Music Biographies - Recommendations

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

Looking for some holiday reading material..

Anyone recommend some decent music biogs?

Stuff I have read recently (last few years)

Alex Chilton
Shaun Ryder
Nilsson
Motley Crue
Smokey Robinson
Dusty Springfield - Dancing with Demons
Luke Haines

all good except the Smokey one which was poor enough

Cheers

[Ovi]

Dear Boy by Tony Fletcher about Keith Moon is the first that comes to mind. Very well-written, tons of anecdotes, captures both the wild surface of Moon as well as the underlying sadness of the whole story. Hilarious at some times, heartbreaking at others. Ever since I've read it I feel like I know Moon much better, as if I've actually met him.

[Rocker]

Just a few that come to mind:

Last train to Memphis - Peter Guralnick
I lived to tell it all - George Jones
Hound dog - Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller


Later this year Jerry Lee Lewis' new autobiography will be released.

[Gabo]

The Lives of John Lennon is the best book on the man in question

[Loaf]

almost anything by Greil Marcus, especially The Invisible Republic on The Basement Tapes and Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music.

Barney Hoskyns is another good writer. A great book on the Laurel Canyon scene from 1966-73 called Hotel California.

Levon Helm's autobiog is great.

Robin DG Kelley's Thelonious Monk biog is huge, but worth it. Very atmospheric on the birth of bop in the 1940s around Minton's.

Richard Cook's book on Miles Davis, It's About that Time, is a great book i return to over and over again, but concentrates almost exclusively on the music rather than any salacious personal details.

[Alan Smith]

Dear Boy by Tony Fletcher about Keith Moon is the first that comes to mind. Very well-written, tons of anecdotes, captures both the wild surface of Moon as well as the underlying sadness of the whole story. Hilarious at some times, heartbreaking at others. Ever since I've read it I feel like I know Moon much better, as if I've actually met him.

On the Who theme, I really enjoyed and recommend Who I Am, Pete T's auto-biog; very immediate and accessible and a bit like you're looking over his shoulder/in the room at times.

[Ovi]

Dear Boy by Tony Fletcher about Keith Moon is the first that comes to mind. Very well-written, tons of anecdotes, captures both the wild surface of Moon as well as the underlying sadness of the whole story. Hilarious at some times, heartbreaking at others. Ever since I've read it I feel like I know Moon much better, as if I've actually met him.

On the Who theme, I really enjoyed and recommend Who I Am, Pete T's auto-biog; very immediate and accessible and a bit like you're looking over his shoulder/in the room at times.

I was actually pretty disappointed with that one - too few unknown facts, too much random jumping from one subject to another. From what I've read, the book was originally twice as long, but had to be cut down. But at least I learned a thing or two about boats. 

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, gonna make a choice soon

[feelsflow]

I'll second loaf's suggestion on The Invisible Republic (very detailed), and Barney Hoskyns' books on American music (haven't read all his stuff on UK artists, other than the many MOJO articles).  The one on The Band, and the two loaf mentions, I have read - they are all excellent.  I noticed you bought one of Bobbie Gentry's albums.  Barney wrote a fantastic article on her for MOJO, unfortunately nobody can get her to speak to them.  I'd have to check for the issue number and get back to you.

Dave Zimmer is a honest writer and insider (former editor for BAM magazine - Bay Area Music).  He wrote a very good CSN book in 1984 (now in it's 3rd update, 2008).  He knew the players in real life, and that always helps.  He does not focus on the "dirt" side of their life much - sticking to the music.  He also put out a CSN&Y Reader that collected articles on the band.

John Einarson is a great writer too.  Great book on Gene Clark, and wrote a book about Buffalo Springfield with Richie Furay (For What it's Worth) in 1997, with an updated version in 2004.  Richie was very involved in the writing.

I'm currently reading Graham Nash's Wild Tales book, and studying Ian and Jon's Beach Boys In Concert and The Beatles at the BBC.

Up next for me will be that Nilsson book and the new Lewisohn Beatles release (all of Mark Lewisohn's books are worth owing, and are great study tools - in my opinion).

EDIT:  I did a search of my Mojo collection with little luck.  The Gentry feature I did find was in issue 110/January 2003.  That was four pages and nice (by Holly George - Warren), not the Hoskyns' one.  Perhaps it was in another issue, or some other magazine.  If I come across it I will post another edit or PM you.

[Aum Bop Diddit]

Dear Boy by Tony Fletcher about Keith Moon is the first that comes to mind. Very well-written, tons of anecdotes, captures both the wild surface of Moon as well as the underlying sadness of the whole story. Hilarious at some times, heartbreaking at others. Ever since I've read it I feel like I know Moon much better, as if I've actually met him.

On the Who theme, I really enjoyed and recommend Who I Am, Pete T's auto-biog; very immediate and accessible and a bit like you're looking over his shoulder/in the room at times.

I was actually pretty disappointed with that one - too few unknown facts, too much random jumping from one subject to another. From what I've read, the book was originally twice as long, but had to be cut down. But at least I learned a thing or two about boats. 

I really enjoyed the first half or so -- if that tenor were sustained it would be among the best of its kind.  However, it does lapse into chronicles of business meetings and, yes, boat upkeep.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

I'll second loaf's suggestion on The Invisible Republic (very detailed), and Barney Hoskins' books on American music (haven't read all his stuff on UK artists, other than the many MOJO articles).  The one on The Band, and the two loaf mentions, I have read - they are all excellent.  I noticed you bought one of Bobbie Gentry's albums.  Barney wrote a fantastic article on her for MOJO, unfortunately nobody can get her to speak to them.  I'd have to check for the issue number and get back to you.

