of Sothea’s music is never abstract. But the book is also full of darkness: A constant military presence hangs over Golden Voice , and it closes with the Khmer Rouge seizing power and burning Sothea’s records. It’s a tragedy with heart-wrenching illustrations and a solid history lesson, soundtracked by incredible vintage Cambodian records. –Evan Minsker

Goth: A History

Despite its totemic title, Goth: A History is neither a sociology textbook nor a definitive document of the subculture. Instead, Lol Tolhurst—a core member of the Cure across its gothiest period—has written a memoir and social history of his years in the scene’s cobwebbed trenches. Structured more like the florid chaos of the Cure’s Pornography than the linear minimalism of their Seventeen Seconds , the book wends its way from capsule meditations on the genre’s influences (Nico, Bowie, Camus, Sartre) into diaristic recollections from the Cure’s gloomy golden era; he wraps up with mini-profiles on fellow travelers like Cocteau Twins and Nine Inch Nails. But many of the book’s most revealing passages are its most personal, like running into Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher while in rehab, or discovering that his buttoned-up IRS agent was also a secret member of the sect.

Situating goth at the intersection of punk and Sylvia Plath, Tolhurst describes the movement as a necessary reaction to the bleakness of post-WWII England. Yet, as he considers its decades-long endurance and 21st-century mainstreaming, he also notes the universality of its message: “It can get lonely being the only weirdo in town. We all want a tribe to belong to.” At Portland’s Powell’s Books, I bought my own copy of Goth along with an armload of children’s books. “It looks like I’m trying to turn my daughter into a goth,” I said to the woman behind the register. Without so much as a smile, she replied, “We all get there eventually.” –Philip Sherburne

Hachette Books

Kleenex/LiLiPUT

In the raw rapture of their shredded shrieks and destabilized noise, O.G. punks Kleenex made the Sex Pistols sound like the Rolling Stones. Though the Swiss group broke up in 1983—changing their name to LiLiPUT in 1979 after a threat from the tissue company—it’s taken 40 years for English-language fans to fully access the primary document of this crucial all-woman band: the diaries of guitarist Marlene Marder, who died in 2016.

Originally published in German in 1986, the diary was also a scrapbook capturing “the detritus that comes with playing in a band,” as described by editor Grace Ambrose, who instigated this English translation for the inaugural book on her Kansas City, Missouri-based punk label, Thrilling Living, which has released music by the likes of Special Interest and Girlsperm.

Supplemented by zine clippings, photos, and visual ephemera—including relics of Kleenex’s 1979 UK tour with the Raincoats—the collage-like Kleenex/LiLiPUT book creates its own paradigm for punk storytelling by imposing no definitive Kleenex narrative, instead replicating the ever-in-process nature of the unruly music. Legendary rock critic Greil Marcus’ original introduction to Marder’s diary is included along with another of his enlightening columns on the band, in which he writes, “Punk had good taste in ancestors.” He was talking about the Kleenex-Dada connection, but the same rings true of punks today, who see themselves in this history still. –Jenn Pelly

Thrilling Living

Lou Reed: The King of New York

Several strong Lou Reed bios were already out there by the time Will Hermes published The King of New York this fall. Victor Bockris’ Transformer: The Complete Lou Reed Story is a compelling document of the New York underground of the ’60s and early ’70s, while Anthony DeCurtis’ Lou Reed: A Life has first-person intimacy while situating the singer’s work among his rock contemporaries. But Hermes tells the best story, finding the ideal mix of big-picture narrative sweep and intriguing details.

The book frames Reed’s life in a way that speaks to our current cultural moment, revealing how the fluidness of sexuality and gender in Reed’s milieu hinted at the world to come, and it deepens your appreciation of his hugely varied recorded output. Hermes’ previous book, Love Goes to Buildings on Fire , was a personal examination of New York’s influential downtown music scene in the ’70s, and the city is just as influential here, growing and changing alongside Reed while forever informing his art. This shifting contextual backdrop makes Hermes especially fun to read on the Velvet Underground frontman’s notoriously spotty solo albums. Few artists risked failure like Reed did, and this book will have you digging for records you once ignored, from his wispy debut to the shocking power of Lulu ’s “ Junior Dad .” –Mark Richardson

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse

When writer Howard Fishman first heard Connie Converse’s beautifully melancholic folk music at a party in 2010, he became consumed by a quest to find out what became of the obscure mid-century singer. Thirteen years and 550 pages later, the New Yorker contributor has turned in the definitive history of Converse’s life. With To Anyone Who Ever Asks , he traces her story, from her tragedy-marred early years in small-town New England, to an escape to New York in the 1940s and ’50s and eventual retreat to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Converse eventually disappeared in 1974, speeding off in her Volkswagen and writing to loved ones asking them not to look for her.

Fishman uncovers not the shy wallflower that her songs suggest, but a binge-drinking, heavy-smoking bohemian widely ahead of her time, who performed for Walter Cronkite, composed operas, and championed civil rights. He occasionally falls into fanboy tendencies, glorifying every artistic move by Converse with uncritical praise. But for anyone who has ever wondered about the person behind these lost songs, or just what it means to make art that no one will fully appreciate until decades later, To Anyone Who Ever Asks provides as much of a proper answer as we’ll ever get. –David Glickman

Testigos del fin del mundo

In his debut book, Bolivian music critic and professor Javier A. Rodríguez-Camacho chronicles the untold history of 2010s Ibero-American indie music. The book includes artists from Latin America, the United States, and Spain—an editorial choice that illustrates how multiple genres and geographical locations of the Spanish-speaking world have always been in conversation with each other. Instead of presenting a definitive canon, Rodríguez-Camacho traces an incomplete but dynamic map of the era’s scenes and sounds through 120 albums, spanning everything from the Chilean indie pop explosion to the Mexican ruidosón movement.

It’s an archival endeavor structured through individual album reviews, each of which transcends mere formal description. The chapters are meticulously contextualized, immersing readers into the musical and sociopolitical milieu from which these albums sprouted. But they also explore how these artists speak to shared experiences across the Spanish-speaking diaspora—regardless of the “zip code of their residence, their accents, or their stylistic influences.” The book is packed with delightful easter eggs, too, like playlist recommendations from guest contributors. Its creative direction is vividly inspired by the blogs and streaming platforms that revolutionized the decade, with tracklists, sidebars, and credits surrounding each review as though you can click on them. Whether you’re reading up on culture-shifting artists like Arca, or discovering Puerto Rican trap pioneers like Füete Billëte, Testigos del fin del mundo is an illuminating compendium that documents scenes and sounds that have lived in the shadows for too long. —Isabelia Herrera

Rey Naranjo Editores

Wayward: Just Another Life to Live

Those drawn to Vashti Bunyan ’s memoir likely know her story already: a ’70s British singer-songwriter whose freak-folk debut Just Another Diamond Day developed a cult following—thanks in part to fans like Animal Collective and Devendra Banhart—that inspired her to return in the 2000s with a long-awaited follow-up. Originally released in the UK last year, Wayward delivers far more than that familiar redemption arc.

Bunyan’s life story is one of striking defiance and quiet beauty, the combination of which moves the heart in unexpected ways. She recounts wearing the fragile shellac of her father’s 78s so thin that her parents removed the needle as punishment; skipping class to play guitar and fraternize with soon-to-be Monty Python co-founders Michael Palin and Terry Jones; and recording her debut single with Jimmy Page while Mick Jagger facetiously imitated her voice. “I was quietly delighting in being a small part of the big fuck-you,” she writes.

Perpetually drawn to the outdoors, from searching for bones amid post-WW2 rubble as a kid, to voyaging to Donovan ’s Scottish commune by horse and carriage in her 20s, Bunyan long rooted her music’s roving spirit in a desire for physicality that’s muddy and crestfallen. For a figure that’s been upheld as fragile and innocent, the true story of Bunyan the musician is that of a woman-turned-nomad fueled by an awareness that the more people and places you meet, the more your perception of the world grows. –Nina Corcoran

White Rabbit

World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music

Jeff Tweedy admits in the introduction to his third book, World Within a Song , that he would have started here, with brief love letters to important songs throughout his life, had he been more confident as a writer. Instead, the Wilco frontman felt the pressure to pen a more conventional memoir in 2018’s Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) , then followed that up with How to Write One Song , his down-to-earth approach to the guru-littered gutters of the “creativity guide” genre. Both books are excellent—warm, funny, unflinchingly honest, and clearly the work of a true music fan. But World Within a Song allows Tweedy to go full nerd, not as a tangent to a story but as the story itself. The effect is something like a book-length version of Pitchfork’s own 5-10-15-20 interview series , where stray memories become reflexively intertwined with certain lyrics or melodies.

Tweedy writes like he talks—direct, enthusiastic, relatable, self-aware when he’s corny—and it’s a quick and enjoyable read even when he opines on well-worn hits like “Smoke on the Water.” The best parts are when he focuses on specific moments with family members that shifted his view of things: his mom connecting to Lene Lovich’s “Lucky Number” while watching the “New Wave” episode of The Midnight Special with him, her own “you live alone, you die alone” worldview reflected back; discovering, after many years of assuming otherwise, that his cousin did not write Bachman–Turner Overdrive’s “Takin’ Care of Business.” It’s not all classic rock and vintage alternative, though—I gotta hand it to Tweedy, I didn’t expect to be so moved by his take on Rosalía’s “Bizcochito.” He writes, upon Googling lyric translations and realizing he’d understood the emotion even though he doesn’t speak Spanish, “I could actually hear the look on her face. I could see the man she was singing to—pinpoint the heartache to a specific moment in her life.” –Jill Mapes

By Jazz Monroe

By Madison Bloom

By Nina Corcoran

Best books about music: Essential reads for all music fans

Delve into the history of the world’s biggest artists, explore the many genres of rock and take a closer look at the pivotal moments that shaped our favourite sounds with our guide to the best books about music

One thing is for sure: the world of rock music is rarely boring – and if you're looking to explore some of the very best books about music ever written, then you've come to the right place.

From brilliant autobiographies and compendiums, through to warts'n'all exposes and stunningly detailed histories, there’s plenty of reading material out there for devoted music fans to delve into.

Below, you’ll find our pick of our favourite books ever written about music alongside a selection of the best reads of last year. So whether you're looking to buy a gift for a friend or hunting for something to keep you engaged during lockdown, we’re pretty sure you’ll find something in the list which fits the bill.

1. The Dirt: Motley Crue with Neill Strauss

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The big one. The (really filthy) Godfather of rock books. The book was immortalised in the Netflix feature film, The Dirt and is so gob-smackingly scandalous, you’ll frequently question whether the events actually happened as you read through it.

Read in shock and awe as Nikki Sixx and co . rise from smalltime LA to the Sunset Strip and the biggest stages in the world – smoking, shagging and shooting up all things, both thinkable and unthinkable. 

2. Waiting For The Sun - by Barney Hoskyns

From surfboards to singer-songwriters, from Svengalis to satanic cults, this multigenerational round-up of the LA Music scene reads like a well-written novel. 

All the legendary characters are represented – Jim Morrison , Frank Zappa , Gram Parsons – but it’s often the lesser-known names such as Van Dyke Parks and Lou Adler who offer the most interesting insights. It's a story of excess, eccentricity and enduring musical splendour.

3. Hammer Of The Gods - by Stephen Davis

Another justifiably popular big fish that’s been by turns revered, criticised and reissued since it was first published in 1985. Journalist Stephen Davis travelled through America with Led Zeppelin for two weeks in 1975, as their US tour was kicking off. 

For better or worse, his chief source for this unauthorised biography was Richard Cole, Zeppelin’s sometime tour manager/roadie. On the one hand, the band have publicly refuted its accuracy. On the other hand, its juicy, funny, shocking stories have been poured over greedily by thousands.

4. Please Kill Me by Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain

The debate over whether the UK or US can lay claim to have ‘invented’ punk rock has raged on for years. We’ll keep this simple: it was the US. 

Please Kill Me brilliantly documents the genre’s messy birth and wildly creative early years by letting all the key players – Lou Reed , Iggy Pop , the Ramones , Johnny Thunders, Rob Tyner, Patti Smith, Richard Hell, Debbie Harry, etc – tell their stories in their own words. If punk means more to you than just a slogan on an artfully ripped T-shirt, you need this book.

5. The True Adventures Of The Rolling Stones by Stanley Booth

One of the most enlightening pictures of the rock revolution of the 60s that you’re ever likely to read, The True Adventures Of The Rolling Stones is also a no-holds-barred insider view of the rise of the Rolling Stones . 

A huge part of its appeal lies in its writer. By the time Booth met Mick, Keef and co. he’d already drunk “Scotch with B.B. King for breakfast” and watched “Otis Redding teach Steve Cropper The Dock Of The Bay”. That same zeal is captured here, one hugely engaging triumph, pitfall and brush with the law after another.

6. Lonely Boy: Tales From A Sex Pistol by Steve Jones

The influence of The Sex Pistols on modern music – and punk especially – is quite simply undeniable. This first-hand account from the band’s guitarist Steve Jones manages to capture the significance of the group through his own eyes, but it also delves deep into his difficult childhood. 

There's no doubt about it: Steve Jones is a one-off. He's hilarious, eccentric, painfully honest and 100% Lahndahn, which is all the more surprising, since he's lived in Los Angeles for decades.

7. The Beatles: All These Years Vol.1 by Mark Lewisohn

Quite possibly the most gargantuan undertaking in the history of music literature, Volume One of Mark Lewisohn's history of The Beatles is merely the first part of a trilogy, and ends before Beatlemania. 

