What are some of the best books about rock? I've just started readig Clapton's biography and I plan on getting Anthony Kiedis' soon. What are some others?
Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azzerad is a great book about the late 80's indie rock scene. Each chapter covers a different band. There are chapters on Black Flag, the Minutemen, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr., and many others.
If you're into jazz at all, Miles Davis' autobiography is a great read.
I just bought Johnny Cash's autobiography. Beautifully written.
'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'
I've seen that one and have wondered if it's worth reading. Might just have to pick it next time I go to the bookstore.
I liked Jim DeRogatis' "Milk It!: Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the '90s" book as well....although I don't agree with some of his views.....
'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'
Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azzerad is a great book about the late 80's indie rock scene. Each chapter covers a different band. There are chapters on Black Flag, the Minutemen, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr., and many others.
If you're into jazz at all, Miles Davis' autobiography is a great read.
This is a gooder but I would sya the best one ever is Please Kill Me an oral history of punk, not only the best rock book but one of the best books period I've ever read, it was like a one sitting marathon
"I'm not suicidal, except when I drink. That's why we don't all drink at the same time, there'd be no-one alive to drive home..."
Chris Cornell
Cash by Johnny Cash,an amazing read
Hammer of the Gods
Dirt,I loathe Motley Crue but I got this for £3 and couldnt put it down
Walk This Way
I'm with the Band
Never Mind The Bollocks,Women Rewrite Rock
Woman,Sex,Drugs and Rock and Roll:Womens Roles in Rock
Hell Bent For Leather
Five Against One
“There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen”
the best music books I have read are both by Dave Bidini (guitarist and vocalist with the Rheostatics - the greatest/most under-appreciated band EVER to come out of Canada)
"On A Cold Road: Tales Of Adventure in Canadian Rock" (based on a diary he kept during the Rheostatics tour across Canada with the Tragically Hip in 1996)
and
"Around the World in 57 1/2 Gigs" (based on Bidini's solo tour following the Rheostatics break up....Bidini decided to go on a very long road trip, playing solo and finding out about the state of rock 'n' roll around the world)
he is and AMAZING writer....both books are incredible
(and for hockey fans, his book "The Best Game You Can Name" is a MUST read)
In my world everyone is a pony,
and they all eat rainbows and pooh butterflies!
Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azzerad is a great book about the late 80's indie rock scene. Each chapter covers a different band. There are chapters on Black Flag, the Minutemen, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr., and many others.
If you're into jazz at all, Miles Davis' autobiography is a great read.
I second this.
one foot in the door
the other foot in the gutter
sweet smell that they adore
I think I'd rather smother
-The Replacements-
There is an excellent book on the grunge movement that came out last summer called "Accidental Revolution", by one of the writers at I believe Spin Magazine. Very humourous and light, but still gets at all the important stuff. He seems to have Pearl Jam in high regard, but is still a bit more critical of them than I'd like. Lots of stuff on Green River and Mother Love Bone, almost a whole chapter dedicated to "Singles", a lot of background. In general, a very good read.
2003: Toronto
2005: Kitchener/Hamilton/Toronto
2006: Toronto 1 & 2
2008: Hartford/EV Toronto 1 & 2
2009: Toronto/Philadelphia 3 & 4
2010: Buffalo
2011: Montreal/Toronto 1 & 2/Hamilton
2013: London/Buffalo/Vancouver/Seattle 2016: Toronto 1 & 2 2022: Hamilton/Toronto 2023: EV Seattle 1&2
Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azzerad is a great book about the late 80's indie rock scene. Each chapter covers a different band. There are chapters on Black Flag, the Minutemen, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr., and many others.
