The Best Autobiographies Of Musicians

I’m inspired to build a reading list of the best autobiographies of musicians because musicians are some of the most fascinating people in the world. They have a unique perspective on life, and their creativity often leads them to places that others would never go. As a result, their autobiographies can be incredibly enlightening. By reading about the lives of musicians, we can learn about their creative processes, their inspirations, and the challenges they’ve faced along the way.

We can also gain insight into the music industry, and how it has changed over time. In addition, musicians’ autobiographies often provide a candid look at the ups and downs of fame and fortune. As such, they offer an invaluable glimpse into the human experience. Whether you’re a fan of music or not, there’s a lot to be learned from the autobiographies of musicians.

Here are the best autobiographies of musicians…

Life by Keith Richards

Keith Richards is a musician best known for his work with the Rolling Stones. He is also a songwriter, producer, and actor. He began playing the guitar at an early age and soon began performing with local bands. In 1962, he met Mick Jagger and the two formed the Rolling Stones.

The band quickly rose to popularity, and they have released numerous albums over the years. Keith has also been active as a solo artist, releasing his first album in 1979. He continues to perform and tour with the Rolling Stones today. His autobiography is full of disarming honesty and he gives an unfiltered account of his eventful life.

Jimmy Page by Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page is a musician best known for his work as the lead guitarist of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Raised in London, he began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and soon developed a keen interest in blues and rock music. In 1966, he formed Led Zeppelin with fellow musician John Bonham.

Over the next decade, the band became one of the most successful and influential rock groups of all time, selling millions of records and performing in packed stadiums around the world. Page’s signature style of guitar playing, which made heavy use of distortion and feedback, was a key element in Led Zeppelin’s sound, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. In recent years, he has continued to perform and record as a solo artist.

Broken Music by Sting

Sting is a musician who was born in England in 1951. He rose to fame as the lead singer of The Police, a band that was active from 1977 to 1984. The Police were incredibly successful, selling over 75 million records and winning multiple Grammy Awards. After the group disbanded, Sting pursued a solo career and achieved even greater success.

He has released 14 solo albums, won multiple Grammys, and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Sting is also an accomplished actor, appearing in films such as Quadrophenia and Dune. He has also been involved in various philanthropic endeavours, including supporting human rights and environmental causes. Sting is truly a renaissance man, and he continues to be a powerful force in the entertainment industry.

Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis

Miles Davis was one of the most important and influential musicians of the 20th century. A trumpeter and bandleader, he was at the forefront of several major stylistic changes in jazz, including bebop, cool jazz, and fusion. Davis recorded over 90 albums during his career, and his work helped to redefine the sound of American music. Born in Alton, Illinois, in 1926, Davis began playing the trumpet at an early age.

He moved to New York City in 1944 to attend the Julliard School of Music, but he soon dropped out to pursue a career in jazz. Davis quickly became one of the most sought-after musicians in the city, and he made his first recordings with Charlie Parker in 1945.

Over the next few years, Davis continued to play with Parker and other leading figures in jazz, including Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. In 1949, he made his first solo album, “Miles Ahead,” which signalled the start of a long and successful solo career. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Davis continued to experiment with different styles of jazz, spurred on by his restlessness and ambition.

He enjoyed great success with albums like “Kind of Blue” (1959) and “In a Silent Way” (1969), and he became one of the most revered figures in American music. In the 1970s and 1980s, Davis’s health began to decline, but he continued to record and perform until his death in 1991. Today, his legacy as one of the greatest musicians of all time is secure.

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl is a musician who is best known for being the drummer for the rock band Nirvana. He was born in Warren, Ohio, on January 14, 1969. When he was a teenager, he started playing the drums in local bands. In 1990, he joined Nirvana, and the band quickly rose to fame with their album Nevermind. After the death of Kurt Cobain, Nirvana’s lead singer, Grohl decided to focus on his own music.

He released his first album with his band Foo Fighters in 1995. Since then, he has released eight more albums with the band. He has also worked with a number of other artists, including Paul McCartney and Queens of the Stone Age. In 2013, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Nirvana.

Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz

The Beastie Boys are one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time. Comprised of Adam Horovitz, Mike Diamond, and the late Adam Yauch, the group rose to fame in the mid-1980s with their debut album Licensed to Ill. The album was a massive success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart and becoming the first rap album to sell over a million copies.

The group’s follow-up albums, Paul’s Boutique and Check Your Head, were also critical and commercial successes. In addition to their musical achievements, the Beastie Boys were also known for their support of various social and political causes. Unfortunately, Adam Yauch passed away in 2012 after a battle with cancer. Despite this tragic loss, the Beastie Boys continue to be remembered as one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.

I, Tina by Tina Turner

Tina Turner is a musician who has been popular for many years. She was born in 1939 in Nutbush, Tennessee. Her family was very poor, and she began working in the fields when she was only six years old. When she was sixteen, she married musician Ike Turner and soon became a part of his band.

The couple had a very tumultuous relationship, and Tina eventually left Ike and pursued a solo career. She achieved great success with her album Private Dancer, which sold more than twenty million copies worldwide. In recent years, Tina has continued to perform and tour, and she remains one of the most popular musicians of all time.

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

Anthony Kiedis is a musician best known as the lead singer of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis was born in Michigan in 1962, but he was raised in Los Angeles. His mother was an actress and his father was a producer and director. Kiedis has been a part of the Red Hot Chili Peppers since their formation in 1983.

The group has released 11 studio albums and has won six Grammy Awards. Outside of his work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kiedis has also pursued a solo career and published a best-selling autobiography, Scar Tissue. This autobiography was described as ‘thoughtful, candid, and entertaining’ by GQ magazine.

Decoded by Jay Z

Jay-Z is one of the most successful rappers of all time. Born Shawn Carter in Brooklyn, New York, he rose to prominence in the 1990s with a string of hits that established him as one of the biggest names in hip hop. Jay-Z has since gone on to release more than a dozen studio albums, selling millions of records, and win 21 Grammy Awards.

He is also widely considered to be one of the greatest rappers of all time and has been credited with helping to bring hip hop into the mainstream. In addition to his musical success, Jay-Z is also a successful businessman, with interests in fashion, sports, and entertainment. He is married to singer Beyonce Knowles, with whom he has three children.

Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen is an iconic musician who has been entertaining audiences for decades. Born in New Jersey in 1949, Springsteen began playing music in local clubs as a teenager. He soon developed a devoted following, and by the early 1970s he had released his debut album, “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” The album was a critical and commercial success, and it launched Springsteen’s career.

Over the next few years, he released a string of hugely successful albums, including “The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle,” “Born to Run,” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” Springsteen is known for his high-energy live shows, and he has toured extensively throughout his career. He has also won numerous awards, including twenty Grammy Awards and an Oscar. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Springsteen is also active in social and political causes. He is a vocal supporter of human rights and has spoken out against racism, poverty, and injustice. Springsteen remains an immensely popular figure, and his music continues to resonate with fans all over the world.

Just Kids by Patti Smith

Patti Smith is a musician who has been active since the late 1960s. She was born in Chicago in 1946, and she began her musical career in Detroit in the late 1960s. She moved to New York City in 1974, where she became an important figure in the city’s punk rock scene. In 1975, she released her debut album, Horses, which is regarded as one of the most influential albums of all time.

Smith continued to release albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Wave (1979), Easter (1978), and Dream of Life (1988). In 1996, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and she continues to tour and release music today. Her autobiography was the winner of the National Book Award and was described as ‘quirky and spellbinding’ by People Magazine.

Clapton by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is a musician who is best known for his work with the band Cream. He was born in England in 1945 and began playing the guitar at an early age. He first gained attention as a member of the Yardbirds, and he later joined John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. In 1966, he formed the power trio Cream with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. The group became one of the most successful bands of the 1960s, selling millions of records and performing to sold-out audiences around the world.