All These Years Vol. 1 is stunningly researched and is mind-bogglingly detailed, its 960 pages teach us so much about a band we think we already know everything about. And for the terminally curious, there's also an expanded version that tells the story over more than 1700 pages . Staggering.  

8. Murder in the Front Row by Brian Lew & Harald Oimoen

San Francisco natives Brian Lew and Harald Oimoen were two metal-obsessed geeks who just happened to find themselves at the epicentre of a world-changing musical revolution when a little band from Los Angeles called Metallica moved to the Bay Area on February 12, 1983. 

Largely a photo book,  Murder In The Front Row  brilliantly captures the camaraderie, raw enthusiasm and reckless, violent energy of the nascent thrash metal, from Metallica’s very first rehearsal w ith bassist Cliff Burton through to the release of Slayer ’s peerless  Reign In Blood album.

9. Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad

The bible for anyone interested in DIY punk rock culture,  Our Band Could Be Your Life  details the birth and development of the US underground rock scene in the 1980s, focussing upon biographies of 13 trail-blazing bands – Black Flag, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Mudhoney and Fugazi among them – who together mapped out a new terrain for rock music, pre- Nirvana . 

Without these bands, and their stubbornly independent, take-no-shit-from-anyone bullishness, Nirvana would have been just another local bar band.

10. White Line Fever by Lemmy

First published in 2002 and re-printed several times since, Lemmy 's autobiography takes some beating. From his childhood in Wales, through his discovery of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll (not quite in that order), and on to rock infamy,  White Line Fever  is never less than entertaining. 

Lemmy was a well-read and sharp-witted character and his book is a hilarious and warm reminder of the man we lost. An essential read.

11. Choosing Death by Albert Mudrian

Subtitled The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcor e, Decibel magazine Editor Mudrian’s text offers an incisive, in-depth analysis of the rise of the extreme metal underground, tracing a path from the back rooms of Birmingham pubs to the US arena circuit. 

Input from the likes of Napalm Death, Cannibal Corpse, Entombed, Death, At The Gates and more lends authenticity, while much unintentional humour comes from the sheer joyful naivety of those involved. Lords Of Chaos is more sensationalist, but this is the smartest book yet written on underground metal.

12. Fried And Justified by Mick Houghton

Veteran PR Mick Houghton’s disarmingly honest and ego-free memoir of his time working with some of the more challenging and off-piste acts of the 80s and 90s – Echo & The Bunnymen, Julian Cope, KLF – thrills in its insight and pragmatism. 

On the KLF’s notorious burning of £1 million, Houghton says: "I was never that shocked… in music-business terms £1m is nothing… The House Of Love blew £800,000 in less than a year."

13. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life And Times Of Warren Zevon by Crystal Zevon

In death as in life, Warren Zevon remains a cult figure. Fortunately his ex-wife Crystal ensured that his legacy hasn’t been totally forgotten. I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead is no fawning hagiography; this is a blackly comic oral history that depicts Zevon as equal parts genius and asshole. 

Family, collaborators and superstar friends (Stephen King, Bruce Springsteen) praise and crucify a man who lived life with a mix of relish and spite. That a dying Zevon gave it his blessing says much about the man.

14. 1971: Never A Dull Moment by David Hepworth

Never one for group-think, Hepworth’s persuasive defence of his proposition that 1971 was rock’s greatest year casts a broad cultural net woven with acute and original thinking. 

With monumental releases by Zeppelin, David Bowie , the Stones, Pink Floyd and more that year, it’s less the postulation that matters, rather his exhilarating analysis bolstered by impeccable research and flair. The appendix listing 100 albums from 1971 is an expert witness in itself.

15. Lexicon Devil: The Fast Times and Short Life of Darby Crash and The Germs by Brendan Mullen

The story of doomed punk rock anti-hero Darby Crash and his heroically inept band The Germs (who featured future Foo Fighter Pat Smear), Lexicon Devil is a brilliantly sketched portrait of idealism, energy, confusion and self-destruction in the LA punk scene of the late 1970s. 

By turns hilarious, terrifying and heart-breakingly sad, it’s a vivid, visceral read, pulsing with the energy and colour of a lost Los Angeles. Remarkably, it features in not one, but two, Red Hot Chili Peppers videos (By The Way and Universally Speaking) as Anthony Kiedis’ book of choice.

16. Life by Keith Richards

How Keith Richards is still alive is one of science’s more unfathomable mysteries. 

And it has to be said that even after you’ve read this thoroughly engaging autobiography (assisted by journalist James Fox) and placed it back on the bookshelf, you won’t be any the wiser. However, what you will have is an incisive view of the Rolling Stones' guitarist's world of riffs, rock, drugs, women, arrests and more, from his childhood in Kent through to life in the 21st century.

17. Espedair Street by Iain Banks

Late Scottish novelist Iain Banks’s fictional love letter to classic rock, Espedair Street is a thinly veiled retelling of the Fleetwood Mac myth, from the perspective of hulking bassist Daniel ‘Weird’ Weir, a character inspired by ex- Marillion singer Fish . 

Romantic rivalries, tragic mid-air deaths, suicide attempts, triumphant comebacks… every rock’n’roll cliché is gleefully ramped up to fever pitch, and it’s all the better for it. It’s amazing that they haven’t made it into a movie.

18. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen

“The writer has made one promise, to show the reader his mind,” Bruce Springsteen writes in his autobiography. And in his trademark plain-spoken but poetic way, he does just that. 

Whether detailing his uneasy relationship with his father, the sexual perks of superstardom or his struggles with depression, Bruce is frank and funny. Ultimately, you sense that he’s writing not only to share his experiences but also to better understand them. 

19. Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine

As guitarist with 70s punks The Slits – an all-female band in an overwhelmingly male-dominated scene – Viv Albertine has had a compelling perspective of rock’n’roll. 

Since then, as this book thoughtfully documents, Albertine has moved into film, been through divorce, IVF, illness and also got back into making music – all which she discusses with evocative attention to detail.

20. Burning Down The Haus: Punk Rock, Revolution and the Fall of the Berlin Wall by Tim Mohr

This secret history of East German punk rock is not just about the music; it is a story of extraordinary bravery in the face of one of the most oppressive regimes in history. 

Rollicking, cinematic, deeply researched, highly readable, and thrillingly topical,  Burning Down The Haus  brings to life the young men and women who successfully fought authoritarianism three chords at a time – and is a fiery testament to the irrepressible spirit of revolution.

21. No One Here Gets Out Alive by Jerry Hopkins & Danny Sugarman

Jim Morrison was being deified before his body was even cold, but No One Here Gets Out Alive elevated him to Immortal Godhead. 

It helped that former Doors manager and Morrison confidante Danny Sugarman had a ringside seat for the iconic singer’s rise, fall and posthumous resurrection – as a portrait of a doomed talent this book is fantastic, but it’s as an exercise in myth-making where it truly excels.

22. Suzy, Led Zeppelin, and Me by Martin Millar

A novel, or maybe a memoir, about being young and in love – with a band as much as a girl –  Suzy, Led Zeppelin, and Me  follows the narrator as he makes a complete tit of himself over the eponymous girl, and obsesses over Led Zeppelin in the build-up to the band's gig at Green's Playhouse in Glasgow. 

Full of period detail and timeless romance, it's a brilliantly rendered tale of obsession from one of the UK's best comic writers.

23. Beneath The Underdog by Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus might have been a jazzer, but his life was more rock'n'roll than most, and Beneath The Underdog is a helluva story: part memoir, part erotic fantasy, part stream of consciousness tirade.

Mingus writes of growing up in Poverty in Watts, and trying to succeed as a musician in a society that didn't want him to. It's not always an easy read, and Mingus isn't an entirely sympathetic character, but it's utterly unique: very few musicians have carried off a successful parallel career as a pimp.

24. Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung by Lester Bangs

You can’t really talk about the rise of rock journalism without mentioning Lester Bangs. Tragically, although perhaps unsurprisingly, he was not long for this world – he died at 33 of an accidental overdose. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman played him in the film Almost Famous , and this posthumous collection by Greil Marcus (Bangs’s first editor at Rolling Stone, in 1969) reminds us of his enduring position as one of the most distinctive, thrillingly unpredictable voices in American writing.

25. Chronicles: Vol. 1 by Bob Dylan

Something of a revelation on its publication, with few expecting the enigmatic Bob Dylan to sidestep his usual obfuscation and ellipsis and cut straight to the quick. 

While not wholly innocent of the former, Chronicles examines three points in Dylan's career (1961, 1970, and 1989) with piercing clarity and an insightful artistic remove. Full of taut one-liners, folksy idioms and no little humour, at its best the book is on a par with his greatest songs.

26. Revolution In the Head by Ian MacDonald

Just when it seemed like there was nothing left to say about The Beatles , ex-NME writer Ian MacDonald drilled down into the one aspect of their career that hadn’t been strip-mined: the songs. 

Revolution In The Head set out to analyse every track the band recorded. It sidesteps dull trainspottery, thanks to MacDonald’s insight and cantankerous outbursts: he loved The Beatles but, by God, he wasn’t afraid to put the boot in when needed. Often imitated but never bettered – just like its subject.

27. Girl In A Band by Kim Gordon

When Sonic Youth went on hiatus/broke up in 2011, it soon became clear that Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon’s marriage had also fallen apart. 

Gordon revealed her side of the story in this tell-all memoir that also contains a comprehensive history of the seminal New York band, but this is so much more than break-up literature. It's heartbreaking, smart, dignified and completely inspiring.

28. Confess by Rob Halford

Judas Priest legend Rob Halford released his no-holds-barred autobiography Confess in 2020 and if you’re looking to discover the real Metal God, then this really should be top of your shopping list. 

Delivered with refreshing down to earth frankness, Halford takes us through his journey from a council-estate to some of the world’s biggest stages. And as Classic Rock ’s review reported, “with chapter titles such as The Shirley Bassey Leather Years and Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory Hole, this is not a book for anyone squeamish about heavy rock’s screamingly camp subtext.”

Simply put, it's a must read – not only for fans of Halford and Judas Priest, but for all music fans.

29. Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman

A hilarious trawl through the byways of the 80s hair metal milieu, through the dispossessed rural hick-filter of Chuck Klosterman’s North Dakota childhood.

By turns sociologically astute, self-deprecatingly knowing and piercingly on-point musically, Klosterman argues that the bouffant bad boys of the day – Poison , Ratt, Warrant et al – merit equal cultural weighting as The Beatles and their peers. Nonsense, obviously, but you suspect he knows that.

30. Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics: The Legend of Man, a Rock'n'Roll Band by Deke Leonard

Aside from making progressive noises with Welsh rockers Man , Deke Leonard (who died in 2017) had a zingy, infectious way with words. 

He wrote several books, all of which are worth checking out, but if you pick one it should be this one, which mixes standard rock’n’roll excess with all the weirder tales of the Man world. A riotous read, whether you’re a Man fan or not.

31. Diary Of A Rock 'N' Roll Star by Ian Hunter

Written during Mott The Hoople ’s American tour in 1972, this book details the buzz (playing a sold-out show in Memphis) and the boredom (endless Holiday Inns) of a journeyman musician. Amid the musings and travelogue observations are walk-ons by artists including Chuck Berry and Bryan Ferry. 

Like his songwriting, Ian Hunter’s prose exhibits an eye for the truth: “The rock business is a dirty business, full stop.”

32. Thanks A Lot Mr Kibblewhite by Roger Daltrey

Conversational, witty, revelatory, Roger Daltrey ’s autobiography is possibly the most readable account yet of The Who's uniquely fracas-filled journey toward rock immortality. 

If you want forensic detail (the kind of inconsequential minutiae fans invariably pore over yet central protagonists barely register), then you'd best look elsewhere, but for an unvarnished first-person account from the eye of the storm, look no further.

33. I'm With The Band by Pamela Des Barres

A book about a legendary groupie may sound terribly un-PC in the post-MeToo age, but Pamela Des Barres’ salacious, sharp, witty account of life with the classic rock glitterati of the 60s and 70s (including affairs with Mick Jagger , Jimmy Page , Keith Moon , Jim Morrison and many more) feels warm and celebratory – and certainly not like the words of a victim.

34. Shots From The Hip by Charles Shaar Murray

A classic collection of rock writing from one of the masters of the genre. Charles Shaar Murray started out on counter-culture bible Oz, and became the enfant terrible of the NME. 

Along the way he hung out with everyone from the Stones to the Ramones and helped invent the history of rock music as we know it. This is simply unmissable.

35. Everybody Loves Our Town by Mark Yarm

This definitive history of grunge, published 20 years to the month after Nirvana released their classic Nevermind , is the story of a place as much as it is of a scene – a scrappy underdog of a city that never really wanted the attention and couldn’t really handle it when it got it. 

All the key surviving participants look back with a mixture of pride and bafflement at what they lived through, although there’s a tang of sadness for all those who didn’t make it.

36. Give The Anarchist A Cigarette by Mick Farren

Memorably described by music writer Charles Shaar Murray as coming on like a cross between Abbie Hoffman and Charles Manson, Farren’s full immersion in 60s/70s UK counterculture bridges beatniks to bollocks with a gleeful jaundice. 

Full of anecdote and wit, it reads like both social document and autobiography, told by a possibly unreliable narrator who’s no stranger to the excesses of the day himself.

37. Dark Days: A Memoir by D. Randall Blythe

This is one book that couldn’t have a more appropriate title. A memoir detailing   Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe's arrest, trial and acquittal for the manslaughter of the fan who died after their gig in the Czech Republic in 2010. 

