Best Music Autobiographies
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Books and Miscellaneous Reviews
Forum Description: Reviews of prog books, memorabilia, etc.
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=130540
Printed Date: November 22 2024 at 20:55
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Topic: Best Music Autobiographies
Posted By: Tasartir
Subject: Best Music Autobiographies
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 02:24
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Hey everyone, I'm looking for good reading material and I'm starting to get into musician autobiographies. So, my question is: regardless of whether they've employed a ghost writer or co-writer, or whether they're prog or not, what would be your top 3 musical autobiographies? Thanks in advance for your recommendations! ------------- ...Histoires Sans Paroles... |
Replies:
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 03:38
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Three favourites from my music library, all by J. Randy Taraborrelli..... Michael Jackson - The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story Madonna - An Intimate Biography Diana Ross - An Unauthorized Biography  |
Posted By: Tasartir
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 03:41
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Wow, you sure have wide-ranging tastes in music. Thanks! ------------- ...Histoires Sans Paroles... |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 03:50
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Frank Zappa - The Real Frank Zappa Book Robert Wyatt - Different Every Time Rush - The trio of... Anthem, Limelight, and Driven |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 05:58
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Bill Bruford's has to be one of the best for its level-headed insight into the business of being a full-time musician. ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 06:08
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Hi, In my website I have reviewed quite a few of them ... IF I have a favorite, Robert Wyatt's is excellent, and you learn more about how he feels, and why it has to be "different" every time, something that rock fans and musicians are not usually very good at. I think it depends on what you want, since some of them are excellent at the history of it all, and some are not that good, except the fame side of things. I enjoyed "Gimme Danger - Iggy and the Stooges", even though he does not exactly mention a lot, and concentrates on his beginnings and the start of the band. Miles Davis: Birth of Cool .... is a special somewhere and worth seeing. The Frank Zappa book above is good. However, it does not really explain a whole lot of his music, which sometimes leaves us ... how??? Force Majeure - Tangerine Dream ... Edgar's book goes up until the 1990 time and that's it. Lots of stories, and explanations. Maximum Darkness - Man on the Road to Nowhere. A sad book by Deke Leonard, but a good story about a band that didn't want to quit. No One Here Gets Out Alive - About Jim Morrison, and very good. Detailed!!! I read the one on Hawkwind and Dream Theater, and they are nice, but not exceptional. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: IncogNeato
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 07:01
| I am currently reading 'Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography of Ronnie James Dio' |
Posted By: JD
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 07:57
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I think the only one I've ever read is Keith Emerson's Pictures of an Exhibitionist. ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: Starjet
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 08:38
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4 which I have read and can recommend: - Rick Wakeman - SAY YES - Kerry Livgren - SEEDS OF CHANGE (The above 2 have a nice (for my tastes) mixture of music and spirituality) - Nick Mason - INSIDE OUT (Very informative, but a little "dry") - Christian Décamps (ANGE) - https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/2812711191/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" rel="nofollow - T OUTE UNE VIE D'ANGE (so far only in French, but extremely exhaustive) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 09:09
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Posted By: Tasartir
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 09:40
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Excellent recommendations. I've taken note of most of these. Thanks, and keep them coming if you have them! ------------- ...Histoires Sans Paroles... |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 09:55
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A few more I enjoyed. Contents Under Pressure - 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away A Wizard a True Star - Todd Rundgren in the Studio Freak When Spoken To - The Story of Freak Kitchen King's X - The Oral History Soft Machine - Out-Bloody-Rageous Genesis - Chapter and Verse In the Court of King Crimson An Observation over Fifty Years Yes - Close to the Edge |
Posted By: IncogNeato
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 09:58
That one is really cool.
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Grumpyprogfan wrote:Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 13:58
Interesting title.  ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: February 22 2023 at 14:22
^ Yes. Let's hope the publishers won't need to retitle Phil Collins' autobiography for many years yet in the reprint editions. 
