Auldbenches Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Just finished reading Brix Smith's autobiography and the first book by stuart cosgrove on northern soul. Got his other book about Detroit to read next and looking for good music biographies etc. Any suggestions? Read Keith Richards and really enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruyff Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Johnny Cash was the best I've read. Johnny Marrs is decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 3 minutes ago, Cruyff said: Johnny Cash was the best I've read. Johnny Marrs is decent. I read one Johnny cash autobiography but it was at the time of his religious conversion so was a bit saccharine. Johnny marr is a great suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 (edited) Apathy For The Devil the autobiography by ex NME journalist Nick Kent is a fantastic read, taking in most of the 70’s and 80’s and unlike a lot of music books is very well written. Marianne Faithfull’s autobiography Faithfull is up there as well, from being a teenage star all the way through living as a homeless heroin addict in London in the 70’s. She’s lived an amazing life. Possibly the best autobiography I’ve read is Mile Davis’. A very rare case of someone being willing to tell it like it is and pull no punches about being an utter *******. Edited February 28, 2021 by Tazio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
been here before Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Top of my head... Keefs autobiography is probably the ultimate rock n roll one. Other recommendations... Here Comes Everybody, The Story of The Pogues by James Fearnley Rod Stewarts autobiography Billy Bragg Suitable For Miners Noddy Holders Who's Crazee Now Madness- When We Was We. Chas Hodges- Chas and Dave- All About Us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Tazio said: Apathy For The Devil the autobiography by ex NME journalist Nick Kent is a fantastic read, taking in most of the 70’s and 80’s and unlike a lot of music books is very well written. Marianne Faithfull’s autobiography Marianne is up there as well, from being a teenage star all the way through living as a homeless heroin addict in London in the 70’s. She’s lived an amazing life. Possibly the best autobiography I’ve read is Mile Davis’. A very rare case of someone being willing to tell it like it is and pull no punches about being an utter *******. Miles Davis sounds well worth it. I'd recommend Cider with Roadies by Stuart Maconie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 minute ago, been here before said: Top of my head... Keefs autobiography is probably the ultimate rock n roll one. Other recommendations... Here Comes Everybody, The Story of The Pogues by James Fearnley Rod Stewarts autobiography Billy Bragg Suitable For Miners Noddy Holders Who's Crazee Now Madness- When We Was We. Chas Hodges- Chas and Dave- All About Us. Keefs was a surprisingly good read. Didn't expect it to be that good. I'll keep noddy holder and Billy Bragg in mind. Didn't know Noddy had done one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Auldbenches said: Miles Davis sounds well worth it. I'd recommend Cider with Roadies by Stuart Maconie I’m not sure how easy it is to get now. I couldn’t find a copy and then by sheer chance I was walking past a 2nd hand bookshop in Washington DC and heard the guy had jazz playing in the background so went in on spec and asked if he had a copy and low and behold he did. Though I’m sure with Amazon and Kindles should be easier to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruyff Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 11 minutes ago, Auldbenches said: I read one Johnny cash autobiography but it was at the time of his religious conversion so was a bit saccharine. Johnny marr is a great suggestion. Johnny Cash, Life was the one I read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Auldbenches said: Keefs was a surprisingly good read. Didn't expect it to be that good. I'll keep noddy holder and Billy Bragg in mind. Didn't know Noddy had done one. The surprising one is Marianne Faithfull’s. she has lived a remarkable life. I love Keith but let’s be honest people like him were millionaire junkies. She hit the lowest you can get and still come out the other side. Oddly Nick Kent and Miles were addicts as well, looks like there’s a theme running through a lot of these books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Tazio said: The surprising one is Marianne Faithfull’s. she has lived a remarkable life. I love Keith but let’s be honest people like him were millionaire junkies. She hit the lowest you can get and still come out the other side. Oddly Nick Kent and Miles were addicts as well, looks like there’s a theme running through a lot of these books. Brix Smith had the same sort of issues though different substances. Millionaire junkie is a brilliant description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trotter Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Hacienda - How Not to Run a Club by Peter Hook. Not an autobiography as such, but a very telling inside look at Factory Record, New Order and Joy Division detailing some of the epic shithousery that was going on. Brilliant read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CF11JamTart Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 9 hours ago, trotter said: Hacienda - How Not to Run a Club by Peter