As we know, the verdict exonerated him, but that doesn’t make reading his account of all that happened any less harrowing.

38. I'm Not With The Band: A Writer's Life Lost In Music by Sylvia Patterson

For more than three decades, Sylvia Patterson has been writing about music and interviewing some of the biggest names and bands in the business. This book chronicles her experiences in doing so, as well as being a woman on the front lines of the rock’n’roll dream. 

Encounters with Oasis, New Order, Page & Plant , the Happy Mondays and more are by turns hilarious and touching.

39. Louder Than Hell by Jon Weiderhorn and Katherine Turman

A beast of a book, some 700 pages in length,  Louder Than Hell  grandly bills itself as ‘The definitive oral history of metal’, and very nearly lives up to this lofty claim. Spanning five decades, with chapters focussing on ‘Proto-Metal’, the NWOBHM , Thrash , Nu-Metal , Black Metal , etc,. 

Louder Than Hell  largely dispenses with chin-stroking analysis of the culture, focussing heavily instead on gross-out tales of hedonistic excess and gloriously entertaining bitching and back-stabbing. The  Appetite For Destruction  of rock books.

40. Slash: The Autobiography

In other hands, Slash 's autobiography would probably be a laugh-riot. But there's something about the Guns N' Roses ' man's laidback delivery that makes you realise: he's not telling these stories to keep you entertained – this actually happened.

From a Wolf Of Wall Street-style meltdown that sees him shooting at demons in his house (with a shotgun! While his girlfriend sleeps!) and fleeing naked across a golf course, to celebrity encounters with David Bowie , Keith Richards, Lemmy and many more, Slash's book is never boring. 

41. Facing The Other Way: The Story of 4AD by Martin Aston

Martin Aston’s peek behind the curtain of famous indie label 4AD concentrates on their output throughout the 80s and 90s - a golden period for the UK music label. Artists including Pixies, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, Belly and Throwing Muses all released their music through 4AD, making them the darling of the independent scene. Fans routinely bought everything the label released, such was the calibre of the artists on their roster.

It’s a hefty read, weighing in at over 600 pages, but it’s fascinating to look at the label through a different lens and examine the independent scene of the time. There are plenty of nuggets that will delight the 4AD faithful – and you’re pretty much guaranteed to stumble across several artists you’ve never been aware of and take pleasure in diving headfirst into their music.

42. Get In The Van by Henry Rollins

The polar opposite of  The Dirt ,  Get In The Van  is a blunt, no-nonsense diary of life on the road in a punk rock band, specifically Black Flag , the uncompromising LA hardcore unit Rollins fronted from 1981 to 1986. 

There is precious little glamour here, from roadies eating dog food to band members indulging in five minute knee tremblers in piss-drenched alleyways, with violent confrontations with fans, sketchy promoters and power-crazed cops only ever a few days away. 

As grim as it sounds though,  Get In The Van  is an undeniably inspirational chronicle, illustrating the power of music to blow minds and change lives. But if you ever dream of becoming a rock'n’roll star, read this first.

Rare and ridiculously expensive, but it is a collectible.

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• 10 Music Biographies You Need...

10 Music Biographies You Need To Read Before You Die

Reading the biography of an artist we hold dear to our hearts can be a riveting read. However, it is also important to consider the books written about and by ground-breaking artists whose memoirs and biography actually create a broader impact beyond their immediate fanbase. From Los Angeles to Liverpool via Trench Town, Jamaica, below are 10 music biographies which much like the music of their subjects, manage to permeate far and wide beyond the sphere of their existence.

Wouldn’t It Be Nice: My Own Story

’Only in LA’ is a line worth keeping in mind when reading this rock page-turner-like-no-other. The now official line on this book is that Brian Wilson , co-founder of and brains behind The Beach Boys, was unable to co-operate fully, if at all, due to the strong anti-psychotic drugs he was ingesting at the time under the influence of the now disreputable Dr. Eugene Landy. The mystery of this conundrum lies in the book’s acute articulation of Wilson’s aching sadness, infused with a beauty that belies the reputation now afforded it — and is indeed more in line with those glorious songs. The truth is, the book is phenomenal in its charting of Wilson’s version of events and his own terrible descent into severe mental health problems. An abused and gifted child, Wilson escapes into melody and harmony in an attempt to overpower the deep sadness that haunts him. No matter how hard he tries to overpower the demons with his musical gift he ultimately cannot escape his own mind. What the reader (and listener) are left with is the sheer magnitude of the beauty Wilson countered with in the fight for his mind.

The power of Frank Zappa’s autobiography is its ability to engage equally the uninitiated and the avid Zappa fan. Zappa’s lasting masterpiece could well prove to be his autobiography – a caustic, cynical creative industries Rough Guide of sorts, hilariously guiding us through his life and career through his infectiously sardonic wit. What is both impressive and unusual about Zappa’s autobiography is its accessibility, considering the musical output of its writer. Often appreciated more for his intricate, zany, high-brow musical brilliance than for his everyman touch, Zappa’s autobiography depicts a man who has perfectly retained a strong and elegant sense of objectivity, inviting a broad audience to share and revel in his sure psychology.

Miles: The Autobiography

Much like the man, Miles’s autobiography is an uncompromising read. A rebel from the off, the middle class dentist’s son and Julliard dropout soon realised his dream by joining idol Charlie Parker’s band, casting his force of nature into history forever. What is most compelling about Miles’s journey is the consistency of his blinkered sense of determinedly moving forward. He seems irritated at times reliving his former glories and we only ever see him smile at a juncture of musical change and progression. Despite Miles’s lofty placement among cultural legend, his path was not without many deep troughs. The power of this tale is one of triumph over adversity, always inwardly questioning and assessing where to head next. Never looking back and resting on its laurels, this is a book of musical and cultural philosophy in a business bound with distraction, temptation and failure. Only the strong survive and Miles’s mettle is awe-inspiring.

In Search Of The La’s: A Secret Liverpool

Liverpool band The La’s exist today as an influential catalyst for 90’s and Noughties stadium chart-hogging rock, although their talents lay far deeper and wider than their critical acclaim — garnered largely through timeless one-hit wonder ‘There She Goes.’ Their enigmatic leader Lee Mavers is duly unearthed by the biography’s author M. W. Macefield through a tangent of followed leads via Liverpool’s murky musical underworld. Once Macefield has gained Mavers’s trust, the reclusive songwriter opens up and duly holds court with riveting results. The sense is one of accessing the mind of a living musical shaman and teacher and no journalist before or since has really been able to capture Mavers in such fine, open fettle. Macefield presents himself as the self-deprecating fan who got lucky, but his handling of The La’s delicate myth is to be commended, avoiding sycophancy and allowing an in-depth analysis of The La’s small but astonishingly well- crafted musical canon.

Ruthless: A Memoir

Rap impresario Jerry Heller co-founded notorious West Coast rap label Ruthless Records back in the late 1980’s. His chosen partner in crime for his soon-to-be globally successful phenomenon was NWA’s stand out character Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright. While Heller’s informal and gritty tale covers aspects of his long and successful career working within the music business, its charm and power comes from its sprawling dedication to the late Eazy-E. The heart and soul of NWA, Eazy-E pioneered the prototype rapper/entrepreneur figure that looms large within the industry today. From Jay-Z to P-Diddy, they all owe Eazy-E for his fearless vision and the high example he set of moulding the previously uneasy foes of artistry: creative integrity and business . Eazy-E’s charm and intelligence are diligently dispensed within Heller’s — at times — touching tribute.

Paul McCartney – Many Years From Now

Barry Miles’ sympathetic portrait of Britain’s foremost living songwriter is in part due to the meat of his biography being composed of long ranging interviews with the man himself. No other book on McCartney quite captures the eye of 60’s London’s swinging storm like Miles’, as McCartney candidly leads us there through his wrought post-war childhood. Centring on a pivotal teenage meeting of minds with a certain John Lennon , McCartney immediately puts the young Lennon to task, teaching him how to tune his guitar in order to dominate mid 20th century high western culture. What is most intriguing about the book is the forensic dissemination of the great songs he wrote together with Lennon. In true McCartney fashion, the subtle barbary of dispensing song input percentages is in part a little insensitive considering Lennon’s absence, although a highly fascinating and recommended read for the passing fan.

Bob Marley: The Untold Story

Chris Salewicz’s biography of Jamaica’s most successful musical artist is a must-read for all music fans. Based around the nuts and bolts of Marley’s songs and recordings rather than the psychology of the man himself, it offers deep insight into the germination of many of his great songs, with interviews from those who knew Marley and The Wailers best. A welcome backdrop to both Jamaican history and Jamaican musical history strengthens the books directive, as the simplicity of Marley’s truly impoverished beginnings gives way to his spirit and undeniably principled strength of character oozing through every gathering page. His message and lyrical teachings of love, unity and Rastafari are all laid bare and respectfully analysed as the well-worn post-colonial tale of ugly politics and corruption hijacks Marley’s ideological vision of a reborn Africa.

We’ve all heard Keith Richards’ achievement of reaching an impressive age debated about. However, once you’ve read Life you’ll be less inclined to second guess Richards’ apparent immortality. Life’s importance is in its lesson to all wannabe rock stars. Keith Richards’ cliché is reconstructed by an alert and keen musical student, fully in control of his own precious destiny. The staunchly loyal friend and band member proves his understanding of where the line exists between death and glory – his long sprawling heroin addiction is tempered by ‘treating’ himself to the drug on tour, but only on concluding the important business of writing and recording the album heroin free. This peculiar resolve and stubborn backbone proves in some part why the man is still alive today, and heralded at the top of his game with a musical history to match.

Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors

Some bands are ripe for copy, and The Doors’ Ray Manzarek’s intimate portrait of his burgeoning friendship with a young Jim Morrison only adds to their myth and Morrison’s legend. Doused in the hazy warmth of mid 1960’s California heat, Manzarek and Morrison’s days are spent pop star training on the Venice beach monkey bars, readily preparing themselves as the subverts champions. The intimate fly-on-wall documentation of the 4 players’ personalities, friendships and songwriting process is insatiable. More than anything, Manzarek’s biography reminds and informs us of the colossal cultural artistic output of the last century through Manzarek’s hungry and tasteful eye. From his heady pre-fame U.C.L.A. days BBQ’ing to João Gilberto as the sun went down over his Venice beach terrace — to the bands’ comradery sculpting the brutalist clarity of their swan song L.A. Woman — Manzarek articulates The Doors’ existence as a perfect storm.

The Tao Of Wu

Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA’s sequel to The Wu-Tang Manual is a philosophical book detailing its author’s enlightenment listed as seven ‘pillars of wisdom.’ Inspired by Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and his hero Bruce Lee, those familiar with the mind of the Wu-Tang Clan and in particular RZA will be aware of their incredible pedigree and RZA’s latent philosophy, which verges on numerological riddles but in fact may just be utter genius. RZA’s book is full of compelling world ideas but is maybe more interesting for its exposure of the various production techniques and equipment he used to form that most unique and revolutionary Wu-Tang template. By J.D.Woolnough

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30 Best Music Biopics of All Time

Many musicians secretly want to be actors — and most actors (not-so-secretly) want to be musicians. And for those thespians who don’t start their own bands with words like 30 Odd Foot of Grunts or Bacon Brothers in their names, the next best thing is to play a real-life musical genius in a movie. If the subject’s story happens to have a great rags-to-riches arc, or include a dive into drug-fueled, near-death depths with redemptive rise, phoenix-like, included in the third act, great; if such dramatic recreations attract the attention of Oscar voters, hey, all the better. But the chance to belt out a greatest-hits collection of songs from rock stars, hip-hop legends and country-and-western crooners is too tempting to pass up for most folks. You may never be Elvis — but you can play him on TV. (If you’re Eminem, however, you do get to play a barely fictionalized version of yourself. It’s complicated.)

Music biopics are a bona fide genre, and there’s no sign that their popularity is dimming in the slightest. Last year’s N.W.A origin story Straight Outta Compton was one of 2015’s biggest hits, and in the next month, we’re getting not one, not two, but three biopics on big-time musicians: the Ethan-Hawke-as-Chet-Baker opus Born to Be Blue ; the honky-tonkin,’ high-lonesome tale of Hank Williams I Saw the Light ; and Don Cheadle’s free-form look at several specific points in Miles Davis’ life, Miles Ahead.

So we’re counting down our choices for the best music biopics of all time. Some films weren’t considered due to technicalities (the great Gilbert and Sullivan movie Topsy-Turvy is a better backstage film than a music biopic; The Rose features a Janis Joplin-like singer, but you can’t say it’s a Joplin biopic), while others fall in a weird interzone that helped them make the cut (the main jazz player in Round Midnight hews close enough to both its inspirational subjects’ lives that it’s practically a dual portrait). But for us, these 30 titles are the ones that stay on tune as much as possible.

‘Selena’ (1997)

Arriving just two years after the murder of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, Selena is an elegant, deified portrait of the "Queen of Tejano." The biopic allowed Selena to posthumously cement the crossover success she tragically didn't live to experience, while also thrusting actress Jennifer Lopez — who earned a Golden Globe nomination in what was her first leading role — on her own path to superstardom. Although more of a warts-free tribute than a realistic depiction of the singer's life, Selena  served both as a worthy memorial her still-grieving fan base and a compelling introduction for those unaware of her massive impact. DK

‘Notorious’ (2009)

Directed by George Tillman Jr., this competent biopic chronicles the Notorious B.I.G.'s too-brief growth into one of the greatest rappers who ever lived, and his tragic 1997 murder at the age of 24. But it gets too many small details wrong, whether it's Angela Bassett's wavering Jamaican accent as Violetta Wallace; or the scenes of Biggie's "Big Poppa" peaking at Number One on the Billboard charts before the infamous November 30th, 1994, Quad Studios shooting of 2Pac, even though the reverse happened in real life. More importantly, rapper and first-time actor Jamal "Gravy" Woolard isn't quite good enough to carry an entire film, although he does a decent job of evoking Biggie's legendary charisma. Strong supporting performances aid Woolard, including a gregarious Derek Luke as Sean "Puffy" Combs, and Anthony Mackie as crazy ol' 2Pac. Naturi Naughton (formerly of Nineties R&B act 3LW) nearly steals the movie with her visceral depiction of Lil Kim. M.R.

