Book Review

I am one of those music fans who, when in the midst of a heated obsession with an artist (and over the years there have been thousands), must immerse myself in everything having to do with that artist. That of course meant many trips to the bookstore and library during my high school years (for those of you youngsters out there, a bookstore is where we used to get books before there was amazon.com, and a library is where we went to get information on stuff, before there was an Internet). I loved a great rock ‘n roll biography.That love for a good rock n roll biography had been long forgotten until recently when I picked up David Crosby’s Stand And Be Counted. It was a book written in 2000 about some of the most historical and dramatic musical events that changed America. Most of which, of course, David Crosby was there to witness first hand. It’s a rich and wonderful collection of stories, all told from a bunch of different artists, interviewed by Crosby & David Bender, both of whom lived it. It’s a great read, and though I won’t get into how pumped it got me about being even more politically aware and active, it reminded me about how awesome it is to read behind-the-scenes stories of rock ‘n roll. I decided to take a stroll through my own personal library of rock ‘n roll books and compile a list of some of my personal favorites.

Pearl: The Obsessions & Passions of Janis Joplin by Ellis Amburn- Let’s say right off the bat, I’m a sucker for any rock biography where a large chunk takes place in San Francisco, and this is no exception. I was a junior in high school when I first picked this up, and it gave me such insight into this amazing woman who truly was the queen of rock ‘n roll, and also one of the music’s greatest losses.

One More Saturday Night by Sandy Troy- Like Janis, The Grateful Dead were really in the middle of one of the most electric times in music history, and I am a sucker for any rock ‘n roll biography that describes so beautifully what it was like to be living that life during the sixties and seventies.

Caught In The Crossfire by Joe Nick Patoski & Bill Crawford- This is probably one of the most emotional biographies I’ve ever read. Stevie Ray Vaughan’s story is such a beautiful one, and these authors tell it well. I still get goose bumps when I think about the chapter in which Stevie, after years of alcohol and drug abuse, plays music for the first time SOBER. Amazing story, too tragic of an ending.

The Lizard King: The Essential Jim Morrison by Jerry Hopkins – This is not the only Morrison biography I’ve read, but it is my favorite. Morrison was one of the most amazing and creative artists of his time and Jerry Hopkins captures him well. A companion to Hopkin’s first Morrison book, No One Here Gets Out Alive.

Electric Gypsy by Harry Shapiro – This is the definitive Jimi Hendrix book. A must have for any fan of Jimi’s. It’s obscene amount of information is spectacular and a must read for any musician who wants an idea of how Jimi captured his trademark sound.

Why Sinatra Matters by Pete Hamill- I’ve read a couple of books on Sinatra over the years, but this one written immediately following his death in 1998, truly captured the essence of one of the most legendary icons of music, and why he mattered so much to so many.

Bill Graham Presents by Robert Greenfield- Oh, how many concert ticket stubs do I have that say those words? This is my all time favorite rock ‘n roll biography. How does a young Jewish boy escape the Nazi’s and arrive in America only to become the most legendary concert promoter of all time? You’ll know after you’ve read this tale that includes some of the best behind the scenes stories of some of the greatest artists from the late fifties all the way to Bill Graham’s untimely death in 1991. You could never find a more compelling look at the history of rock ‘n roll than this book.

Have you read any good rock n roll books lately?

Comments (2)