Best rock and roll biographies

Providing a unique prospect to glimpse into the dithering of rock’n’roll’s most legendary census, the best music autobiographies call as a reminder of something remaining how much these icons accept shaped popular culture. From blues-rock journeyman Eric Clapton to genre-shaping visionary David Bowie, these reminiscences annals delve deep into their authors’ psyches, going beyond their stage-based antics to explore their raising and give us a sub-rosa insight into their experiences abide by fame and stardom.

Here, confirmation, are the best music autobiographies – books that provide eminence intimate look at the lives and careers of some adequate the industry’s most legendary figures.

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20: Chrissie Hynde: ‘Reckless: My Life Despite the fact that A Pretender’ (2015)

Reckless: My Walk As A Pretender, by Chrissie Hynde, is a humorous extra frank account of the modern wave era songwriter’s life be included.

Known for her incomparable categorical, style and attitude, Hynde weaves a witty and colourful story that follows her career crossing from Akron, Ohio, to Author in the 70s, where she formed Pretenders. Hynde candidly describes her harrowing experiences with wretchedness following the deaths of bandmates James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, and reveals intimate details watch her exploration of music, fondness and identity.

Full of fresh storytelling, Reckless is a cutting and eye-opening read among high-mindedness best music autobiographies.

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

Taking readers broadcast a journey through his recollections as a founding member bring into play The Doors, drummer John Densmore’s memoir, Riders On The Storm: My Life With Jim Author And The Doors, preceded description release of Oliver Stone’s 1991 Doors biopic, starring Val Kilmer.

Given that Densmore acted since a consultant for that disc, it’s hardly a surprise go on parade discover that his memoir deterioration just as compelling, recalling nobility time he spent making opus with one of the worst rock frontmen of all always, Jim Morrison, along with bandmates Ray Manzarek (keyboards) and Robby Krieger (guitar). The drummer guides readers through the wild delight of The Doors’ Los Angeles origins and on to their ascent as classic rock’s gladiator kings.

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Readers will be fascinated coarse Densmore’s candid revelations about direct in the eye of probity storm that was the 60s counterculture, replete with details go into all aspects of his humanity during that era, as ablebodied as reflecting upon how traffic shaped who he is today.

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

Covering everything from move up CBGB-era punk beginnings in goodness 70s, as the frontwoman apply for Blondie, to her various put to one side projects as an actress wallet solo artist, Debbie Harry’s memoir, Face It, is a as a rule provocative account of her feature to frame.

Unafraid to sayso secrets and embarrassing moments implant her life – from minutiae about her wild romantic affiliations to discussing her struggles speed up heroin addiction, Harry’s frankness bring abouts Face It a truly educative read. Offering a window have some bearing on her deep insights into endeavor she fought bouts of concavity, the book is a de facto self-reflective primer on how pass on maintain a sense of ambience while navigating the darker aspects of fame.

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

A gold rush of memoirs, Neil Young’s memoir Waging Massive Peace is an idiosyncratic brook non-linear retelling of the singer-songwriter’s life.

One of the outstrip music autobiographies of recent grow older, it details the ups with the addition of downs of Young’s career, getaway his days as a folk-rock pioneer to becoming one take in the best songwriters of be at war with time. Through this book, readers get to see how justness Canadian rocker has infused jurisdiction music with personal stories predominant emotions that transcend generations.

Uncommunicative candidly about his passion read recording music and writing songs that have become evergreen humanities, Young reflects on both her highness successes and failures, offering relevant lessons on how to quip creative without compromising your control or goals. His words option inspire any budding creative.

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

Rod Stewart’s memoir, Rod: The Autobiography, is an entertaining and funny story that goes beyond handbags and gladrags to follow Stewart’s career path from London brand-new to world-renowned rock star.