‘The Runaways’ (2010)

Biopics live or die on their performances, and Floria Sigismondi's take on the early days of the pioneering all-female rock band has two dynamite ones in Kristen Stewart's Joan Jett and Michael Shannon's Kim Fowley. The Runaways walked a thin line between exploitation and empowerment; Fowley assembled the group and gleefully played up their jailbait appeal, but Jett and her bandmates used success to wrest control from their Svengali's hands. (The movie was released before the band's latter-day bassist, Jacqueline Fuchs — a.k.a. Jackie Fox — went public with allegations that Fowley had drugged and raped her; Fuchs is not a character in the film.) Dakota Fanning doesn't come close to Cherrie Currie's confident strut, but Stewart's Jett is pure badass, and Shannon manages to make Fowley both charismatic and repellent. SA

‘La Vie en Rose’ (2007)

If you'd have assembled a shortlist of actresses to play the chanteuse extraordinaire Edith Piaf in a movie, Marion Cotillard might have shown up somewhere between Mariah Carey and Martha Plimpton — the French actress had already proven she was much more than a pretty Gallic face, but there was little to suggest she'd be perfect to portray the Little Sparrow. Which makes her astounding take on Piaf that much more impressive, as Cotillard channels the vulnerability, volatility, and perpetual defensiveness of the woman who sang her guts out from the gutter to the grandest music halls. Neither Olivier Dahan's typical cradle-to-grave take nor the combo of fake teeth and frizzy can diminish her accomplishment — she may be lip-syncing, but the Oscar-winner is the reason the movie sings. DF

‘Liztomania’ (1975)

Short on fact and long ( really long) on phallic symbolism, Ken Russell's 1975 musical salute to 19th-century Hungarian composer Franz Liszt is so unhinged that it makes his nutty take on the Who's Tommy seem measured and dignified. Roger Daltrey stars as Liszt, who was said to drive female fans wild with his passionate piano performances; his reputation as "the world's first rock star" is all the excuse Russell needs to conjure up dreams of having a ten-foot dick, a Scouse-accented Pope (played by Ringo Starr), and the composer from the dead to defeat the Nazis during World War II. Oh, and Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman appears as the Norse god Thor. Any questions? DE

‘Backbeat’ (1994)

If there's a worse idea than stuffing a movie full of Beatles imitations, it's re-recording their music as well. But what Backbeat 's soundtrack lacks in authenticity, its songs, performed by an alt-rock supergroup that included Thurston Moore, Dave Grohl, Mike Mills and Greg Dulli, make up in anarchic energy. (It helps that the movie focuses on the then–Fab Five's Hamburg days, back when they were still playing Little Richard covers.) Reprising his role from Christopher Münch's The Hours and Times , Ian Hart plays John Lennon with an eerie verisimilitude that goes beyond mimicry into channeling, but Iain Softley wisely throws the spotlight on the group's forgotten early members, especially doomed bassist Stuart Sutcliffe, played by Stephen Dorff. Like John Ford's Young Mr. Lincoln , Backbeat is about icons before they were icons, just discovering the traits that would soon make them immortal. SA

‘Love & Mercy’ (2014)

Longtime producer Bill Pohlad stepped into the director's chair for this touching, challenging dual portrait of Brian Wilson, showing him as he prepares to make Pet Sounds (played by Paul Dano) and in the 1980s as he's struggling to pull himself out of depression (played by John Cusack). Love & Mercy jumps between time periods, forcing us to see the life of a genius not as a straight timeline but as a collection of events and impressions, the past and the present constantly in conversation with one another. Both Wilsons are superb in their own way — Dano is sweet and restrained, Cusack melancholy and haunted — but the best performance may belong to Elizabeth Banks, who plays Melinda Ledbetter, a onetime model who helped Wilson break free of the controlling therapist Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti) in the Eighties. It's through Banks' tough but compassionate turn that the troubled Beach Boys star finally finds his happy ending.  TG

‘The Doors’ (1991)

At the time of its release, film critic Roger Ebert complained of The Doors , "Watching the movie is like being stuck in a bar with an obnoxious drunk, when you're not drinking." Perhaps, but Oliver Stone's celebration of Jim Morrison is so kinetically, preposterously grandiose that it's magnificently bombed out on its own rock & roll excess. Val Kilmer gave the performance of his life as the Lizard King, not by deifying the singer (who died at 27) but by making him the embodiment of 1960s L.A. hedonism, doped up on hormones, liquor and smack. His Morrison is both heroic and ridiculous, full of shit but also full of poetry, and Stone refuses to judge, creating an orgy of psychedelic sound and images that would point the way for his later films JFK and Natural Born Killers . Few watching The Doors will want to emulate Morrison's arrogant self-destruction. But it's a hell of a ride. TG

‘CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story’ (2013)

While TLC would go on to become one of the decade's most successful and popular groups, the lives of the three members were marred by Behind the Music levels of drama. A decade after Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes' untimely death and the group's essential dissolution, 2013's VH1 film  Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story cast real-life musicians Keke Palmer (Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas), Drew Sidora (Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins) and Lil Mama (Left Eye), whose performances eschewed histrionics in favor of believable performances and striking resemblances. Perri "Pebbles" Reed, the group's former manager, is the closest the film gets to a villain, with Rolling Stone noting in 2013 that the film portrays her as "a parasitic thief who knowingly bilked millions from the naive group." Still, there's no shortage of crazy moments, music-industry scum and dubious characters that lend the film its requisite air of tabloid intrigue. JN

‘The Pianist’ (2002)

You don't have to know much about Wladyslaw Sziplman's acclaimed career as a concert pianist to be moved by this harrowing depiction of his survival in the Warsaw ghetto during the Holocaust. Directed by Roman Polanski and based on the late Jewish musician's autobiography, Adrien Brody embodies the Polish composer's struggle to maintain his artistry through years of horrifying scenes, from watching in despair as his family is sent to a labor camp; to using his gifts as a pianist to try to convince a Nazi officer to spare his life, even as he trembles from malnutrition and jaundice. Brody's haunted portrayal earned him the 2003 Oscar for Best Actor. The Pianist may not show much actual music, but it's still one of the best classical-music films ever made. MR

‘Get on Up’ (2014)

This James Brown biopic, which flopped at the box office in the summer of 2014, deserves a second look primarily for Chadwick Boseman's tremendous performance as Mr. Dynamite. Forget the actor's mastery of Brown's cadence — it's his capturing of the man's strutting, bulletproof confidence and otherworldly sexiness that electrifies every scene in Get on Up , even when the legendary artist isn't onstage. Directed by Tate Taylor, Get on Up jazzily reshuffles Brown's story, jumping around from the 1980s to the Sixties to the Thirties, connecting events through their thematic links rather than straight chronology. In the process, the movie makes the case that Brown was larger than any decade, greater than any single generation — the Hardest Working Man in Show Business who couldn't be contained by a single nickname. TG

‘La Bamba’ (1987)

Buoyed by stellar performances from Lou Diamond Phillips as Richie Valens and Esai Morales as the doomed rocker's troubled half-brother Bob, La Bamba richly details the last eight months of the 17-year-old Valens' life, from high school student to unlikely overnight sensation to victim of the tragic plane crash that forever reshaped the music world. La Bamba doesn't just offer a sanitized portrait of Valens as a gone-too-soon rocker; it also tackles the racial tensions that percolated in Los Angeles in the late Fifties as well as the day-to-day struggles of the Latino community. However, at its heart, the film remains a stunning reminder of Valens' lasting impact on pop music: Fittingly, La Bamba helped bring Los Lobos' cover of his signature song to Number One upon its release. DK

‘Last Days’ (2005)

Kurt Cobain died proclaiming it was "better to burn out than fade away," but the barely veiled Cobain doppelgänger at the center of Gus Van Sant's Last Days is so faded he's practically transparent. Shuffling around a large, empty house in the Washington woods, surrounded by hangers-on who take notice of him only when they want money or drugs, Michael Pitt's Blake seems less like a man about to take his own life than one who's already died and is waiting for his body to catch up. Like Elephant 's riff on the Columbine massacre, this fictionalized version of a rock star's path to suicide offers ambiguity in lieu of explanation, challenging the biopic's inherent promise of tidy explanations and comforting rationales. It's as cryptic and fragmented as Cobain's lyrics, but with none of the cathartic anger that for a time burned away the fog. SA

‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’ (1993)

Director Brian Gibson's adaptation of Tina Turner's best-selling autobiography is unfortunately best remembered for its graphic and borderline salacious depictions of domestic violence. But that viewpoint overlooks the subtler early scenes between the excellent Laurence Fishburne as Ike Turner and Angela Bassett as Tina — who rightly earned Best Actor and Actress Oscar nominations for their performances — which demonstrate how the artists' clear rapport with one another is ultimately betrayed by Ike's abuse. Throughout the film, Bassett ably embodies Tina Turner's purposefulness, whether strutting across the stage as she sings "Proud Mary," or learning to chant "Om" as a Buddhist convert. MR

‘Control’ (2007)

Anton Corbijn spent most of his life hanging out with rock stars, photographing everyone from U2 to Depeche Mode to Tom Waits. So it's little surprise that, for his directorial debut, he made a movie about a singer. In Control , Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis (Sam Riley) is a melancholy boy even before committing suicide at age 23, but what gives this stripped-down drama its pathos is its lack of illusions about the unhappiness that dogged him throughout his short life. In this way, Control eschews the typical rags-to-riches-to-rags biopic narrative: Riley doesn't play Curtis as a raging egotist but, rather, as a deeply troubled soul who turned his pain into beautiful music for as long as he could before the pain eventually consumed him. Just like Joy Division's albums, Control is gloriously, candidly bleak. TG

‘The Jacksons: An American Dream’ (1992)

Based largely on Katherine Jackson's 1990 autobiography My Family, this biopic on the brothers Jackson charts the rise of the chart-topping siblings from their early "ABC" days to the Victory tour — as well as the subsequent solo career of Michael as he tries to both retain a fleeting sense of normalcy amid superstardom. Tawdriness is inescapable when dissecting America's most famous musical family, and it's now impossible not to view the movie through the lens of the allegations that would haunt the Thriller hitmaker for the rest of his life. But real clips of the group interspersed with dramatic re-enactments still makes this a compelling portrait of pop's first family. JN

‘Behind the Candelabra’ (2013)

The first project after his "retirement" from making movies, Steven Soderbergh's HBO biopic Behind the Candelabra went further than a Hollywood feature would in detailing the full scope of Liberace's hermetic lifestyle. Michael Douglas' lead performance attracts and repels sympathy for the Vegas legend, showing him at worst as a vampiric narcissist who drained the life out of young and beautiful men and at best as a sensational performer who glittered in the spotlight. Liberace's relationship with Scott Thorson (Matt Damon), a lover he seduced and abandoned, brings him down to earth, but Douglas's charisma makes it impossible to push him away. Soderbergh paints him as a tragic figure, isolated by fame and fiction, living out his dreams while confined to gilded cage of his own creation. ST

‘Ray’ (2004)

Jamie Foxx's uncanny, Oscar-winning incarnation of the late Ray Charles dominates this chronicle of the beloved rhythm & blues pioneer's Fifties and Sixties heyday. He gets everything right about Charles, who died just before the box office hit was released in the fall of 2004, from the blind pianist's look and shuffling gait to his vocal intonations. The movie is filled with terrific acting, like future Scandal superstar Kerry Washington as Charles' wife, Bea, and Clifton Powell as Charles' long-suffering assistant, Jeff Brown; Regina King's portrayal of one of Charles' mistresses and backing singers, Margie Hendricks of the Raelettes, is a true revelation. She should have been nominated for an Oscar too. MR

‘Round Midnight’ (1986)

Dexter Gordon embodies his lead role of the aged, world-weary tenor saxophonist Dale Turner (based loosely on both Bud Powell and Lester Young) so well that the late musician had to remind people that Round Midnight is a work of fiction. His Oscar-nominated performance is complemented by Bertrand Tavernier's solid direction, which gives his flick the smoky, melancholic atmosphere of a slow blues. Watch for Gordon's sessions with fellow jazz greats Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, as well as a cameo from Martin Scorsese as a New York club owner. MR

‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ (1980)

Sissy Spacek received a well-deserved Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of country queen Loretta Lynn in this straightforward approach to the singer’s story, from her impoverished beginnings in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to her eventual ascendance to country stardom. Completely believable whether portraying Lynn as a love-struck teen, harried working mother or the “Queen of Country Music,” Spacek also impresses with her singing; the film’s soundtrack, featuring her vocals instead of Lynn’s, would actually make it all the way to No. 2 on the country charts. Everyone from Tommy Lee Jones to Levon Helm and Beverly D’Angelo (as Patsy Cline) turn in strong performances — and Apted’s attention to visual detail really brings the late Fifties/early Sixties world of honky-tonks and C&W radio stations to dusty life. DE