After Cream disbanded in 1968, Clapton embarked on a solo career that has spanned five decades and produced some of the greatest music ever recorded. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times. Eric Clapton is a true legend of rock ‘n’ roll, and his contributions to music will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

Cash by Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash was a musician who rose to prominence in the mid-20th century. He was known for his distinctive voice and his pioneering style of country music. Cash was born in 1932 in Arkansas, and he began his musical career in the 1950s. He achieved success with a series of hit songs, including “I Walk the Line” and “Ring of Fire.”

Cash also had a major impact on the development of rock music, and he collaborated with many other influential musicians, including Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison. He died in 2003, but his music continues to be popular around the world. In his autobiography Johnny Cash sets the record straight, dispelling myths and looking back on his incredible life.

Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein

Carrie Brownstein is a musician, actress, writer, and director best known for her work with the band Sleater-Kinney. She first gained attention as a member of the punk rock band Excuse 17 before forming Sleater-Kinney with fellow musician Corin Tucker. The band released seven albums between 1994 and 2005 and was widely acclaimed for their feminist and left-leaning politics.

Brownstein also appeared in the satirical sketch comedy series “Portlandia” from 2011 to 2018. In recent years, she has directed music videos for artists such as St. Vincent and Laura Marling. Brownstein is currently working on a memoir about her life in music, due to be published in 2020.

Questlove: Mo Meta Blues by Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson

Questlove is a musician, producer, and author who is best known as the co-founder and drummer of the hip hop band The Roots. He has also worked with a number of other artists, including Jay-Z, Erykah Badu, and Al Green. In addition to his work as a musician, Questlove is also an accomplished author.

His books include “Mo’ Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove” and “Creative Quest.” Questlove is a highly respected figure in the music industry, and his work has earned him a Grammy Award and multiple BET Awards. Of Questlove, Robert Christgau said, “You have to bear in mind that [Questlove] is one of the smartest motherf*****s on the planet. His musical knowledge, for all practical purposes, is limitless.”

Journals by Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain was a musician who rose to fame as the frontman of the grunge band Nirvana. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, Cobain began playing music at a young age and formed Nirvana with bassist Krist Novoselic in 1987. The band released their debut album Bleach in 1989, but it was their second album, Nevermind, which propelled them to superstardom.

Released in 1991, Nevermind featured the monster hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and helped to popularize the grunge movement. Cobain became known for his anguished lyrics and raw guitar playing, as well as his troubled personal life. He struggled with heroin addiction and depression, and he died of an apparent suicide in 1994. Cobain’s legacy continues to live on through Nirvana’s music, which continues to speak to generations of fans.

I Put A Spell On You by Nina Simone

Nina Simone was a musician who defied expectations and genres. Classically trained on the piano, she incorporated elements of gospel, blues, jazz, and folk into her music. She is perhaps best known for her civil rights anthem “Mississippi Goddam,” which was written in response to the 1963 assassination of Medgar Evers and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

However, Simone’s catalogue encompasses a wide range of emotions and experiences, from the heartbreak of lost love to the joy of taking risks. Her unique voice and approach to music have inspired generations of artists, and her legacy continues to live on through her music.

Bob Dylan: Chronicles, Volume 1

Bob Dylan is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1941, and his family soon moved to Hibbing. It was there that he first began to develop his love for music, inspired by the likes of Little Richard and Elvis Presley. In 1959, he moved to New York City to pursue his musical career. It was there that he met influential figures such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, who would help to shape his sound.

In 1962, he released his debut album, which featured the now-iconic song “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Over the course of his career, Dylan has released 39 studio albums, winning multiple Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He remains an influential force in music today, with his unique blend of folk, rock, and blues.

Music has always been an important part of human culture. It is a way to express emotion and share experiences. It can bring people together and help them to feel connected to something larger than themselves. Music can also be a powerful tool for communication and self-expression. For musicians, it is a way to share their talents and connect with their audience. Music can also be used to educate and entertain. It can teach people about other cultures and help them to understand the world around them. In short, music is a powerful force that can have a profound impact on our lives.

If you enjoyed this reading list of the best autobiographies of musicians, you may also want to check out the best books for aspiring musicians.