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Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: February 23 2023 at 00:25
| The Real Frank Zappa book is both interesting and very funny. |
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: February 23 2023 at 08:27
 More recommendations:  (literally the one which started my own obsession with music books)  (it's like reading my own thoughts and opinions on MANY things, scary!) plus not prog but a good read: Swans - Sacrifice And Transcendence Dave Grohl - The Storyteller Gary Numan - (R)evolution Paradise Lost - No Celebration Facing the Other Way - The Story of 4AD Substance - Inside New Order Rob Halford - Confess Alan McGee - Creation Stories |
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: February 23 2023 at 10:15
Yup, great read this one! Enjoyed the Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson and Ozzy Osbourne ones, all very different! ------------- Heaven is waiting but waiting is Hell |
Posted By: Gentle and Giant
Date Posted: February 23 2023 at 12:05
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Recent ones I've read are: Bruce Dickinson - What Does This Button Do? Steven Wilson - Limited Edition of One Rob Halford - Confess KK Downing - Heavy Duty: Days and Nights in Judas Priest All pretty good. Rob Halford's is the best of those and it's interesting to get both his and KK Downing's versions of the same events. ------------- Oh, for the wings of any bird, other than a battery hen |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: February 23 2023 at 12:22
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Posted By: MortSahlFan
Date Posted: February 23 2023 at 13:29
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Todd Rundgren - The Individualist ------------- https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List |
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: February 24 2023 at 04:08
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Does anyone know of any good books on the subject of ambient music please. ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: Jackal3000
Date Posted: February 24 2023 at 07:38
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I really enjoyed Mick Wall's book about Iron Maiden, and when I read it I had barely listened to any Maiden yet. It was interesting to read about the band's early efforts to gather a following and to develop their budding stage show, including the humorous origins of Eddie. It's in some ways close to the story of Marillion's rise, including great descriptions of early gigs at Friars in Aylesbury. Bruce Dickinson's memories of his childhood and how he became interested in singing and rock were also enlightening. I love reading this kind of story - local band makes good, then conquers the world!
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Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: February 24 2023 at 08:49
Ocean of Sound by David Toop, if it's still in print. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: February 25 2023 at 04:53
I’ll have a look for it many thanks ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: February 25 2023 at 04:58
Yes its still in print and it’s £9.19 once again thanks ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: Easy Money
Date Posted: February 25 2023 at 07:50
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Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: February 25 2023 at 09:39
Thanks I appreciate it and I’ll check it out ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: Tasartir
Date Posted: February 26 2023 at 08:11
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Excellent recommendations. Already ordered some of these, including one about ambient music, which is a type of music I'm just now getting into. Thanks! ------------- ...Histoires Sans Paroles... |
Posted By: Easy Money
Date Posted: February 26 2023 at 10:08
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Some musical atuo-bios I own: Miles Davis - very interesting, doesn't mind discussing his dark side and personal mistakes. Chris Frantz - "Remain in Love", a little glib but interesting tales of the early days of CBGBs, doesn't mind telling you what a jerk David Byrne can be. Micky Dolenz - "Im a Believer", witty guy and a fun read, finished it in one day. George Clinton - another fun read and insightful about the music business. Herbie Hancock - a little glib but does not mind discussing his time as a crack head. Bill Bruford - a little dry but still interesting, good insights on the changing music industry. Bill Harklerod ("Zoot Horn Rollo") - interesting read, doesn't mind telling you what a jerk Don Van Vliet can be. I also have a lot of musical bios and also music history books per genre such as; funk, prog, jazz, reggae, electronic music, 20th century classical, punk, African music etc. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 26 2023 at 10:25
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My favorite music autobiographies are by musical conductors: Bruno Walter-Theme and Variations-Autobiography Of A Conductor Sir Thomas Beecham-A Mingled Chime |
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: February 26 2023 at 14:21
| My big brother gifted me, "No One Here Gets Out Alive" - Jim Morrison biography. I was twelve. The book seemed full of taboo, mysticism, and excitement. I had no idea Jim's dad was a navy admiral. Well told tale. |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: February 26 2023 at 19:02
| ^ I read most of it a long time ago but for some reason never finished it. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: February 28 2023 at 01:03
Hi, For me, it was a great book, although it was exhausting at times. I have always loved the band a lot, and it is one of my special listens, and one that rarely gets boring ... after 50+ years, the music still is exciting and vibrant, and one reads that book wondering. But seeing the hardships is tough. They say that art and life go together, with all kinds of pain, and when you see the things happening at the Whiskey and other places for this band, and likely many other bands that we have never heard about ... the well known punk scene that Penelope Spheeris showed us, was black listed a lot ... though for what would be considered valid reasons. But somehow, a lot of the art surrounding it, made it. And a lot of credit goes to the members of the band, however, the sad drinking is tough to deal with after a while. By the time the drugs are added over it, the book, becomes sad and a very difficult read, even though, you hear the most amazing music coming out of it all ... something that we still remember! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: MortSahlFan
Date Posted: February 28 2023 at 05:35
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I guess someone should change the title from "Autobiography" Jim
Morrison -- I'd recommend "Summer With Morrison" by Dennis Jakob and
"Friends Gathered Together" by Frank Lisciandro... Also recommend the
two books from his high school years (Clearwater and DC). ------------- https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List |
Posted By: starless2112
Date Posted: February 28 2023 at 19:01
| Nick Mason's Inside Out |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: March 01 2023 at 06:55
Hi, I kinda thought that the best part in this book, was the pictures and its presentation. It was beautifully done, and cool, and not pretentious or talking about his fame. It's not a book with a lot of history, or informative anything, but it is a fun read. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |