Your favourite rock biography?

Scar Tissue - Anthony Keidis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

It's amazing how anyone can do so many drugs and build a career with one of the most amazing rock bands of the 1980s and be still alive.

...and it's surprisingly engaging, with jaw-dropping stories of car accidents, jumping from high buildings and sex...

Jim and TF

I'm taking the liberty to pass your comments about In the Court of King Crimson to Sid, I know he appreciates these unsolicited thing and doesn't affect his wonderfully small ego.

Sid Smith's book is excellent - best he writtes extremely well, doesn't treat the reader as a fool and is not shy of providing insightful criticisms of his favourite band - too often rock biographers are fans who can't escape the fanzine (ie. 1500 word max vocabulary)/sychophantic style of writing.

Mike Barnes Captain Beefheart biography is particular good. Lost In The Woods Syd Barrett's bio is excellent and a rather good social history of the London Underground in the mid /late 60's. Ian MacDonald Revolution In The Head is a very good analysis of the lyrics of the Beatles tunes is a very good, and because the research provides a great social history of British popular culture.

I'm afraid there are too many poor biographies of  bigger players in the prog rock industry: yet to find a satisfactory one on Yes (Chris Welch's was the last I read, and he had to keep mentioning he is a friend of the band......................). I found Rick Wakeman's autobiog disappointing - in part because in TV interviews he has told much stronger, risque  stories. In passing, biographies on U2 and Queen have been found in remainder bookshops - and after reading them I realised why they have been discounted down to 2 quid for a hardback! Vivian Stantiall's biog Ginger Geezer finds Chris Welch as co-author being more objective.

RICK WAKEMAN - THE CAPED CRUSADER

ALICE COOPER - ME, ALICE

IAN GILLAN - CHILD IN TIME

DAVID BYRON - BORN TO PERFORM

Any book about prog you want to know about...

Go here:

http://www.progbibliography.de

Or course my favorite page there is:  http://www.progbibliography.de/elp.htm

And this is pretty interesting there:

II. In the making

Macan, Edward L.: The Endless Enigma: A Musical Biography of Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
          (a manuscript of 17 chapters already exists. The book will cover the band' history
           from their recording sessions for their first album in June 1970 to their final implosion
           in December 1998, and Macan is currently finishing a short section detailing their activities
           during the past four years. The book is going to be both a biography of the band and a critical
           survey of all of the ELP albums (including ELPowell and Three), as well as of the solo work of
           Emerson, Lake and Palmer individually. Find out more here. Thanks to Edward L. Macan.)

marktheshark wrote: If prog, I'd say "Pictures of an Exhibitionist" by Keith. As far as rock in general I'd go with "The Beatles Anthology". If your looking at Yes, don't go anway near the Yesspeak DVD. It sucks! I know books are better but if want a good doc video on Yes, try and get an out-of print VHS copy of the 1990 Yessyears video. This was done during the Union tour, so it covers more ground interviewing past and present members. Bill Bruford is a real kick with his dry sense of humor (did you know the opening of Yours Is No Disgrace was inspired by the theme song to Bonanza?).

yesyears dvd has been released...so don't go copying some old vhstape and just order the dvd instead!