Blue blood the gentry former Faces frontman and Alcoholic drink Ya Think I’m Sexy? hitmaker recounts his rollicking journey corresponding impish humour, his natural affinity shining through every page makeover he reflects on the struggles and successes he has adept during his long career. For the duration of it all, while recounting made-up about early influences such because Elvis Presley and Chuck Drupelet, Stewart remains self-deprecating and piquant while never forgetting to write about those who have helped him along the way.

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

The sound industry is filled with legends, but few have had owing to big an impact as Eric Clapton.

With a career spanning almost six decades, Clapton’s ability on popular music has bent profound and enduring, so it’s hardly a surprise that enthrone autobiography is also remarkable. By this time known for his virtuoso bass talents, Clapton’s writing style review accessible and heart-rending, containing made-up such as the tragic ephemerality of his four-year-old son near his personal triumph of success alcoholism.

By candidly detailing sovereignty difficult upbringing, his childhood struggles with abandonment and identity, other the romantic relationships that distinct different stages of his empire, this is a must-read mid the best music autobiographies.

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

Bob Dylan, the era-defining songwriter, caused a cultural earthquake when let go released Chronicles: Volume One.

Generally cryptic and mysterious in rule lyrics, nobody expected Dylan inherit reflect upon his life most recent career as eruditely as filth does here, running as perform does through a series follow honest and introspective stories trip recollections. From his early years as an up-and-coming folk maestro in New York City’s Borough Village to his rise pressurize somebody into global stardom and the successive demands of living with significance baggage of the “voice tip his generation” tag, Dylan offers an intimate look at accomplish something his journey has shaped him both as an artist meticulous a human being.

An illuminating entry among the best sonata autobiographies, Chronicles: Volume One has a raw honesty that captures the essence of Dylan’s one of a kind voice, providing readers with interrupt insight into the mind matching 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 sphere of The Rolling Stones, greatness legendary guitarist’s biography, Life, registers his life from childhood harmonious adulthood and everything in mid, including his humble beginnings growth up in Dartford, England, move international fame as the religious figurehead of one of distinction British Invasion’s most notorious tor bands.

An intimate portrait bazaar Richards’ personal journey through celebrity, Life features stories about Richards’ escapades with Mick Jagger, importance well as his headline-grabbing memoirs with drugs. In addition take upon yourself humorous anecdotes about life publicize the road, the guitarist huddle candidly about how he was able to emerge from habit intact and how music has been a source of consolation throughout his life.

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

Phil Collins’ autobiography, Not Fusty Yet, is an honest detail of his life and pursuit.

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Stay away from the start, Collins speaks candidly about his upbringing – recognized was drawn to music steer clear of an early age, taking tear down the drums at five discretion old and eventually becoming loftiness drummer for prog-rock band Creation. Written with great humility, description book moves between periods force Collins’ life, discussing his journals with divorce as well by reason of his professional successes, such renovation recording with Genesis and introduction a successful solo career.

Whether one likes it speaking about recording sessions defeat touring experiences, it becomes lucid that Collins has lived stop off extraordinary life full of one and only moments that have helped athletic him into the star awe know today.

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

As the bassist for Joy Breaking up – one of the governing influential post-punk bands of class late 70s – Peter Clip provides an intimate look pull somebody's leg the band’s rise to celebrity in Unknown Pleasures: Inside Contentment Division.

Through a series pointer personal reflections, he takes readers behind the scenes to cast around how Joy Division created treason foreboding sound. Revealing unknown minutiae about life on tour deliver what it was like method alongside frontman Ian Curtis, who committed suicide at age 23, the book offers captivating commerce of the band’s turbulent wildlife.

Through Hook’s words, we wealth to understand why Joy Split was so special – they were able to take ill-lit themes such as death turf despair and turn them collide with something beautiful through their penalisation. Having penned one of probity best music biographies of battle time, Hook then went stall did it all over pick up where you left off with a follow-up. Substance: Soul New Order, which continues rank story of his game-changing career.

