New year, new you, right? Well if your new year’s resolution is to read more, we have a few suggestions to make that so much easier. We picked our absolute favorite music biographies and why you should check them out. And don’t forget to let us know your faves in the comments!
1. Frank Turner – The Road Beneath My Feet
Though Frank Turner has added another 1500+ shows since its release, The Road Beneath My Feet is a must have for anyone who loves Frank Turner (duh), loves grassroots music and small music venues, and reading about life on the road for up and coming musicians. The book leads up to Frank Turner’s huge Wembley Arena show in 2012 and sets the backstory to an incredible career that followed suit. Now organizing his own annual festival, raising money for Music Venue Trust and his crew during lockdown and still being a die-hard supporter of grassroots music venues, this book is for all those that live and breathe music.
Get your copy here.
2. Debbie Harry – Face It
Debbie Harry is the icon of a generation, the embodiment of what it means to be punk and brave and beautiful all in one. And to never give a damn about what people have to say. On the list of kick-ass female artists that should rule the world, she is pretty much at the top.
Face It follows Debbie’s path from world stardom with Blondie, personal highs and lows, heroin addiction, activism and how all of this made her the woman we all know and love, and look up to.
Get your copy here.
3. Dave Grohl – The Storyteller
This one may hurt to read a little more these days after Taylor Hawkins’ tragic passing in 2022. Dave Grohl is nothing if not an incredible storyteller, hence the title. We absolutely devoured this book in the space of a weekend. In The Storyteller Dave Grohl talks about his upbringing, falling in love with music, founding two of music’s greatest ever rock bands, the impact of fame and his undying love for making music.
We were lucky to attend an evening with Dave at London’s Savoy Theatre in 2021 for the release of the book – a show where for the first time in almost three decades, Dave drummed Smells Like Teen Spirit live, and I will never ever forget that moment having been too young to attend any Nirvana concerts previously. The book showcases that many Foo Fighters fans already know, Dave Grohl does not shy away from sharing his experiences, feelings and stories – and for that we shall be eternally in his debt.
Get your copy here.
4. Keith Richards – Life
We’re not going to lie, this book will come at you with several “what? no way that happened!” a minute. If you ever wanted to have a true tale about sex, drugs and rock n roll as part of arguably the biggest rock band to exist ever, Life is the book for you.
Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards defies all laws of biology and medicine (and thank god he does), and after you’ve read this book you will not only find yourself with a new love for the Rolling Stones, you will also seriously start to question everything you know about the human body.
Get your copy here.
5. Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
Though we’re biased, this may just be the best autobiography for an artist ever written. No it doesn’t have a lot of the drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll stories that many others do. Springsteen was never one for drugs or lots of affairs, and that is exactly what makes Born To Run such an exciting read. It is filled with nothing but love for his craft, family and friends.
The stories about the meeting and later on passing of Clarence Clemons will never not have us in tears, his account of the birth of his children is genuine and heart warming, and the struggles at the beginning of his career serve as a reminder to new artists that you shouldn’t give up on your dream.
It is also one of the very few autobiographies of male artists that openly talks about mental health in the way Springsteen does. From the impact of his father’s depression to his reluctance to take drugs due to the struggle with his own demons.
Get your copy here.
6. Chrissie Hynde – Reckless
Founding member of The Pretenders Chrissie Hynde’s autobiography reads like the best plot for a movie about rock ‘n’ roll rebels if we’ve ever seen one. From being caught up in Kent State University riots at just eighteen years old, to getting involved with drugs and the local biker gang to eventually becoming one of music’s most influential voices, Chrissie Hynde is a force that has left her mark on music and to this day inspires millions of young artists and music fans.
Get your copy here.
7. Elvis Costello – Unfaithful Music And Disappearing Ink
Unfaithful Music And Disappearing Ink is by far one of the most beautifully written autobiographies we’ve ever got our hands on. Unspurprising really if you’ve ever seen Elvis Costello live. Raised in London and Liverpool, the British music icon takes us back to his childhood as the son of a jazz musician and the grandson of a trumpet player. The autobiography also includes tons of images from his personal archives, providing a visual picture to the never ending amount of stories from his life and career.
Get your copy here.
High Fives & Stage Dives 