‘Bound for Glory’ (1976)

Were it not up against one of the greatest Best Picture slates in Oscar history — All the President's Men , Network , Rocky  and Taxi Driver were the other four — Hal Ashby's Bound for Glory might have gotten the recognition it deserved. As it stands, this gorgeous Woody Guthrie biopic — which netted a second Oscar for the late cinematographer Haskell Wexler — speaks profoundly to the relationship between the artist and the ravaged land that inspired and absorbed his music. Set during the height of the Great Depression, the film follows Guthrie (David Carradine) on a westward migration from his home in Dust Bowl Oklahoma to the fertile promise of California. Typical of Seventies heroes, Carradine's Guthrie is a flawed, difficult, enigmatic figure, but a potent symbol of righteousness and relief for a country that ached for understanding. ST

‘Amadeus’ (1984)

Based on Peter Shaffer's Tony-winning play, this lavish period drama puffs up the supposed rivalry between 18th-century composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) and Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) into a fabulously entertaining drama about male competiveness and the mystery of genius. Told through flashbacks, the film finds an elderly Salieri recounting his sad life, lamenting that his legacy has been erased because of Mozart's brighter star, which sets the stage for a story of envy and revenge. "With MTV on the scene, we [had] a three-hour film about classical music, with long names and wigs and costumes," director Milos Forman later recalled about the risk of bringing Amadeus to the screen, but its success (eight Oscars, including Best Picture) speaks to the film's timeless themes — not least of which is our collective nervous suspicion that, like Salieri, we're merely the supporting player in someone else's grand narrative. TG

‘8 Mile’ (2002)

Loosely inspired by Marshall Mathers' life as a struggling rapper in Detroit, 8 Mile is a 21st-century Rocky , with the man who dubbed himself Eminem bobbing and weaving through his first starring role. But there's no point worrying over the biographical details: What matters is that Em's naturalistic performance as the scrappy, blue-collar Rabbit embodied the same raw vulnerability and edgy candor that powered his music. (The movie isn't as shockingly funny as The Marshall Mathers LP , but it shares with that album the scared bravado of a troubled young talent ready to break free.) Directed by L.A. Confidential filmmaker Curtis Hanson, 8 Mile was a word-of-mouth hit that didn't settle for Hollywood fantasy or pat happy endings. When Eminem's steely underdog finally wins the big rap showcase, the moment of triumph quickly gives way to him having to catch his next shift at the auto plant — an apt illustration of the lowered expectations of the movie's working-class heroes. TG

‘Walk the Line’ (2005)

There are two ways of looking at this Johnny Cash biopic: As a middle-of-the-road highlight reel of formative childhood events, eureka moments, and the rise-and-fall (and rise again) trajectory of a great musician, or as a genuine standard-bearer for the genre. James Mangold's biopic walks on the right side of the line, mainly because it puts Cash's creative and personal relationship to June Carter at the heart of the movie and casts both roles perfectly. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon would be an odd romantic pairing in any circumstance — he brooding and self-serious, she bright and energetic — but that opposites-attract chemistry makes sense of their playful duets onstage (where both acquit themselves beautifully) and their charged relationship off it. ST

‘Straight Outta Compton’ (2015)

Produced by the surviving members of N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton is the authorized biography of the hip-hop trailblazers, and the worst thing that could be said about it is that Dr. Dre and Ice Cube have made a glossy monument to their own importance. But that's the best thing about it too: For inner-city black men forced to work with powerful white gatekeepers in the music industry — and getting ripped off most of the time — it's a triumph that they'd be the ones to print the legend nearly three decades later. The movie goes deep into the internecine squabbles, the Faustian bargains and the touring excesses that made N.W.A. such a volatile bunch, but the performance sequences are particularly electric. From Eazy-E finding his voice in the studio to the group getting arrested for singing "Fuck tha Police" in Detroit, the film rediscovers their lightning-in-a-bottle vitality. ST

‘The Buddy Holly Story’ (1978)

Big up Gary Busey, who sang Holly's songs live during the filming of Steve Rash's take on the late, great Texas rocker, and received a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for his efforts — he injected the film with a legitimate rock-and-roll energy of the sort rarely seen in Hollywood music films. Ultimately, the movie's lasting legacy is that it successfully re-introduced Holly's music to American listeners; at the height of the disco movement, the film's buzz helped propel the greatest hits collection Buddy Holly Lives to Number 55 on the Billboard album charts. DE

‘Sid and Nancy’ (1986)

Alex Cox's account of ex–Sex Pistol Sid Vicious' descent into drug addiction, culminating with the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, and his fatal heroin overdose, now looks less like punk than prog: It's a movie of grand, orchestrated gestures rather than guttural immediacy. (See the slow-motion shot of Vicious and Spungen kissing against a dumpster while trash rains from the sky above them.) But Gary Oldman's incarnation of Vicious' self-abnegating charisma is so magnetic than even the Pistols' John Lydon, who told Cox after seeing the film that he ought to be shot, was moved to praise the performance. And Chloe Webb's glass-shattering Nancy is the perfect soul-sucking Bonnie to his malignant Clyde. SA

‘Elvis’ (1979)

Several Elvis Presley biopics have been made since the King's premature death in 1977, but this John Carpenter-directed made-for-TV movie is still the one to beat. Still chiefly known for starring in live-action Disney films as The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes,  Kurt Russell received an Emmy nomination for his memorable portrayal of the King, perfectly capturing the singer's brooding intensity without ever lapsing into parody. Russell didn't actually sing for the film — he lip-synced to vocals done by country artist Ronnie McDowell — but his performance sequences still tap deeply into the power and visceral excitement of Presely's stage presence. It doesn't soft-pedal the darker side of his personality, either; the scene in which Russell shoots up a hotel television may be as iconic as anything from any of Elvis' actual films. DE

‘Bird’ (1988)

Less of a straight-up biopic than a long, dreamlike series of impressionistic sequences, Clint Eastwood's atmospheric paean to jazz legend Charlie Parker focuses as much on the heroin addiction that shaped (and consumed) the man they called Bird's short life as on the development of his revolutionary sound. But Forest Whitaker delivers a monumental performance as the be-bop pioneer, fully radiating the joy, passion and torment of Parker's creative process. Eastwood doesn't dumb down the music or its milieu; part of the film's enduring appeal lies in its expertly staged nightclub scenes, which thrillingly transport the viewer back to the jazz demimonde of the Forties and Fifties. DE

‘I’m Not There’ (2007)

How do you possibly try to encapsulate the life of Bob Dylan — one of the rock era's greatest shape-shifters — in a single film? If you're Carol director Todd Haynes, by splitting that life into different eras and influences, casting everyone from Cate Blanchett to Richard Gere to Heath Ledger to Christian Bale to portray separate shards in Dylan's rich, confounding mosaic. I'm Not There is both thrilling and inquisitive, staying away from chronology and straight biography to grasp, in a larger sense, how Dylan remade the world while constantly reinventing himself over the years. On one level, the film is merely a joyride through cinematic styles — aping the look and feel of Godard, A Hard Day's Night , 8 1/2 and 1970s revisionist Westerns — but, more profoundly, it pays the singer-songwriter the highest compliment by crafting a fractured, often brilliant exploration that's as vibrant as the man it honors.  TG

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The 5 Best Music Biographies of All Time

Memoirs, biographies and personal essays are all fascinating ways to learn about specific subjects. In the music world, music biographies are an opportunity for musicians and writers alike to reveal the details of their inner workings.

Here are the five of the best music biographies written to date.

5. “Life” by Keith Richards

Written by the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist himself, “Life” reveals rather titillating details about Keith Richards’ renowned rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. The autobiography divulges personal information ranging from Richards’ experiences with drugs to his scandalous relationships with women like Patti Hansen and Ronnie Spector.

Beyond the fascinating aspects of his private life, Richards also goes in depth on how the Stones were formed and his problematic relationship with bandmate Mick Jagger. Journalist James Fox aided in co-writing “Life,” but Richards’ voice is clear throughout the entirety of the book.

Why it’s worth the read: Fox and Richards spent a whopping five years working on “Life,” and their strenuous effort is apparent. “Life” is one of the most popular music biographies, and it’s everything one should be: honest and revealing, yet a perfectly well-written slice of the person’s life.

Richards doesn’t stray away from the ugly moments, but rather he celebrates them in a therapeutic and oddly comforting manner. By the end, any reader would feel well-versed in the depths of Richards’ life.

4. “Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix” by Charles R. Cross

Despite a tragically young death at 27, Jimi Hendrix’s significance has never once been questioned. Charles R. Cross’ attempt at covering the radical moments of Hendrix’s life is bold, especially because “Room Full of Mirrors’” was published 36 years after his passing.

Nevertheless, this music biography portrays Hendrix’s difficult lifetime through exclusive interviews, letters and documents, making the accuracy of Cross’ depiction undeniable. “Room Full of Mirrors” paints a painful image of the struggles Hendrix endured throughout his life, but it still manages to diffuse the enigma surrounding his outrageous swinging ‘60s existence.

Why it’s worth the read: Like many other rock stars before and after him, Hendrix’s lifestyle was filled with sex, drugs and wildly fascinating stories. It’s a shame those vices got the best of him, but Cross’ impressive effort at telling Hendrix’s story is a valid endeavor, specifically thanks to the interviews and documents included.

For someone that unfortunately never lived to tell his own story, “Room Full of Mirrors” is authentic and comprehensible.

3. “John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth” by Elizabeth Patridge

“John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth” is an enthralling dive into one of the most talented musicians of all time. Patridge does an impressive job of recounting Lennon’s life, beginning with his birth in 1940 and ending with his tragic death in 1980.

She illuminates the most important moments as well as detailing Lennon’s notorious years spent with Yoko Ono. Similar to “Come As You Are,” Patridge makes a notable effort at diffusing the mystery and covert features of Lennon’s lifetime, specifically post-Beatles.

However, there’s a melancholy tone to “All I Want is the Truth” — maybe because of Lennon’s untimely death or because so much of his life is still left up to debate.

Why it’s worth the read: Oddly enough, the best part of “All I Want is the Truth” isn’t the writing itself; it’s the outstanding black-and-white photos that don its pages. Exclusive photographs span the entirety of Lennon’s life, making each snapshot equally as significant as they are exceptional.

2. “Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana” by Michael Azerrad

“Come As You Are” offers an incredibly detailed narrative of how Nirvana came to be (and tragically ended). Azerrad unbiasedly chronicles the life of grunge forefather and Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain in a way that feels remarkably personal. Not only does he go into great detail regarding how Nirvana gained success, but he writes in such a tone that adequately portrays the excitement and passion rendered by Cobain, Krist Noveselic, Dave Grohl and former band members.

This book distorts much of the mystery surrounding Nirvana, which might be the best thing this biography does. In simple terms, “Come As You Are” is not just about Cobain’s demise or controversial relationship with Courtney Love but rather an exceedingly interesting history lesson on the band as a whole.

Why it’s worth the read: “Come As You Are” is one of few music biographies to include exclusive interviews with ex-Nirvana members and surrounding relatives and friends. While Cobain is the focus of the music biography, Azerrad does not sensationalize a bit of his life or death. “Come As You Are” is raw and informative beyond belief.

1. “Scar Tissue” by Anthony Kiedis

Perhaps the most emotional and unrefined on the list, “Scar Tissue” is amazing, dismal and disturbing all at the same time. The story of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis is truly unbelievable, making “Scar Tissue” that much better of a read.

The autobiography is a comprehensive account of Kiedis’ rise to fame and drug addiction . Kiedis, who began struggling with drug use at the ripe age of 12, let heroin intertwine with his true passion for music for 26 years.

“Scar Tissue” is filled with outrageous stories (the number of times he’s played shows naked is mildly concerning) and scattered accounts of heroin abuse, yet you’re left rooting for Kiedis time and time again.

Why it’s worth the read: Despite being a music biography — and one of the most read music biographies — there are times where Kiedis paints himself to be a fascinatingly troubled antagonist. His rollercoaster ride with drug abuse is unsettling to read at times, but the redeeming qualities of his lifestyle (his passion for music or his love for those around him, for example) completely suck you in. At the end of each chapter, all you want is for Kiedis to lead a healthy, sober life. (Spoiler alert: He ends up doing just that. It takes an entire book to get there though.)

• Jimi Hendrix
• John Lennon
• Kurt Cobain
• music biographies
• The Beatles
• The Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Rolling Stones

Melissa Lee, State University of New York at Oswego

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The 20 best music biopics - ranked!

As the David Bowie biopic Stardust is released, we take a look through the greatest music star portrayals – from Johnny Cash and Billie Holiday to Ian Curtis and Ray Charles

20. Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

Some inspired casting made this biopic fiercely watchable – and it’s a movie that doesn’t quite conform to either of the genre’s two templates: underdog rise or tragic downfall. Dennis Quaid is the rock’n’roll wild man Jerry Lee Lewis, the insurgent 50s star who married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra, played by Winona Ryder – to the horror of the US and that of his other cousin, the preacher Jimmy Swaggart, played by Alec Baldwin. But Lewis stays unrepentant and defiant to the end. A fascinating dramatisation of how sex, evangelical passion and rock’n’roll euphoria are all close cousins in the American family.

19. Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

It was destined to be more of a soundtrack album than a movie, and the storytelling wasn’t all that great. But Diana Ross, making her screen acting debut, gave what was considered an impassioned and utterly committed performance as Billie Holiday, in this Motown-produced film playing opposite Richard Pryor and Billy Dee Williams. The movie skates over some of Holiday’s early life and first two marriages and arguably evades the full grim truth about her abuse. Yet Ross sells it with absolute commitment, especially in the prison scenes, and the singing makes it that rarity in music biopics: a legendary singer played by a legendary singer.