Hook. Not an autobiography as such, but a very telling inside look at Factory Record, New Order and Joy Division detailing some of the epic shithousery that was going on. Brilliant read. That is very good. I'm re-reading Creation Stories by Alan McGee. It's good too. I have no really interest in listening to Thin Lizzy, but "Cowboy Song", a biography of Phil Lynott was excellent. I enjoyed Stuart Cosgrove's Soul Trilogy too. There's a lot of good stuff out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CF11JamTart Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 10 hours ago, Auldbenches said: Miles Davis sounds well worth it. I'd recommend Cider with Roadies by Stuart Maconie I haven't read Cider With Roadies for years. Might give it a whirl again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costanza Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 (edited) 10 hours ago, Auldbenches said: Just finished reading Brix Smith's autobiography and the first book by stuart cosgrove on northern soul. Got his other book about Detroit to read next and looking for good music biographies etc. Any suggestions? Read Keith Richards and really enjoyed it. Given you liked Brix Smith, would highly recommend The Big Weekend by Steve Hanley. For New Order/Joy Division Hooky's and Steve Morris books are good. Bernard Sumner's is a bit disappointing. Brett Anderson's two books also really good, the first one, Coal Black Mornings is fantastically written. Edited March 1, 2021 by Costanza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CF11JamTart Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 48 minutes ago, Costanza said: Brett Anderson's two books also really good, the first one, Coal Black Mornings is fantastically written. Suede pretty much passed me by, but I was given that book. I really enjoyed it. Very well written. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 1 hour ago, CF11JamTart said: I haven't read Cider With Roadies for years. Might give it a whirl again. Wasn't that keen on maconie at the time (cynical 20s) but really enjoyed that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 10 hours ago, trotter said: Hacienda - How Not to Run a Club by Peter Hook. Not an autobiography as such, but a very telling inside look at Factory Record, New Order and Joy Division detailing some of the epic shithousery that was going on. Brilliant read. Brilliant suggestion. Forgot he had done a book. That's getting ordered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zico Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 10 hours ago, trotter said: Hacienda - How Not to Run a Club by Peter Hook. Not an autobiography as such, but a very telling inside look at Factory Record, New Order and Joy Division detailing some of the epic shithousery that was going on. Brilliant read. It’s a good book that. Hooky’s a bit of a knob but he can spin a good yarn. Speaking of knobs, Motley Crue are shite but The Dirt is a cracking read. Proper rock n roll debauchery. The film was pish though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 1 hour ago, CF11JamTart said: That is very good. I'm re-reading Creation Stories by Alan McGee. It's good too. I have no really interest in listening to Thin Lizzy, but "Cowboy Song", a biography of Phil Lynott was excellent. I enjoyed Stuart Cosgrove's Soul Trilogy too. There's a lot of good stuff out there. I'm enjoying the cosgrove book and glad I've got tbe second one. Also a great source for northern soul stuff Most of it is either on spotify or YouTube. If you like northern soul, there's a guy called widdersoul who has a channel on YouTube that has lots of northern soul stuff. Three songs on every video. Brilliant stuff there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronJambo Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Not seen mention of Slash's book? Cracking read and absolutely mental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWL Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Read Chubby Checker's autobiography, not the greatest but there's a cracking twist at the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig_ Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Love a music book, a few I've read recently include: Motley Crue's "The Dirt" is fantastic entertainment, quite shocking in parts Charles Shaar Murray "Crosstown Traffic" tackles a number of taboos in music Joe Boyd "White Bicycles", some great insights into a number of artists, including Pink Floyd and Nick Drake Phill Brown "Are We Still Rolling", similar vein to above David Byrne "How Music Works", not an autobiography as such, but a great read nonetheless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I P Knightley Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 30 minutes ago, JWL said: Read Chubby Checker's autobiography, not the greatest but there's a cracking twist at the end. Devid Hepworth writes good stuff. Uncommon People (the rise and fall of the rock star) is the first one of his I read and I found it to be excellent. Pete Townshend's Who I Am is also worth a read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 25 minutes ago, Craig_ said: Love a music book, a few I've read recently include: Motley Crue's "The Dirt" is fantastic entertainment, quite shocking in parts Charles Shaar Murray "Crosstown Traffic" tackles a number of taboos in music Joe Boyd "White Bicycles", some great insights into a number of artists, including Pink