Good music autobiographies

[JamesBass]

So people are nagging me to give them ideas for christmas presents and am wanting music related stuff really.

So what autobiographies do people recommend?

[ambient]

I read the joe Zawinul one recently, that's very good if you're a fan of weather report.

[BetaFunk]

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1385856801' post='2293022']
So people are nagging me to give them ideas for christmas presents and am wanting music related stuff really.

So what autobiographies do people recommend?
[/quote]
Does it have to be an autobiography rather than a biography?

[geoffbyrne]

I've got Clapton, Harrison, Keef, Pete Townsend & Ronnie Wood's along with Patti Boyd (to get both sides of the Clapton/Harrison thing) & Joanna Lovely!!

G.

[The Admiral]

Shakey - biography of Neil Young

The Heroin Diaries - Nikki Sixx

INXS - Anthony Bozza

Nolan, Bowie and the Brooklyn boy - Tony Visconti

My boy - Philomena Lynott

And the new Morrisey autobiography is apparently very entertaining, with no hold barred by the author - as one might expect.

[keeptrying]

If you like Guns 'n' Roses, Slash and Duff Mckagan's autobiography's are both a good read. I wasn't overly keen on with Steve Adler's book, found it a little depressing.

[Roland Rock]

Jah Wobble's Memoirs of a Geezer is a very easy read and full of fun anecdotes.
I also really enjoyed 'Beneath the Underdog' by Mingus. It's written in an almost dreamlike style in places, and he doesn't mind a bit of hyperbole, but that all goes to make it quite a unique read.

[gary mac]

One of my most enjoyed musical reads has been "17 Watts" by Mo Foster.

[police squad]

I enjoyed the Status Quo one but currently reading Bob Daisley's 'for facts sake'. It's really interesting

[sarah thomas]

'Really the Blues' by Mezz Mezzrow gives a very readable account of what it was like to be on the scene when Louis Armstrong's star was rising. A lot more accessible than the Mingus autobiography, but that too is compelling although obscure

[uncle psychosis]

The nile rodgers one is fantastic.

[White Cloud]

Keith Moon, Jaco Pastorius. They both lived life absolutely on the edge.....

Edited December 1, 2013 by White Cloud

[Mickeyboro]

Deke Leonard of Man is quite the writer if you want sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. Though as his publisher I admit I am biased...

Order through this website before Xmas, quote Basschat and deduct £2 off the price of any of his three titles.

[url="http://www.northdownpublishing.co.uk/id47.html"]http://www.northdownpublishing.co.uk/id47.html[/url]

Plug over!

[lucatus]

I think Miles' autobiography is brilliant. Very direct, almost as if you were chatting with him on a bar, and he doesn't hold any barriers. He even reckons he was a failure as a father, and he used to beat his wife at some point...

[JamesBass]

Cheers for the suggestions! Will certainly have to add a few of those to the list! Nile Rodgers is a must!

Beta it can be anything related to bass or music in general

Edited December 1, 2013 by JamesBass

[BigRedX]

A couple of good biographies:

[url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Re-make-Re-model-Fashion-making-1953-1972/dp/0571229859/]Remake/Remodel by Michael Bracewell[/url] - the making of Roxy Music

[url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Some-Faraway-Beach-Times-Brian/dp/0752875701/]On Some Faraway Beach by David Sheppard[/url] - The Life and Times of Brian Eno

And Brian Eno's Diary of 1995 - [url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Year-Swollen-Appendices-Diary-Brian/dp/0571179959]A Year With Swollen Appendicies[/url]

[ern500evo]

The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx had me wondering how on earth the guy is still alive!

[oakforest5961]

"Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division" by Peter Hook, Joy Division's bassist, is excellent. Even better is the spoken version, which you can get from e.g. www.audible.co.uk, read by Peter Hook himself.

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

I'm gonna treat myself to Rex Browns book,and Dee snider also in the next few days.
Book I've bought; Mötley Crüe the dirty.. Awesome. Anthony keidis ..also great. Bloody spellchecker ;(

[malbass]

Would highly recommend Andy Summers book 'One Train Later', really enjoyed it even though I'm not really a fan, some great stories from the sixties, jamming with Hendrix etc.

[wateroftyne]

Sleep When I'm Dead - Warren Zevon.

What a nasty piece of work he was...

[Cat Burrito]

A lot of soul stars put the rockers to shame; Bettye Lavette's book starts with her being dangled out the window by her pimp and then picks [b]up[/b] the pace! Bobby Womack's is equally outrageous starting with his ex-wife chasing him with a gun.

Duff McKagan's was quite inspiring, Gene Simmons' was a tad boring (I liked Peter Criss' although it confirmed he is a grade A idiot!) and Johnny Cash has a bunch of decent biographies out there.

[jezzaboy]

[quote name='police squad' timestamp='1385884738' post='2293089']
I enjoyed the Status Quo one but currently reading Bob Daisley's 'for facts sake'. It's really interesting
[/quote]

Big plus 1 on Bob`s book. It cost me £25 if I remember but is a damm fine read.

[Grassie]

Guy Pratt's "My Bass And Other Animals" is a must, but steer clear of John Taylor's one - hardly any insight at all apart from drugs and groupies.

[Lozz196]

Rod Stewarts book is a good read - never really been into his stuff but borrowed the book and look at him in a new light, seems a really decent "lad" type guy.