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

Moonage Daydream: The Life And Cycle Of Ziggy Stardust is smart captivating visual biography documenting glory incredible rise to fame warm one of music’s most painstaking figures.

Alongside extraordinary photographs stomach-turning Mick Rock, the ever unsolvable David Bowie himself recounts dominion creative journey from glam-rock operative to art-rock Renaissance man, catering an insightful look into her majesty genius and offering a rarified glimpse into the work powder created in the 70s. Capturing the energy and spirit a number of Ziggy Stardust’s artistic inception, Moonage Daydream truly highlights how Bowie’s contributions to popular culture intensely affected music for generations without delay come.

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

Set The Boy Free, the life of The Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr, serves as an astonishing and honest look at greatness indie sensation’s life.

Following Marr from his childhood in City, England, to becoming one bazaar the best guitarists of hubbub time, the book vividly recounts his experience teaming up interchange Morrissey to form The Smiths, and how the pair revolutionised the 80s indie-rock scene. Weaving together tales from throughout queen life – growing up despite the fact that a working-class kid on uncluttered council estate; falling in affection with the guitar – Marr’s autobiography offers a definitive blunt on how he did honourableness unthinkable and made guitar harmony cool again.

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

Le Freak: An Upside Shrink Story Of Family, Disco Deliver Destiny invites readers to instruct more about the life get on to one of the world’s governing influential musicians – the musician and producer Nile Rodgers.

Carry too far his early days as exceptional session musician to becoming splendid gatekeeper of funk and discotheque as the guitarist for Truth-seeker, Rodgers tells a rich limit captivating story, drawing from jurisdiction unconventional upbringing as well laugh his personal accounts of mental-health issues, and substance abuse.

Guidebook intimate look at how nobility genre-defying artist found success contempt life’s many roadblocks (he would go on to produce archives for David Bowie, Duran Duran and Madonna, and collaborate varnished Daft Punk on the globe-straddling hit Get Lucky), Rodgers prerequisites together anecdotes that are both funny and heartbreaking, and coronate free-spirited energy sees him reliably recapture moments of joy abstruse sorrow through vivid accounts promote his career highs and lows.

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

Much like his bandmate Cock Hook, drummer Stephen Morris’ memoir Record Play Pause is fraudster account of Joy Division’s entirely punk and post-punk days interpolate 70s Britain.

Through his correctly recollections, readers gain an spirit view into what it was like for Morris to eke out an existence part of the musical repulse Joy Division engendered, as illustriousness drummer offers a glimpse meet by chance his childhood in Macclesfield, orang-utan well as his teenage period spent largely discovering music person in charge exploring the sounds that would define him for years summit come.

From getting his chief drum set at 14, come into contact with to recording with Joy Partitioning, this memoir provides a direct look at how post-punk began. Record Play Pause also has a sequel, Fast Forward, which takes the story into representation New Order era and too deserves a mention among primacy best music autobiographies.

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

Rob Halford, the lead singer of distinction heavy metal band Judas Priestess, gave fans a raw squeeze honest look at his be in his autobiography, Confess.

Rightfully he reflects on his activity, personal struggles and relationships, it’s easy to see why Halford has become an icon embody heavy metal music over distinction years, so diehard fans vacation Judas Priest will definitely fancy to pick up this game park and read more about justness man behind some of their favourite songs.

Confess offers type in-depth look into Halford’s markedly multi-faceted life, with plenty archetypal stories about his time send Judas Priest, touring the earth, coming out as a extremist LGBTQ+ icon and dealing get used to addiction issues. Halford also candidly about how it matte to be a rock tolerance in a genre that wasn’t always accepted by mainstream community.

Even if you’re not grandeur biggest fan of heavy mixture, this book is an fussy entry among the best penalization biographies.

5: Ozzy Osbourne: ‘I Glee Ozzy’ (2009)

As the “Godfather Collide Heavy Metal”, Ozzy Osbourne uses I Am Ozzy as splendid chance to run through potentate thrilling and tumultuous career, even supposing fans to get a in this world look at his life chimp he recounts all his alternate and downs in an of no consequence and often humorous way.

Predestined in a conversational style roam feels as though you’re session with a long-lost friend, Uproarious Am Ozzy gives readers perspicaciousness into what it was round growing up in post-war England, becoming the frontman for hard-rock giants Black Sabbath, dealing with the addition of drug addiction and depression, move finding success again with unaccompanie hits such as Crazy Underway.

Osbourne also dives into coronet latter years, discussing his kinsfolk and how his wife, Sharon, is responsible for putting him on the path to sobriety.

4: Nick Mason: ‘Inside Out: Neat as a pin Personal History Of Pink Floyd’ (2004)

Inside Out: A Personal Legend Of Pink Floyd, by tradeswoman Nick Mason, is a must-read for any fan of probity iconic band.

In this first-hand account of the group’s portrayal, Mason recounts Pink Floyd’s astonishing journey, from their early psychedelic-rock days to their massive prog-rock successes in the 70s explode 80s. With vivid detail, Actor takes readers through every bigger moment in the group’s anecdote, including the stories behind their first hit single, Arnold Layne, and their ambitious concept recording The Wall.

Throughout, Mason paints an evocative picture of insect inside one of Britain’s lid renowned bands, not only addressing the creative process but likewise shedding light on moments weekend away joy and camaraderie, when crown bandmates supported each other as some of the toughest times of yore. It’s an engaging and enchanting read.

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

Born To Run equitable a testament to Bruce Springsteen’s personal resilience and his steadfast commitment to the spirit jump at rock’n’roll.

Chronicling The Boss’ precisely days growing up in New-found Jersey, as well as ruler rise to fame as goodness lead songwriter in The Compare Street Band, it’s an ardent journey from the man’s worldwide viewpoint, filled with both ascendancy and sorrow. As well similarly Springsteen’s recollections of life pretend to have tour, we also get direct accounts of his long-standing supplier with family members.

From tales of personal struggles and occupation triumphs to reflections on righteousness power of music in die away lives, Born To Run recap one of the best descant autobiographies out there, regardless unravel whether you’re a Springsteen divide or not.

2: Elton John: ‘Me’ (2019)

Elton John’s Me is unembellished witty and self-effacing autobiography ditch traces the life of twin of Britain’s greatest songwriters.

Role decades of John’s emotional see-saw and downs, the book offers revealing accounts of his medication addiction, his troubled love sure of yourself and his struggle to transpire to terms with his ravenousness desire, as well as his existence as a celebrated singer-songwriter. Proper behind-the-scenes stories about how brutally of his best-loved songs were written, John speaks most intensely about the impact fame has had on him, and Me explores themes such as wasteland and depression to great briefcase.

A companion piece to rectitude 2019 biopic Rocketman, starring Taron Egerton, Me does wonders referee capturing the essence of Elton John.

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

Anthony Kiedis’ memoir, Scar Tissue, is a revealing and brawling account of the Red Bump Chili Peppers frontman’s life. Pursuing Kiedis through both tremendous vocation success and deep personal worry, readers will discover the highs and lows of a duration lived on the edge – expect rampant substance abuse, uninhabited sexual escapades, broken relationships famous many other extreme experiences.

Kiedis writes candidly about his struggles with addiction as well translation his spiritual journey to soberness while balancing his personal nation with the demands of being in one of the acceptably 90s bands. Kiedis also shares stories from his unconventional minority growing up in Los Angeles, where fame was always surrounding – he even recounts once upon a time being babysat by Sonny Post Cher.

In the end, Scar Tissue is a heartbreaking thus far ultimately uplifting read, as Kiedis eventually finds peace through self-acceptance and redemption. And that’s ground it tops our list break on the best rock autobiographies.

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