Floyd and Nick Drake Phill Brown "Are We Still Rolling", similar vein to above David Byrne "How Music Works", not an autobiography as such, but a great read nonetheless. The Charles Shaar Murray one looks worth reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 I’ve just remembered one to avoid at all costs. Scar Tissue by Antony Keidis the lead singer of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I grabbed a copy in an airport as I wanted something light to read on a long flight. Utter nonsense, the man is a massive egomaniac and, I felt, a bullshitter on an epic scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good Old Fashioned Scandal Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 i've read A Kind Of Magic by Mark Blake, and it was pretty good. I aso read and loved Motley Crues The Dirt. 80's rock/metal is my favourite so i'd love to hear if anyone else has read anything else similar they could reccomend me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gator Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 I recently read Steve Jones Lonely Boy Tales from a Sex Pistol, it was a good read, some interesting stuff about the beginning of The Sex Pistols! Another good one I read just before his death was Greg Allman's Not My Cross to Bear, I was a huge Allman Brothers fan back in the day and knew of many of the local places he referenced when I lived in Daytona Beach! One book which I bought to read on my Cuba vacation which got cancelled last April was Nick Mason's Inside Out a personal history of Pink Floyd, Hopefully I'll read it on a Cuban beach this December! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invernessjt Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Hard to Handle : The Life and Death of the Black Crowes by Steve Gorman is a really well written book and a really good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 2 hours ago, Tazio said: I’ve just remembered one to avoid at all costs. Scar Tissue by Antony Keidis the lead singer of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I grabbed a copy in an airport as I wanted something light to read on a long flight. Utter nonsense, the man is a massive egomaniac and, I felt, a bullshitter on an epic scale. I felt the same disappointment with the Johnny cash book I read. It looked like he had only done it to make money for Billy Graham. It was all about his conversion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N Lincs Jambo Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Have read some great muso autobiographies over the years. Favourites are Nile Rogers, Graham Nash - Wild Tales, Eric Clapton’s one and also John Lydon’s. Going to check out a few of the suggestions already made. Loved Slade when I was a nipper so Noddy’s is now on the list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Салатные палочки Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Currently reading Happy Mondays by Simon Spence. Really enjoying it and what I've read so far I would recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Салатные палочки Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 16 hours ago, Auldbenches said: Just finished reading Brix Smith's autobiography and the first book by stuart cosgrove on northern soul. Got his other book about Detroit to read next and looking for good music biographies etc. Any suggestions? Read Keith Richards and really enjoyed it. Was the Brix Smith one good? Looking for a good one on the Fall from a different perspective. I read Mark E Smith's and although it was funny, it just seemed like him ranting about a lot of stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenbank2 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 16 hours ago, Auldbenches said: Just finished reading Brix Smith's autobiography and the first book by stuart cosgrove on northern soul. Got his other book about Detroit to read next and looking for good music biographies etc. Any suggestions? Read Keith Richards and really enjoyed it. Keef's, Ronnie Wood's, Rod Stewart's and Eric Clapton's all contain many of the same stories (Eel Pie Island, Long John Baldry, London in the 60's etc) but from different perspective's. Keef's - life on the road and 5 string tuning, Ronnie and Rod about drinking, drugs and shagging, but, IMO the best of them all is Eric Clapton's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 2 minutes ago, Greenbank2 said: Keef's, Ronnie Wood's, Rod Stewart's and Eric Clapton's all contain many of the same stories (Eel Pie Island, Long John Baldry, London in the 60's etc) but from different perspective's. Keef's - life on the road and 5 string tuning, Ronnie and Rod about drinking, drugs and shagging, but, IMO the best of them all is Eric Clapton's. A brilliant one from that same era is Ian McLagan’s book All The Rage going from his time in the Small Faces all the way through the 70’s and his time with other bands and Dylan. Lots of great stories and written in a nice style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 53 minutes ago, Salad Fingers said: Was the Brix Smith one good? Looking for a good one on the Fall from a different perspective. I read Mark E Smith's and although it was funny, it just seemed like him ranting about a lot of stuff. It is worth reading, especially for tbe fall stuff. Interesting life. I felt the same about the mark e Smith one. He comes across as a bit of a swine and a hypocrite when you read what she says. I