I love that book! Other good ones I've read:
Cash- Johnny Cash
The Many Lives of Tom Waits- Patrick Humphries
Around the World in 57 1/2 Gigs- Dave Bidini
On a Cold Road: Tales of Adventure in Canadian Rock- Dave Bidini
Shakey: Neil Young's Biography- Jimmy McDonough
Riders on the Storm- John Densmore
Beds Are Burning, Midnight Oil: The Journey- Mark Dodshon
Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance- Michael Barclay
Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain- Charles R. Cross
"I try my best to chug, stomp, weep, whisper, moan, wheeze, scat, blurt, rage, whine, and seduce. With my voice I can sound like a girl, the boogieman, a Theremin, a cherry bomb, a clown, a doctor, a murderer. I can be tribal. Ironic. Or disturbed. My voice is really my instrument."
the best music books I have read are both by Dave Bidini (guitarist and vocalist with the Rheostatics - the greatest/most under-appreciated band EVER to come out of Canada)
"On A Cold Road: Tales Of Adventure in Canadian Rock" (based on a diary he kept during the Rheostatics tour across Canada with the Tragically Hip in 1996)
and
"Around the World in 57 1/2 Gigs" (based on Bidini's solo tour following the Rheostatics break up....Bidini decided to go on a very long road trip, playing solo and finding out about the state of rock 'n' roll around the world)
he is and AMAZING writer....both books are incredible
(and for hockey fans, his book "The Best Game You Can Name" is a MUST read)
Bidini is probably my favorite non-fiction writer. His account of the Rheos' final show at Massey Hall is absolutely heartbreaking. I was almost in tears while reading it.
"This is for the Rheostatics. We're all richer for having seen them tonight."
-Gord Downie, Detroit, 1996.
"I try my best to chug, stomp, weep, whisper, moan, wheeze, scat, blurt, rage, whine, and seduce. With my voice I can sound like a girl, the boogieman, a Theremin, a cherry bomb, a clown, a doctor, a murderer. I can be tribal. Ironic. Or disturbed. My voice is really my instrument."
Bidini is probably my favorite non-fiction writer. His account of the Rheos' final show at Massey Hall is absolutely heartbreaking. I was almost in tears while reading it.
"This is for the Rheostatics. We're all richer for having seen them tonight."
-Gord Downie, Detroit, 1996.
That last chapter was a hard read......it definitely got me all choked up.
I always saw happiness in the Rheostatics music and live shows, so it was kind of upsetting reading about the bands inner turmoil and conflict....the comment about Tim not thanking him and Martin in the liner notes of his recent solo album made me sad - it greatly altered my vision of one of my favorite bands sailing happily off into band heaven
In my world everyone is a pony,
and they all eat rainbows and pooh butterflies!
I second this. Very "innaresting," as Neil would say
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
And I'm not living this life without you, I'm selfish and clear
And you're not leaving here without me, I don't wanna be without
My best... friend. Wake up, to see you could have it all
A book about Frank Sinatra named "Sinatra" by Robyn Swan and Anthony Hamilton. Sinatras life is just amazing, and this book is really great. Not afraid to comment the bad things about Sinatra, but it also covers his good sides, which are many.
Great book about a great life and a great artist
Heavier than Heaven, the biography of Kurt Cobain, was a really good book
PJ at MSG in 2008! Mission Accomplished
The band all knows. We're too afraid to mention.
Don't want to be part of Frank's luncheon.
Lose weight. Be safe. Where's Mike McCready?
My god he's been ate!
a book called "dylan" is great
a book called"wonderland avenue"(i think) by danny sugerman is great. him hanging out with morrison,hilarious stories about iggy pop,lots of excesses.
barefoot in babylon is a great read about the guys putting woodstock together.
"shes stoned said the swede, and the
mooncalf agreed" THe BANd
Comments
If you're into jazz at all, Miles Davis' autobiography is a great read.
- the great Sir Leo Harrison
Ker-razy shit... thats all I'm saying.
Wembley 18/06/07
If there was a reason, it was you.