Dave Zimmer is a honest writer and insider (former editor for BAM magazine - Bay Area Music).  He wrote a very good CSN book in 1984 (now in it's 3rd update, 2008).  He knew the players in real life, and that always helps.  He does not focus on the "dirt" side of their life much - sticking to the music.  He also put out a CSN&Y Reader that collected articles on the band.

John Einarson is a great writer too.  Great book on Gene Clark, and wrote a book about Buffalo Springfield with Richie Furay (For What it's Worth) in 1997, with an updated version in 2004.  Richie was very involved in the writing.

I'm currently reading Graham Nash's Wild Tales book, and studying Ian and Jon's Beach Boys In Concert and The Beatles at the BBC.

Up next for me will be that Nilsson book and the new Lewisohn Beatles release (all of Mark Lewisohn's books are worth owing, and are great study tools - in my opinion).

EDIT:  I did a search of my Mojo collection with little luck.  The Gentry feature I did find was in issue 110/January 2003.  That was four pages and nice (by Holly George - Warren), not the Hoskins' one.  Perhaps it was in another issue, or some other magazine.  If I come across it I will post another edit or PM you.

Thanks Will. Plenty to consider there.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Right now I'm reading the Neil Young bio " Shakey ". Pretty interesting.

[Lowbacca]

Anything by Peter Guralnick.







ETC. ETC. ...

[Please delete my account]

I don't usually enjoy rock biographies especially the more depraved and debauched ones. I find them depressing. I did however enjoy:

There's Something About Jonathan [Richman] -Tim Mitchell
Truth and Beauty- The Story of Pulp- Mark Sturdy
Chuck Berry's autobiography
Pet shop boys, literally - Chris Heath
What's Welsh for Zen- John Cale & Victor Bockris
Serge Gainsbourg- a Fistful of Gitanes- Sylvie Simmons

[Aum Bop Diddit]

Right now I'm reading the Neil Young bio " Shakey ". Pretty interesting.

Interesting good read.  I am a big fan of the author Jimmy McDonough who has written some wonderful articles on one of my favorite artists, the late crazy inspired country artist Gary Stewart.  Unfortunately there is not much demand for a book on him I suppose.

[Loaf]

I seem to be in a minority, but i much preferred Johnny Rogan's Neil Young bio Zero to Sixty than Shakey. In terms of biography anyway.

And Johnny Rogan's mammoth book on the Byrds, Timeless Flight, is great too.

[Lowbacca]

One of my favourite books:

[StillSurfin]

I second the Peter Guralnick recommendation. To Be Loved the Berry Gordy book is very good too IIRC about the early history of Motown etc. J Randy Taraborelli's Michael Jackson bio is worth checking out too, its been re-released quite a few times now and I think the content has altered, the earlier pressing has more J5/Jacksons stuff in IIRC.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

I seem to be in a minority, but i much preferred Johnny Rogan's Neil Young bio Zero to Sixty than Shakey. In terms of biography anyway.

And Johnny Rogan's mammoth book on the Byrds, Timeless Flight, is great too.

I read Timeless flight. Excellent read! Shakey is very good  but I will grab Rogan's book too. Just got Neil's autobio. Funny, in Shakey he says he'll never write a book. Like everything in life and music, never say never until death intervenes!

[kwan_dk]

I've just finished reading 'The Celestial Café' by Belle & Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch. It's a book edition of a lenghthy series of blog posts he posted on the Belle & Sebastian website from 2004 to 2006. It's the most atypical rock star book I've read, yet highly entertaining. It doesn't really have that much to do with his (awesome) band and their music but rather you follow him spending his days in Glasgow, musing on everyday life in a very charming and often hilarious manner. Here's an excerpt from the back of the book that perfectly encapsulates the general feel:

"Stuart Murdoch considers himself to be '26% a rock star.' He may be exaggerating. Few rock stars spend time compiling lists of their favourite mathematicians or buy extra-soft slippers so they don't disturb neighbours living in the flat below."  

So, all in all, a bit of a book equivalent of a Belle & Sebastian concert then. I saw the group live some months ago and Murdoch was quite funny and cool in his typical bookish, indie-nerd manner. At one point the band had a cup of tea between songs with the dry remark, 'you won't see Iron Maiden doing THIS!.  

On another note; here are my five favourite music biographies in no particular order

Mick Brown - Tearing Down the Wall of Sound (on Phil Spector)
John Einarson - Mr. Tambourine Man - the Life and Legacy of the Byrds' Gene Clark
Simon Napier Bell - You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
Tommy James - Me, the Mob and the Music - One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & the Shondells
David Ritz - Divided Soul - The Life of Marvin Gaye

[Rocker]

David Ritz - Divided Soul - The Life of Marvin Gaye

Ritz also worked with Ray Charles on the latter's autobiography (and the already mentioned Leiber&Stoller autobiography). Really good. Should also go onto the list

[Lowbacca]

I started reading this one last night.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Just finishing up Mark Lewisohn's biography on the early years of The Beatles, Tune In. Unbelievable, definitive account. The only thing negative about it is that I have to wait seven years before the next volume.

[Lowbacca]

Just finishing up Mark Lewisohn's biography on the early years of The Beatles, Tune In. Unbelievable, definitive account. The only thing negative about it is that I have to wait seven years before the next volume.

Just googled it. HOLY CRAP. Almost 1000 pages of meticulously researched early Beatles history? Thanks for the heads up!

[Chocolate Shake Man]

I can't imagine that there will ever be a better book on the subject.