paid about 6 quid and worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auldbenches Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 59 minutes ago, Salad Fingers said: Currently reading Happy Mondays by Simon Spence. Really enjoying it and what I've read so far I would recommend it. I read the one bez done a few years ago and it was worth a read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Салатные палочки Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 7 hours ago, Costanza said: Given you liked Brix Smith, would highly recommend The Big Weekend by Steve Hanley. For New Order/Joy Division Hooky's and Steve Morris books are good. Bernard Sumner's is a bit disappointing. Brett Anderson's two books also really good, the first one, Coal Black Mornings is fantastically written. Think that will be my next one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costanza Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 7 hours ago, CF11JamTart said: Suede pretty much passed me by, but I was given that book. I really enjoyed it. Very well written. Yeah, I was expecting to be more intrigued about life in Suede, but the writing pre band was more interesting as it turned out. His second book is a good read as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nookie Bear Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 1 hour ago, Tazio said: A brilliant one from that same era is Ian McLagan’s book All The Rage going from his time in the Small Faces all the way through the 70’s and his time with other bands and Dylan. Lots of great stories and written in a nice style. Read that a few years ago on holiday. As you say, a good read 👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costanza Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 44 minutes ago, Salad Fingers said: Think that will be my next one. I've read the Mark E Smith one and also the Dave Simpson book The Fallen, but this was the best of the Fall books for me. Will need to get the Brix Smith one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nookie Bear Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Bruce Springsteen’s is excellent. I am not much of a fan of his music but he comes across really well, as you can imagine. I would recommend the Lester Bangs books: Psychotic Reactions and Carburator Dung (a compilation of music reviews) and his life story, Let it Blurt. Mystery Train by Greil Marcus is another reviews compilation by a 60s writer that is a good read. Also just finished One, Two, Three, Four which is about the Beatles. Seemed to tell a familiar story in an interesting way and pleasingly irreverent when it comes to Beatles obsessives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nookie Bear Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 If you want a real Stones obsessive book, Stone Alone by Bill Wyman is the one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown user Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 5 hours ago, Tazio said: I’ve just remembered one to avoid at all costs. Scar Tissue by Antony Keidis the lead singer of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I grabbed a copy in an airport as I wanted something light to read on a long flight. Utter nonsense, the man is a massive egomaniac and, I felt, a bullshitter on an epic scale. Absolute wank of a man. Can't remember the name but Lemmy's was brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costanza Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 These are non autobiographical but would recommend these 2 books if you like post punk/ early 80s alternative music. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_It_Up_and_Start_Again https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Uncool-Greatest-Singles-since/dp/1844031055 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchy frog Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Shakey by Neil Young, semi official. If I remember correctly he pulled the plug near the end of his interviews with the author. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Салатные палочки Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Ronnie by Ronnie Drew was a good one. Sadly he died while writing it but it's finished off by his son and daughter. Some great drinking stories in it. I read Slash years ago and enjoyed it. I'm amazed that he is still alive if he was being honest about his drug and alcohol use, which he no doubt was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CF11JamTart Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 1 hour ago, Costanza said: These are non autobiographical but would recommend these 2 books if you like post punk/ early 80s alternative music. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_It_Up_and_Start_Again https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Uncool-Greatest-Singles-since/dp/1844031055 I've had Rip It Up And Start Again sitting in the pile for a while. I'll defo read it soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
been here before Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 2 hours ago, Smithee said: Can't remember the name but Lemmy's was brilliant White Line Fever? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown user Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 12 minutes ago, been here before said: White Line Fever? Just a cold. But yeah, that's the one, really good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.