O2 Arena 18/09/09
Jacob Slitcher- So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star?
the two best IMO
It's amazing how much heroin that guy managed to inject without dying.
http://www.amazon.com/Catch-Fire-Life-Bob-Marley/dp/080506009X
Get in the Van
http://www.21361.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=27
no one here gets out alive
jim morrison bio
and I think one of the better rock bios
I liked Jim DeRogatis' "Milk It!: Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the '90s" book as well....although I don't agree with some of his views.....
http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/065826/details.html
- the great Sir Leo Harrison
This is a gooder but I would sya the best one ever is Please Kill Me an oral history of punk, not only the best rock book but one of the best books period I've ever read, it was like a one sitting marathon
Chris Cornell
http://www.myspace.com/mrwalkerb
Hammer of the Gods
Dirt,I loathe Motley Crue but I got this for £3 and couldnt put it down
Walk This Way
I'm with the Band
Never Mind The Bollocks,Women Rewrite Rock
Woman,Sex,Drugs and Rock and Roll:Womens Roles in Rock
Hell Bent For Leather
Five Against One
"On A Cold Road: Tales Of Adventure in Canadian Rock" (based on a diary he kept during the Rheostatics tour across Canada with the Tragically Hip in 1996)
and
"Around the World in 57 1/2 Gigs" (based on Bidini's solo tour following the Rheostatics break up....Bidini decided to go on a very long road trip, playing solo and finding out about the state of rock 'n' roll around the world)
he is and AMAZING writer....both books are incredible
(and for hockey fans, his book "The Best Game You Can Name" is a MUST read)
and they all eat rainbows and pooh butterflies!
Shakey (biography of Neil Young)
Slash
I second this.
the other foot in the gutter
sweet smell that they adore
I think I'd rather smother
-The Replacements-
2005: Kitchener/Hamilton/Toronto
2006: Toronto 1 & 2
2008: Hartford/EV Toronto 1 & 2
2009: Toronto/Philadelphia 3 & 4
2010: Buffalo
2011: Montreal/Toronto 1 & 2/Hamilton
2013: London/Buffalo/Vancouver/Seattle
2016: Toronto 1 & 2
2022: Hamilton/Toronto
2023: EV Seattle 1&2
I love that book! Other good ones I've read:
Cash- Johnny Cash
The Many Lives of Tom Waits- Patrick Humphries
Around the World in 57 1/2 Gigs- Dave Bidini
On a Cold Road: Tales of Adventure in Canadian Rock- Dave Bidini
Shakey: Neil Young's Biography- Jimmy McDonough
Riders on the Storm- John Densmore
Beds Are Burning, Midnight Oil: The Journey- Mark Dodshon
Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance- Michael Barclay
Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain- Charles R. Cross
-Tom Waits
Bidini is probably my favorite non-fiction writer. His account of the Rheos' final show at Massey Hall is absolutely heartbreaking. I was almost in tears while reading it.
"This is for the Rheostatics. We're all richer for having seen them tonight."
-Gord Downie, Detroit, 1996.
-Tom Waits
That last chapter was a hard read......it definitely got me all choked up.
I always saw happiness in the Rheostatics music and live shows, so it was kind of upsetting reading about the bands inner turmoil and conflict....the comment about Tim not thanking him and Martin in the liner notes of his recent solo album made me sad - it greatly altered my vision of one of my favorite bands sailing happily off into band heaven
and they all eat rainbows and pooh butterflies!
I second this. Very "innaresting," as Neil would say
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
And you're not leaving here without me, I don't wanna be without
My best... friend. Wake up, to see you could have it all
Great book about a great life and a great artist
Dublin 06
London 07
http://www.amazon.com/Rotten-No-Irish-Blacks-Dogs/dp/031211883X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207458851&sr=1-1
I'd also recommend Bill Graham Presents, Bill Grahams biography.
http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Graham-Presents-Life-Inside/dp/0306813491/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207458741&sr=8-1
http://www.last.fm/user/merkinball/
spotify:user:merkinball
The band all knows. We're too afraid to mention.
Don't want to be part of Frank's luncheon.
Lose weight. Be safe. Where's Mike McCready?
My god he's been ate!
a book called"wonderland avenue"(i think) by danny sugerman is great. him hanging out with morrison,hilarious stories about iggy pop,lots of excesses.
barefoot in babylon is a great read about the guys putting woodstock together.
mooncalf agreed" THe BANd