18. Sid and Nancy (1986)

One of the great movies about punk, because it pulls no punches about the boredom, disillusion and misery that lay behind punk’s brief and stunning flourish of anarchic rage. Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb give superb performances as the Sex Pistols’ bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, living lives of Beckettian torpor and squalor in New York’s Chelsea hotel, Sid having been left high and dry after the Pistols split. He is yearning for heroin and also the delicious drug of superstar celebrity, which he had just got used to.

17. Sweet Dreams (1985)

Crazy for trying … crazy for crying. A bold and fervently acted attempt from director Karel Reisz to dramatise the life of the country star Patsy Cline, a film that perhaps didn’t quite escape the shadow of Michael Apted’s Coal Miner’s Daughter, about Cline’s friend Loretta Lynn. Jessica Lange confers a willowy beauty on the role of Cline (miming to Cline’s own vocals) and Ed Harris plays her husband, who – in sickeningly familiar style – beats her and can’t accept her star status.

16. Rocketman (2019)

The authorised biopic account of Elton John was exec-produced by the man himself and disappointingly stops before the 90s and before his meeting with the real love of his life, David Furnish. So the classic music-biopic template of dizzying rise, followed by drug/egotism crisis, followed by redemption is perhaps misleadingly squeezed into just two-thirds of the journey. But Taron Egerton is a very game impersonator of Elton, doing all his own singing, and Jamie Bell is his songwriter, Bernie Taupin. The movie is partly a jukebox musical and partly a full-on Andrew Lloyd Webber-style extravaganza that will surely be revived on stage in a post-Covid world.

15. Straight Outta Compton (2015)

This explosive biopic version of the West Coast hip-hop pioneers NWA has most of the genre’s key moments, but it also popularised a new music-biopic scene – the chaotic confrontation in the record company offices, as NWA explode from the anger, racism and police brutality of South Central Los Angeles. Ice Cube is played by his son O’Shea Jackson Jr (an eerie resemblance). The film goes easy on the question of sexism, but shows how their furious lyrics were politicised in a new kind of nihilistic, apolitical and unaligned way, gatecrashing the white world of success. A music-biopic that certainly twists the volume dial clockwise.

14. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2010)

Andy Serkis gives us an absolute barnstormer with his wonderful performance as the punk-era singing star and polio survivor Ian Dury, singing all Dury’s vocals with his actual band, the Blockheads. Naomie Harris plays Dury’s partner; Tom Hughes plays his lead guitarist, Chaz Jankel; Ray Winstone plays Dury’s dad in flashback; and Toby Jones plays the nasty orderly at the bleak polio hospital where Dury spent his childhood. Serkis, who also exec-produced, is in almost every frame of the film and his ferocious energy powers it along. It’s a gutsy, passionate picture and, though it’s a labour of love, it never feels laborious.

13. Backbeat (1994)

Iain Softley’s smart movie about the early days of the Beatles finds an indirect way of getting up close and personal with the music legends; the film-makers couldn’t afford the expense of using the copyrighted Lennon/McCartney songs. A study of the band’s hardworking lives gigging in Hamburg in the early 60s, the film counterintuitively centres on Stuart Sutcliffe (Steven Dorff) – the band member who was destined to die of a brain haemorrhage just as they were on the verge of greatness – and his German girlfriend, Astrid Kirchherr, played by Sheryl Lee. (This tragic slant may have been an influence of Anton Corbijn’s Control.) Ian Hart gives a spiky, tasty, angular performance as John Lennon, who is shown as having an intense, almost romanticised friendship with the doomed Sutcliffe.

12. Last Days (2005)

There is a debate to be had as to whether Gus Van Sant’s utterly and almost oppressively hypnotic film is a biopic or not. But it looks it in all but name: a brilliant, audacious leap into the tortured and unhappy mind of the Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain, in his final hours, played by Michael Pitt, but fictionalised as the every-star Blake. Long, eerie, all-but-silent sequences show his sadness and desperate loneliness, roaming restlessly around his shambolic mansion and surrounding woodland estate like a wounded animal. It is captivating and even thrilling to watch Blake/Kurt make his sacrificial and pain-wracked progress to the cliff’s edge.

11. Walk the Line (2005)

You would need a heart of stone not to enjoy it, and toes of stone not to tap along. There’s a warm and generous richness to this biopic of country singing legend Johnny Cash. In this role, Joaquin Phoenix made a great career leap forward and Reese Witherspoon won an Oscar as his great love, June Carter (and Phoenix and Witherspoon sing all the songs). The director, James Mangold, tells a seductive story packed with period details of Cash’s dire boyhood picking cotton in depression-era Arkansas, his guilt at the death of a much-loved brother, his unhappy military career and his fraught marriage, until his deep groan of a singing voice found expression as the Man in Black, discovered in the Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Witherspoon is brilliant as Carter, and in fact almost outshines Phoenix, coming close to persuading the audience that it is really all about her, or should be.

10. Good Vibrations (2012)

Good Vibrations is a terrific music biopic about someone who isn’t a singer, a musician or even a producer. It’s about a record-shop owner who became the proprietor of a tiny indie record label in the halcyon era of punk and John Peel, when such things could be really important. The hero is visionary Belfast entrepreneur Terri Hooley, played by Richard Dormer, who is ecstatically converted to punk on seeing the Undertones play live, and opens a record shop in the middle of Belfast called Good Vibrations, a place where the tribal sectarian divisions were utterly irrelevant. This becomes the spiritual HQ of punk in Northern Ireland and launching pad for the Undertones and their great single Teenage Kicks. The legendary real-life moment when Peel plays this record twice in a row makes for a great scene in the film, when the band miss it the first time and are incredulous and overjoyed to catch it again immediately.

9. Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1988)

This was the experimental, no-budget 43-minute film with which the young Todd Haynes made his name, about the last years in the troubled life of Karen Carpenter. He used existing archive footage, presented dialogue scenes with Barbie dolls playing the main characters and, most cheekily of all, used the original songs without copyright permission. (This financial hurdle is why the music biopic genre is usually the preserve of big studio films, which can manage the cost with the release of a soundtrack album – and beyond the reach of independent film-makers; this may have been the issue for the new David Bowie film, Stardust .) Karen’s brother, Richard Carpenter, for all these reasons, raised legal objections to the film in 1990 and it went out of circulation before gaining cult status online. Carpenters fans everywhere realised that Haynes’s film is actually a fierce, if weird fan-love-letter to Karen, as well as being a radical deconstruction of celebrity mythology, fanhood and the rhetoric of the music biopic itself. I would love to see Haynes now do a live-action remake.

8. Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)

The British TV director Michael Apted was already a major player, not least thanks to his work on the Up documentary series for British television , which tracked the lives of 14 children from differing backgrounds. This is an emotionally brash retelling of the life of country singing star Loretta Lynn from her tough beginnings in the mountain country of Butcher Hollow, Kentucky. The film was a massive success because of the magnificent performance of Sissy Spacek (singing the numbers herself, and picked for the role by Lynn personally) who has the remarkable knack of appearing almost any age from teenager to late-twentysomething. Apted’s Up documentaries were, in the British style, about the manacles of class, but this American narrative is about something else: social mobility and anything being possible. Spacek’s Lynn achieves almost overnight success from hardscrabble poverty, mentored by Patsy Cline and married to a husband who is not, in fact, the usual mean brute, but a recognisable, flawed human being, played by Tommy Lee Jones. Of course, there has to be a crisis caused by success.

7. What’s Love Got to Do With It? (1993)

Of all the music-biopic rules, the one about taking the title from the famous song is the one that stands out in this 1993 biopic of superstar Tina Turner, played by Angela Bassett. It’s about abuse – and not just the abuse that a music-biopic hero or heroine might suffer in childhood and then break free of as an adult star, transforming the remembered pain into art, but actual ongoing abuse from the husband and singing partner who gave you your big break – in this case, Ike Turner, scarily played by Laurence Fishburne . And what’s love got to with it? Nothing and everything. Tina was brutally abused by her husband for years, the abuse escalating alongside their success and fame and Ike’s continual paranoia that she was better than he was and that audiences liked her better than him. Finally, she walks out, bruised and bleeding, with just a few cents in her pocket, and begs a local hotel to let her stay until she’s back on her feet. It is this portrayal of domestic abuse, which can somehow stay invisible to the outside world and perhaps even to an inner circle, that makes this film so powerful.

6. Bound for Glory (1976)

Hal Ashby created a Steinbeckian music-biopic from the fictionalised autobiography written by the troubadour and folk singer Woody Guthrie – played here by David Carradine, whose father, John, had played Preacher Casy in John Ford’s film of The Grapes of Wrath. It’s a beautifully composed period piece set in the 1930s US dustbowl that is of a piece with early Terrence Malick and may have inspired Chloe Zhao’s new film Nomadland . The music biopic as a genre can be politically conservative, in that its sympathy with and awareness of the underdog is activated only with the portrayal of a singer’s humble past, and this awareness usually expires with the singer’s success. Here, Guthrie is shown leaving Oklahoma to make his living in California, riding the rails, living among the hobos and workers in their camps and entertaining them with his songs. He experiences the brutal exploitation of migrant fruit pickers, and we are plunged into their lives. But when he finds success singing songs on the radio about this situation, instead of building on this career, he stays on the move, heading out to cities where his music can make a real difference in working people’s lives. Nominated for the best picture Oscar, Bound for Glory went up against All the President’s Men, Taxi Driver and Network – they all lost out to Rocky.

5. La Vie en Rose (2007)

Olivier Dahan’s movie about the French singer Edith Piaf, who electrified audiences in France and around the world in the 30s, 40s and 50s, can be exasperating in its haphazard storytelling. The dizzying flashback/flashforward structure certainly makes a change from the traditional rise-crisis-comeback biopic narrative, but it seems designed to camouflage the tactful omission of Piaf’s life in wartime occupied France – when survival was often a matter of making nice with the Nazis. But what a glorious performance from Marion Cotillard, who is eerily transformed into the chanteuse. She expertly embodies the singer with that passionate vibrato, like a demented car alarm, whose physical slightness and apparent fragility awoke such intense gallantry in her countrymen. She has the pop-eyed glare, the high hairline and the buck-toothed grimace, which gives extra sibilant disdain to the insults she lavishes on her subservient entourage. And she also does the walk, a kind of marionette shuffle, as if her elbows and pelvis are invisibly connected.

4. Control (2007)

Photographer Anton Corbijn made a stunning directorial debut with Control, a black-and-white film about the troubled life and times of Ian Curtis, lead singer of the new wave band Joy Division, who in 1980 took his own life on the eve of his first US tour. He was suffering from epilepsy and depression, agonised by a failing marriage and the waves of violence and nihilism his music had unleashed, and terrified by the accelerating bandwagon of celebrity – he had control over none of it. Sam Riley is outstanding as the sensitive, intense, awkward Curtis; Samantha Morton is Ian’s delicate, self-effacing wife, Deborah; and Alexandra Maria Lara plays the Belgian journalist with whom Curtis falls in love (Lara was in fact to marry Riley). There is a superbly realised kitchen-sink free-cinema detail in the decor of England’s working and middle classes, all minutiae passionately captured. It’s a reminder that however swirlingly modern that late 70s may have seemed at the time, it was not so different to the seedy 50s or the hungry 40s.

3. Elvis (1979)

John Carpenter’s Elvis, originally made for television but subsequently released theatrically in shortened form, features a wonderful performance from the 27-year-old Kurt Russell as the young Elvis Presley. The movie tracks his life from earliest youth, with Shelley Winters as his mother, Gladys, right through the years of his superstardom, with Pat Hingle as Colonel Tom Parker – and stops in 1970, at the start of the Vegas years and before the weight problems. Russell is a memorably intense Elvis, doing a strong and yet subtly observed version of the spoken voice (but lip-synching to country singer Ronnie McDowell for the songs). It was his inspired and watchable portrayal, just three years after Presley’s death, that in effect created the global phenomenon of Elvis impersonation that continued in pubs, bars and hen-nights all over the world – though mostly without Russell’s skills. He shows Elvis’s intensity, instability and complex emotional pain.

2. Ray (2004)

This uncomplicated, celebratory movie from director Taylor Hackford has probably become the classic music-biopic template, largely due to the magnificent performance from Jamie Foxx as the soul and R&B singer Ray Charles, who had gone blind at nine years old, but rose with Horatio Alger-like dedication to be a multimillion-selling recording star. Foxx himself is no mean singer, though he lip-synchs to the real thing on the soundtrack. Charles himself advised on the movie’s development until his death, just before it was released. Foxx gives a virtuoso performance as Charles, uncannily reproducing his physical movements and idiosyncrasies, especially the rolling gait, somewhere between the caution of a blind man and the swagger of a star. The angular, apparently cumbersome emphases of shoulders and elbows are perpetually establishing balance and control; the subtle figure-of-eight movement of the head is an auditory scoping-out of the physical environment that blossoms at the piano keyboard into an ecstatic affirmation of the music. Charles is shown experimenting with many musical forms: blues, country, R&B, rock’n’roll and, most pertinently, gospel. The whole movie is, in its way, evangelising for Ray Charles.

