Your top five (or ten) favorite music books.

dankind

brianlux said:

dankind said:

Adam Horovitz and Michael Diamond (and special guests), Beastie Boys Book

Patti Smith, Just Kids

Kim Gordon, Girl in a Band

John Fine, Your Band Sucks

Greil Marcus, Mystery Train

Lester Bangs, Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung

Peter Guralnick, Lost Highway

Carrie Brownstein, Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl

Neil Young, Waging Heavy Peace

Louis Armstrong, Satchmo

Timothy White, Catch a Fire

Rob Sheffield, Love Is a Mix Tape (Talking to Girls About Duran Duran is pretty good, too)

Chuck Klosterman, Fargo Rock City

Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, Please Kill Me

Jerry Hopkins, No One Here Gets Out Alive

Woody Guthrie, Bound for Glory

Evelyn McDonnell and Ann Powers (eds.), Rock She Wrote

Jeff Chang, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop

Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, Miles

David Hajdu, Positively 4th Street

Billie Holliday with William Dufty, Lady Sings the Blues

Andrew Grant Jackson, 1965

Pamela Des Barres, I’m with the Band

Stephen Davis, Hammer of the Gods

Mötley Crüe with Neil Strauss, The Dirt

More great books and I few I will check out.  Nicely done, Dan!

Thanks, Brian. 

That Beastie Boys Book was ridiculously awesome. I read the whole thing with a smile on my face, even while lamenting that my favorite Beastie is no longer with us to provide his perspective.

I have Jeff Tweedy's book in the hole. I was going to read it next, but I have a feeling that it would be unfair to read the guy's book who asks his audience to be quiet at concerts after reading a dazzling book by guys who always asked their concert audiences to make some noise and participate -- including when it came to helping them make one of the best concert films ever, Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!  

So I'm going with a book on America's prison system next to wind me down.

eeriepadave

Haven't picked this book up yet but kinda curious to read Laura Jane Grace's book.

Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout

hrd2imgn

Steve Goodman: Facing the Music

One of the most amazing and tragic stories in music history.

brianlux

I just finished David Hepworth's Never a Dull Moment, 1971 The Year That Rock Exploded. Hepworth presents the argument that 1971 was the year pop music died (with the break up of the Beatles) and rock exploded. I wasn't convinced of this premise and there were a few sections of the book that dragged a bit for me but there were also many sections of this book that were highly engaging, fascinating, and well written. Also, Hepworth's breadth of knowledge of music and the making of it is impressive. Overall, a fine read and one I'll hang on to and refer back to.

Although this one won't necessarily break into my top ten favorites, I liked it enough to mention and recommend it.

cp3iverson

This book is incredible.  The author spent 40+ years off and on interviewing artists who were on the tour, fans who were there, store owners in those towns, etc. to give a day by day account of the tour from hell.  I read this in two days.  Imagine touring during a polar vortex in a bus with no heat in rock n roll’s early days.  Plus the most in depth account of the final show and crash.  

brianlux

I'm reading a really good one right now!  Eric Burden (of The Animals), Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.  Great stories.  Forthright, honest, self-effacing, real.  Burden is the man! 

brianlux

 It would be almost impossible, maybe even slightly ludicrous to try to name one favorite music book, but if I were to, a definite contender would be Warren Zanes, Petty; The Biography. Zanes' book is a labor of love. Thankfully, Tom Petty gave Zanes free reign to write the book he (Zanes) wanted and Zanes, despite being a good friend, was honest and forthcoming with his words yet respectful enough to not at all make this work sensationalist or gossip filled. The writing is superb, the story is marvelous and the experience of reading this work is unforgettable. This will surely stand as one of my all-time favorite music book about one of our greatest (and most missed) song writers and musicians.  I was literally in tears when I finished this book because, like the life of the man himself, I didn't want the book to end.

tempo_n_groove

If you haven't read American Hardcore you need to.

Great insight and depth to our great music scene.

Man there are a bunch of good stories in there.

brianlux

tempo_n_groove said:

If you haven't read American Hardcore you need to.

Great insight and depth to our great music scene.

Man there are a bunch of good stories in there.

For sure!  I'm looking at the book as I type this.  Well, OK, I looked at it and then typed.  My typing kind of sucks, haha!

Yeah, they did a fine job with the film as well.  I have the DVD and have watched it three or four times. 

brianlux

Even though I've only gotten a few chapters into it, I have a feeling this one will easily make it into my top 10.  I ran across it the other day and just started it and already am hooked! A Spy in the House of Loud; New York Songs and Stories by Chris Stamey. Stamey has worked with Yo La Tengo, briefly worked with Alex Chilton, formed the dBs with Peter Holsapple and has produced several albums. The writing is excellent and the stories first rate!

JOEJOEJOE

"The Basketball Diaries" by Jim Carroll

DE4173

Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal

https://www.amazon.com/Van-Halen-Rising-Southern-California/dp/1770412638/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=renoff,+greg&qid=1597691119&sr=8-3

Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music

https://www.amazon.com/Ted-Templeman-Platinum-Producers-Music/dp/1770414835/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=renoff,+greg&qid=1597691250&sr=8-2

both by Greg Renoff

Personalized and Signed copies are available at templemanbook.com

Poncier

DE4173 said:

Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal

https://www.amazon.com/Van-Halen-Rising-Southern-California/dp/1770412638/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=renoff,+greg&qid=1597691119&sr=8-3

Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music

https://www.amazon.com/Ted-Templeman-Platinum-Producers-Music/dp/1770414835/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=renoff,+greg&qid=1597691250&sr=8-2

both by Greg Renoff

Personalized and Signed copies are available at templemanbook.com

This one is good as well,

Loujoe

Reading 'I am brian wilson' thanks for the suggestion. Crazy what he went through and I'm only a few pages in.

goldrush

This is a tough read at times, but it's a fascinating book.
How the hell is he still alive?

tempo_n_groove

If you haven't read "just kids" by Patti Smith, please do.  I didn't care for her much but heard a snippet on NPR and HAD to read the book.  That snippet?  It is when she described being in the room when Kris Kristopherson taught Bobbie Magee to Janis Joplin.

The things she got to see and do were absolutely amazing to me.  The world has changed so much and this type of charmed life is not likely to repeat itself.

Please give it a read.

brianlux

tempo_n_groove said:

If you haven't read "just kids" by Patti Smith, please do.  I didn't care for her much but heard a snippet on NPR and HAD to read the book.  That snippet?  It is when she described being in the room when Kris Kristopherson taught Bobbie Magee to Janis Joplin.

The things she got to see and do were absolutely amazing to me.  The world has changed so much and this type of charmed life is not likely to repeat itself.

Please give it a read.

Plus one!  Yeah, that's a marvelous book!  Some years back, we were camping up neat Mount Lassen and after 4 or 5 days decided to head into the nearest town for some supplies.  I spied a bookstore and went in and bought a copy of Patti's book and devoured it soon after.  A great read, and amazing lady!   Reading about Robert Mapplethorpe was interesting and those Chelsea Hotel days were fascinating!