1. Funny Girl (1968)

Barbra Streisand made her screen debut with her Oscar-winning performance here, which laid the foundation for a continuing global fan-adoration. She sensationally portrays the pre-war singer and comedy star Fanny Brice, alchemising Brice’s goofy turn into an extraordinary and unique persona, accessibly combining glamour and modernity. Maybe no music biopic in history offers this kind of transformation: not the minutely and submissively observed replication of a well-known star that usually features in this genre, but a recreation or reinvention that is instantly more famous than the original. Hollywood veteran William Wyler, hardly less of a legend himself, directed a movie that wasn’t much to do with the swinging 60s, but rooted in Broadway (the film is taken from the hit stage show) and also in the movie musical tradition spanning the previous three decades. Funny Girl has a key music-biopic component, or flaw: it is all about the lead performance and everything else around it is subservient. Even Streisand’s formidable leading man, Omar Sharif, is a little subdued. But Streisand is everything: her talent, her femininity, her Jewish identity, her sexuality and her vulnerability are all performed with extravagant joy and her songs are all of course showstoppers, especially Don’t Rain on My Parade.

• Laurence Fishburne

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Discover the Fascinating Stories Behind Music Biographies

• Published: July 31, 2023
• By: Yellowbrick

The world of music biographies is a treasure trove of inspiring stories, hard-won triumphs, and profound transformations. These narratives allow us to traverse the fascinating landscape of music history, shedding light on the lives of iconic musicians, the birth and evolution of various genres, and the enduring impact of music on society. From the raw depictions of struggle and resilience to the exploration of creativity and innovation, each biography serves as a musical time capsule, revealing the personal and professional journeys of legendary artists. As we delve into these gripping accounts, we not only gain an intimate understanding of the musicians’ experiences but also develop a deeper appreciation for their contributions to the musical panorama. Through these captivating narratives, music biographies give us a unique window into the human condition, the spirit of artistic expression, and the relentless pursuit of one’s passion amidst adversity.

The History of Music Biographies

Music biographies have been around for centuries. One of the earliest examples of a music biography is the Life of Mozart , written by Franz Xaver Niemetschek in 1798, just seven years after Mozart’s death. Since then, music biographies have become a staple of the publishing industry, with countless books written about musicians from every genre.

In the early days, music biographies were often written by people who knew the musicians personally. These books were often filled with anecdotes and insider information that only someone close to the musician would know. As the industry grew, however, more and more biographies were written by journalists and authors who had never met the musician they were writing about. These books often relied on interviews with family members, friends, and colleagues to piece together the story of the musician’s life.

Why Are Music Biographies So Popular?

Music biographies are popular for many reasons. For one, they allow readers to get a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of their favorite musicians. Fans are often curious about the personal lives of musicians, and music biographies provide a window into their world.

Music biographies are also popular because they can be incredibly inspiring. Many musicians have overcome incredible obstacles to achieve success, and reading about their struggles and triumphs can be motivating for anyone pursuing a career in the music industry.

Finally, music biographies are simply entertaining. Musicians are often larger-than-life characters, and their stories are filled with drama, humor, and excitement. Whether you’re a music fan or not, a good music biography is sure to be a page-turner.

The Best Music Biographies to Read

There are countless music biographies to choose from, but here are some of the best:

• Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen – This memoir by “The Boss” himself is a must-read for any Springsteen fan. The book covers his early years in New Jersey, his rise to fame, and his struggles with depression and alcoholism.
• Life by Keith Richards – This autobiography by the Rolling Stones guitarist is a wild ride through the band’s early years and beyond. Richards is known for his wild lifestyle, and his book doesn’t disappoint.
• Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan – This book is a memoir of Dylan’s early years, from his arrival in New York City in 1961 to the release of his album New Morning in 1970. The book is a fascinating look at one of the most important musicians of the 20th century.
• I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen by Sylvie Simmons – This biography of the legendary singer-songwriter covers his life from his childhood in Montreal to his final days in Los Angeles. The book is a comprehensive look at one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
• Just Kids by Patti Smith – This memoir by the punk rock icon tells the story of her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in the 1960s and ’70s. The book is a beautiful tribute to their friendship and the creative community they were a part of in New York City.

Education and Career in the Music Industry

For those pursuing a career in the music industry, music biographies can be an invaluable resource. Reading about the struggles and successes of musicians who have come before can provide insight and inspiration for your own career.

In addition to reading music biographies, it’s important to get a solid education in the music industry. New York University offers an online course and certificate program called NYU x Billboard | Music Industry Essentials . This program provides a comprehensive overview of the music industry, including topics such as music publishing, digital marketing, and artist management. The program is taught by industry professionals and is designed to give students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the music industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Music biographies offer an intimate look at the lives of musicians.
• Music biographies have been around for centuries and are popular because they provide a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of musicians, they can be incredibly inspiring, and they are entertaining.
• Some of the best music biographies to read include Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen, Life by Keith Richards, Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan, I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen by Sylvie Simmons, and Just Kids by Patti Smith.
• For those pursuing a career in the music industry, it’s important to get a solid education. NYU x Billboard | Music Industry Essentials is an online course and certificate program that provides a comprehensive overview of the music industry.

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The Best New Biographies and Memoirs to Read in 2024

This year sees some riveting and remarkable lives—from artist ai weiwei to singer-songwriter joni mitchell—captured on the page..

A life story can be read for escapist pleasure. But at other times, reading a memoir or biography can be an expansive exercise, opening us up to broader truths about our world. Often, it’s an edifying experience that reminds us of our universal human vulnerability and the common quest for purpose in life.

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Biographies and memoirs charting remarkable lives—whether because of fame, fortune or simply fascination—have the power to inspire us for their depth, curiosity or challenges. This year sees a bumper calendar of personal histories enter bookshops, grappling with enigmatic public figures like singer Joni Mitchell and writer Ian Fleming , to nuanced analysis of how motherhood or sociopathy shape our lives—for better and for worse.

Here we compile some of the most rewarding biographies and memoirs out in 2024. There are stories of trauma and recovery, art as politics and politics as art, and sentences as single life lessons spread across books that will make you rethink much about personal life stories. After all, understanding the triumphs and trials of others can help us see how we can change our own lives to create something different or even better.

Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir by Ai Weiwei and illustrated by Gianluca Costantini

Ai Weiwei , the iconoclastic artist and fierce critic of his homeland China, mixes fairy tales with moral lessons to evocatively retrace the story of his life in graphic form. Illustrations are by Italian artist Gianluca Costantini . “Any artist who isn’t an activist is a dead artist,” Weiwei writes in Zodiac , as he embraces everything from animals found in the Chinese zodiac to mystical folklore tales with anamorphic animals to argue the necessity of art as politics incarnate. The meditative exercise uses pithy anecdotes alongside striking visuals to sketch out a remarkable life story marked by struggle. It’s one weaving political manifesto, philosophy and personal memoir to engage readers on the necessity of art and agitation against authority in a world where we sometimes must resist and fight back.

Alphabetical Diaries by Sheila Heti

Already well-known for her experimental writings, Sheila Heti takes a decade of diary entries and maps sentences against the alphabet, from A to Z. The project is a subversive rethink of our relationship to introspection—which often asks for order and clarity, like in diary writing—that maps new patterns and themes in its disjointed form. Heti plays with both her confessionals and her sometimes formulaic writing style (like knowingly using “Of course” in entries) to retrace the changes made (and unmade) across ten years of her life. Alphabetical Diaries is a sometimes demanding book given the incoherence of its entries, but remains an illuminating project in thinking about efforts at self-documentation.

Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story by Leslie Jamison

Unlike her previous work The Empathy Exams , which examined how we relate to one another and on human suffering, writer Leslie Jamison wrestles today with her own failed marriage and the grief of surviving single parenting. After the birth of her daughter, Jamison divorces her partner “C,” traverses the trials and tribulations of rebound relationships (including with “an ex-philosopher”) and confronts unresolved emotional pains born of her own life living under the divorce of her parents. In her intimate retelling—paired with her superb prose—Jamison charts a personal history that acknowledges the unending divide mothers (and others) face dividing themselves between partners, children and their own lives.

Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring by Brad Gooch

Whether dancing figures or a “radiant baby,” the recognizable cartoonish symbols in Keith Haring ’s art endure today as shorthand signs representing both his playfulness and politicking. Haring (1958-1990) is the subject of writer Brad Gooch ’s deft biography, Radiant , a book that mines new material from the archive along with interviews with contemporaries to reappraise the influential quasi-celebrity artist. From rough beginnings tagging graffiti on New York City walls to cavorting with Andy Warhol and Madonna on art pieces, Haring battled everything from claims of selling out to over-simplicity. But he persisted with work that leveraged catchy quotes and colorful imagery to advance unsavory political messages—from AIDS to crack cocaine. A life tragically cut short at 31 is one powerfully celebrated in this new noble portrait.

The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul Charles

In The House of Hidden Meaning , celebrated drag queen, RuPaul , reckons with a murky inner world that has shaped—and hindered—a lifetime of gender-bending theatricality. The figurative house at the center of the story is his “ego,” a plaguing barrier that apparently long inhibited the performer from realizing dreams of greatness. Now as the world’s most recognizable drag queen—having popularized the art form for mainstream audiences with the TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race —RuPaul reflects on the power that drag and self-love have long offered across his difficult, and sometimes tortured, life. Readers expecting dishy stories may be disappointed, but the psychological self-assessment in the pages of this memoir is far more edifying than Hollywood gossip could ever be.

Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne

Patric Gagne is an unlikely subject for a memoir on sociopaths. Especially since she is a former therapist with a doctorate in clinical psychology. Still, Gagne makes the case that after a troubled childhood of antisocial behavior (like stealing trinkets and cursing teachers) and a difficult adulthood (now stealing credit cards and fighting authority figures), she receives a diagnosis of sociopathy. Her memoir recounts many episodes of bad behavior—deeds often marked by a lack of empathy, guilt or even common decency—where her great antipathy mars any ability for her to connect with others. Sociopath is a rewarding personal exposé that demystifies one vilified psychological condition so often seen as entirely untreatable or irreparable. Only now there’s a familiar face and a real story linked to the prognosis.

Ian Fleming: The Complete Man by Nicholas Shakespeare

Nicholas Shakespeare is an acclaimed novelist and an astute biographer, delivering tales that wield a discerning eye to subjects and embrace a robust attention to detail. Ian Fleming (1908-1964), the legendary creator of James Bond, is the latest to receive Shakespeare’s treatment. With access to new family materials from the Fleming estate, the seemingly contradictory Fleming is seen anew as a totally “different person” from his popular image. Taking cues from Fleming’s life story—from a refined upbringing spent in expensive private schools to working for Reuters as a journalist in the Soviet Union—Shakespeare reveals how these experiences shaped the elusive world of espionage and intrigue created in Fleming’s novels. Other insights include how Bond was likely informed by Fleming’s cavalier father, a major who fought in WWI. A martini (shaken, not stirred) is best enjoyed with this bio.

Knife: Meditations after an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie , while giving a rare public lecture in New York in August 2022, was violently stabbed by an assailant brandishing a knife . The attack saw Rushdie lose his left hand and his sight in one eye. Speaking to The New Yorker a year later , he confirmed a memoir was in the works that would confront this harrowing existential experience: “When somebody sticks a knife into you, that’s a first-person story. That’s an ‘I’ story.” Knife: Meditations after an Attempted Murder is promised to be his raw, revelatory and deeply psychological confrontation with the violent incident. Like the sword of Damocles, brutality has long stalked Rushdie ever since the 1989 fatwa issued against the author, following the publication of his controversial novel, The Satanic Verses . The answer to such barbarity, Rushdie is poised to argue, is by finding the strength to stand up again.

The Art of Dying: Writings, 2019–2022 by Peter Schjeldahl (Release: May 14)

Peter Schjeldahl (1942-2022), longstanding art critic of The New Yorker , confronted his mortality when he was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer in 2019. The resulting essay collection he then penned, The Art of Dying , is a masterful meditation on one life preoccupied entirely with aesthetics and criticism. It’s a discursive tactic for a memoir that avoids discussing Schjeldahl’s coming demise while equally confirming its impending visit by avoiding it. Acknowledging that he finds himself “thinking about death less than I used to,” Schjeldahl spends most of the pages revisiting familiar art subjects—from Edward Hopper ’s output to Peter Saul ’s Pop Art—as vehicles to re-examine his own remarkable life. With a life that began in the humble Midwest, Schjeldahl says his birthplace was one that ultimately availed him to write so plainly and cogently on art throughout his career. Such posthumous musings prove illuminating lessons on the potency of American art, with whispered asides on the tragedy of death that will come for all of us.

Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powers (Release: June 11)

Joni Mitchell has enjoyed a remarkable revival recently, even already being one of the most acclaimed and enduring singer/songwriters. After retiring from public appearances for health reasons in the 2010s, Mitchell, 80, has returned to the spotlight with a 2021 Kennedy Centers honor , an appearance accepting the 2023 Gershwin Prize and even a live performance at this year’s Grammy Awards . It’s against this backdrop of public celebration of Mitchell that NPR music critic Ann Powers retraces the life story and musical (re)evolution of the singer, from folk to jazz genres and rock to soul music, across five decades for the American songbook. “What you are about to read is not a standard account of the life and work of Joni Mitchell,” she writes in the introduction. Instead, Powers’ project is one showing how Mitchell’s many journeys—from literal road trips inspiring tracks like “All I Want” to inner probings of Mitchell’s psyche, such as the song “Both Sides Now”—have always inspired Mitchell’s enduring, emotive and palpable output. These travels hold the key, Powers says, to understanding an enigmatic artist.

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Paul Simon, one of America's most iconic singer-songwriters, is the subject of this comprehensive biography. The article explores Simon's extraordinary life and musical career, from his early days as part of the legendary duo Simon & Garfunkel to his groundbreaking solo work that blended elements of folk, rock, and world music. Through engaging storytelling and insightful analysis, the biography delves into the creative process, challenges, and triumphs that shaped Simon's artistry and his enduring impact on popular music. The piece celebrates the power of his songs to connect with listeners on a deep, emotional level and cement his status as a true innovator and cultural icon.

Paul Simon - Audio Biography Quiet. Please

• MAR 15, 2024

Paul Simon -The Life and Music of an American Icon

• © 2024 Quiet. Please

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After 4 decades in music and major vocal surgery, Jon Bon Jovi is optimistic and still rocking

With 40 years of experience in the music business, Jon Bon Jovi explains what’s behind his dedication and discipline. A four-part docuseries on Bon Jovi called “Thank You, Goodnight” debuts Friday on Hulu. (April 23)

Rockers Jon Bon Jovi, Tico Torres and David Bryan hit the red carpet in London for the premiere of their new documentary, “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” which chronicles the band’s 40-year career and uncertain future: the frontman suffered an atrophied vocal cord and had an operation two years ago. (April 17)

Jon Bon Jovi says ‘there’s no animosity’ between himself and former bandmate Richie Sambora, and ‘the door is always open’ if he wanted to perform with Bon Jovi again. (April 22)

Jon Bon Jovi explains how international music markets differ from the U.S. and why that means he has to keep filming music videos. (April 22)

FILE - Jon Bon Jovi poses for a portrait in New York on Sept. 23, 2020 to promote his new album “2020". Hulu is streaming a four-part docuseries “Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story,” premiering April 26. (Photo by Drew Gurian/Invision/AP, File)

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FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2016 file photo, members of Bon Jovi front row from left, Tico Torres, Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, back row from left, Phil X, and Hugh McDonald pose for a portrait in promotion of their album “This House is Not for Sale” in New York. Hulu is streaming a four-part docuseries “Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story,” premiering April 26. (Photo by Drew Gurian/Invision/AP, File)

This image released by Hulu shows Jon Bon Jovi in a scene from the four-part docuseries “Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story,” premiering April 26. (Disney/Hulu via AP)

This image released by Hulu shows Richie Sambora in a scene from the four-part docuseries “Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story,” premiering April 26. (Disney/Hulu via AP)

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — When Jon Bon Jovi agreed to let director Gotham Chopra follow him with a documentary camera to delve into the history of his band, Bon Jovi, he didn’t anticipate it would catch him at a major low point in his career.

The band was launching a tour, and despite doing all he could do to be vocally ready, the “Livin’ on a Prayer” singer struggled through songs and couldn’t hit the notes the way he used to.

Critics noticed and wrote about it. A review from Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minnesota, said: “It felt like he had forgotten how to sing.”

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Bon Jovi said the reaction at the time was “heartbreaking.” After exhausting holistic options, he saw a doctor who said one of his vocal cords was atrophying.

“This was unique. It wasn’t a nodule. The strong (vocal cord) was pushing the weak one around, and suddenly, my inabilities were just exacerbated,” said Bon Jovi. He underwent major surgery and is still recovering.

“Every day is sort of like doing curls with weights and just getting them both to be the same size and to function together.”

This year has been a turning point. In February, he performed for an audience for the first time since his surgery at the MusiCares Person of the Year benefit gala where he was also named Person of The Year. The band’s next album, “Forever” hits stores June 7, and its first single “Legendary” is out now. The four-part, “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” debuts Friday on Hulu.

In a Q&A, Bon Jovi talks about his voice, his famous hair, the music industry and his work ethic.

Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: The work you put in behind-the-scenes is like a quarterback in between football games. Are you still rehearsing at that intensity, and how are you now?

BON JOVI: I’m doing great. The record was easy to do. The process has been steady. Would I like it to be a light switch? Yeah. I said to the doctor, ‘I want to flip the switch and be done with this.’ It’s just not how it works. Like an athlete coming back from an ACL tear or whatever, it just takes time. The therapy is still intensive and yet I’m confident that it gets progressively better.

AP: We learn in the docuseries that your father was a barber. You’ve always been known for having good hair, especially in the 1980’s. Does that come from your dad?

BON JOVI: Not in as much where he sat down and said, ‘I’ve got this idea.’ Really, I was a byproduct of what was the 80s. Those were my baby pictures. I love laughing at them. Now, I can jokingly at least say, ‘After 40 years of a career, I still have all my hair.’ That is a good thing. Genetics works in my favor.

AP: Do you ever think about acting again?

BON JOVI: I do, on occasion. My day job then comes back to get in the way. In truth, I’ve got a big record coming out, and I’m hoping to go out on the road, so I don’t have time for it. And I respect the craft far too much to think I’m going to walk on a set and hit my marks and call that acting.

AP: Your work ethic stands out in “Thank You, Goodnight.” We see in the early days you would sleep at the music studio. Where does that come from?

BON JOVI: If you’re not going to be great, the guy that’s coming in tomorrow night is going to be better. This isn’t a career that you should take lightly. There’s a million other young guys that are waiting to take your spot. And there are no guarantees in this business...You have to win hearts in order to win people’s hard-earned dollar. If you’re asking them to stay with you for four decades, that’s a task. You better be one of the greats or else good luck.

AP: Richie Sambora is interviewed in the series. The fans love seeing him. Do you think you will ever perform together again?

BON JOVI: We never had a big falling out. He quit 10 years ago. It’s not that we’re not in contact or anything like that, but he was choosing to, as a single dad, raise his child. The door is always open if he wants to come up and sing a song. I mean, there’s many of them that we co-wrote together. That’s a great part of both of our lives. There’s no animosity here.

AP: A lot of musicians are selling their music catalog. Would you?

BON JOVI: For some, it makes sense because they need to. For some, it makes sense because they want to. I just find (Bon Jovi’s music) to be my baby, and I have no desire at this juncture in my life to ever even consider it.

AP: You’re one of New Jersey’s favorite sons like Bruce Springsteen. It’s a point of pride for New Jersey residents that you’re from there, but you moved to Florida?

BON JOVI: Part-time! My license is still New Jersey. I still vote in New Jersey.

AP: The music industry is such a singles market now. Did you ever consider just putting out some new songs and not an entire album?

BON JOVI: See, I’m the opposite. I can only put out an album. I do all I know how to do. I have to tell the complete story. It has to be the beginning, a middle and an end because that’s who and what we are.

AP: How do you describe the new album?

BON JOVI: What comes through is joy. My goal with this record was to capture joy which for these last few years has been difficult, whether it’s the dark cloud of COVID that the world experienced or my own personal journey. With this record, I think we captured joy.

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The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

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Investigation underway after Christian singer, 'American Idol' alum Mandisa found dead

A spokesman for the Franklin Police Department said officers were involved in an active death investigation Friday after Christian singer and "American Idol" alum Mandisa was found dead in her Nashville-area home one day earlier.

Mandisa, born in Citrus Heights, California, as Mandisa Lynn Hundley, was 47.

A rep for the singer, The Media Collective, issued a statement confirming her death Friday morning.

"At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details," the statement reads. "We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time."

Franklin police declined to confirm Hundley as the deceased in the death investigation, but the address of the home where the investigation is taking place has been tied to the singer via a records search.

"What I can confirm is that our officers responded to a residence for a death investigation Thursday evening, and it's being actively investigated," Franklin Police Department spokesperson Max Winitz wrote in an email to The Tennessean Friday.

No other details were immediately released.

After growing up in California, Hundley attended Fisk University in Nashville and was a member of the famed Fisk University Jubilee singers. She graduated from Fisk in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in music, according to the university.

In 2005, Hundley auditioned for "American Idol" in Chicago, where she went on to finish in the final nine.

Mourning her loss: TobyMac remembers Mandisa after Christian singer's death, 'I know her battle is over ...'

Hundley released her first album, "True Beauty" in July 2007, debuting on the Top Christian Album charts with her first single, "Only the World."

The Christian artist would win best contemporary Christian Music Album for "Overcomer" at the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014.

David Pierce, chief media officer for Christian radio station KLOVE, posted this quote across the radio station’s social media platforms after hearing of the singer's death:

“Mandisa loved Jesus, and she used her unusually extensive platform to talk about Him at every turn. Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice massive, but it was no match for the size of her heart. Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles. Mandisa’s struggles are over, she is with the God she sang about now. While we are saddened, Mandisa is home. We’re praying for Mandisa’s family and friends and ask you to join us.”

Fellow Christian singer Natalie Grant, who wrote the foreword to Mandisa's 2022 book "Out of the Dark: My journey through the shadows to find God's joy, " said this on Instagram about her friend:

"I can’t quite find the words. When I learned of your passing yesterday, I begged God for it not to be true. I remember making our Opry debut together. We were so excited. But I remember our conversation so vividly. You belonged there. You always belonged, Disa. Your smile and infectious spirit lit up every room. You were a true champion of others. I was the benefactor of your encouragement more times than I can count."

Fellow musician Don Moen provided a statement to The Tennessean, saying Mandisa was not only a powerhouse of a talent, but that she also possessed a genuinely kind spirit.

"We ministered together several times, she sang background vocals on my album 'Thank You Lord' and joined me on several tours," the statement read. "On one particular tour, notes kept appearing in everyone's bunk on the bus or in their instrument cases. These were encouraging messages like: 'You are blessed and highly favored,' or 'You're such a blessing on this tour.' Only at the end of the tour did we discover it had been Mandisa. Whether behind the scenes or center stage, her presence always brought joy and hope.

We will continue to update this story as additional details become available.

Mandisa, ‘American Idol’ Star and Grammy-Winning Christian Singer, Dies at 47

By Jordan Moreau

Jordan Moreau

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Mandisa , the Grammy-winning Christian singer who began her career on “ American Idol ,” was found dead in her Nashville home on Thursday. She was 47.

“We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased,” her representative confirmed to local outlet The Tennessean. “At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”

The Christian radio network K-Love also honored the gospel and contemporary Christian singer.

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After her “American Idol” breakthrough, Mandisa released her first album, “True Beauty,” in 2007. It debuted at the top of Billboard’s Christian album chart, a first for a female artist, and at No. 43 on the Billboard 200. Her first single off the album, “Only the World,” debuted at No. 2 on the hot singles chart and reached No. 1 in its second week.

Mandisa was one of just five “American Idol” alumi to win a Grammy, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Tori Kelly.

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Mandisa, ‘American Idol’ star and Grammy-winning Christian music singer, dies at 47

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Mandisa, the Christian music singer who competed on “American Idol” and then pursued a Grammy-winning career, has died. She was 47.

A representative confirmed to The Times on Friday that the California-born artist “was found in her home [in Tennessee] deceased.”

“At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details,” the representative said in a statement. “We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.

K-Love, a Christian radio station, first reported the news of Mandisa’s death Friday morning. David Pierce, the station’s chief media officer, praised Mandisa for her devotion to Jesus and God.

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“Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice massive, but it was no match for the size of her heart,” Pierce said in a statement . “Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles. Mandisa’s struggles are over. She is with the God she sang about now. While we are saddened, Mandisa is home. We’re praying for Mandisa’s family and friends and ask you to join us.”

The singer, born Mandisa Lynn Hundley on Oct. 2, 1976, is a five-time Grammy-nominee who earned her first prize in 2014 for her album “Overcomer.” The 22-track album also earned Mandisa a gospel/contemporary Christian music performance nomination at the 56th Grammy Awards. Her Grammys haul also included two pop/contemporary gospel album nominations and a contemporary Christian music album nod.

Years before earning her first Grammy nomination, and eventually her sole Grammy win, Mandisa showcased her talents on Season 5 of “American Idol.”

“Mandisa ... just ‘Mandisa‘” was how the singer introduced herself in 2006 to judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, before belting the opening notes of Alicia Keys’ “Fallin.’”

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“Terrific, everything I hoped you would be you were that, Mandisa,” Cowell said, “and I like the fact that you want to be known as one person.”

Without hesitation, the trio of original “Idol” judges sent Mandisa along to Hollywood, the next step on a weeks-long journey that would end with her cracking the Top 10 finalists. She was eliminated after her performance of Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine,” which landed her in the bottom three.

“I want to thank my fans so much, your support has meant the world to me and the prayers that have been lifted up for me I know will continue to have full force for me,” she said upon her elimination. “I thank you, and I bless you in the name of Jesus.”

After her time on “American Idol,” Mandisa released her first album, “True Beauty,” in 2007. The debut album earned Mandisa her first Grammy nomination. Also known for albums “Freedom” and “What If We Were Real,” Mandisa worked with a variety of Christian artists throughout her career, including TobyMac, Kirk Franklin and Jon Reddick, according to K-Love.

Mandisa released her final album, “Out of the Dark,” in 2017, featuring songs “Unfinished” and “Bleed the Same.” The 18-track project shares its title with her 2022 memoir, which chronicles her rise to fame and the challenges that tested her faith. That came years after she released her first memoir, “Idoleyes,” in 2008.

“Even in our darkest and lowest moments, God is in the trenches with us. He’s always at work on our behalf, loving on us and carrying us up out of the dark,” Mandisa wrote in an Instagram post celebrating her 2022 memoir. “He NEVER fails. I’m forever thankful that He keeps hope alive.”

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Alexandra Del Rosario is an entertainment reporter on the Los Angeles Times Fast Break Desk. Before The Times, she was a television reporter at Deadline Hollywood, where she first served as an associate editor. She has written about a wide range of topics including TV ratings, casting and development, video games and AAPI representation. Del Rosario is a UCLA graduate and also worked at the Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.

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