Just about every classic rock star out there has a memoir or two under their belt. However, these four classic rock memoirs are simply on another level; and we think they’re worth reading at least once, especially for fans of their subjects. Let’s take a look at a few of the best classic rock memoirs out there!
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1. ‘Moonage Day Dream’
It makes perfect sense why David Bowie would have at least one memoir out in the world; the man had a crazy life. Naturally, in good ol’ David Bowie fashion, the 2002 memoir Moonage Daydream: The Life And Times Of Ziggy Stardust is anything but direct.
Bowie always enjoyed putting clips of his life into music, so the idea of a formal memoir would ruin the mystery that remained. This memoir reads more like a coffee table artbook than anything else, and the tidbits you’ll find in this piece of work are nothing short of memorable.
2. ‘Just Kids’
A fan favorite for a reason, Just Kids by Patti Smith is one of the most captivating classic rock memoirs you’ll find. This memoir specifically chronicles Smith’s relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe.
“I didn’t write it to be cathartic, I wrote it because Robert asked me to,” said Smith of the book. “Our relationship was such that I knew what he would want and the quality of what he deserved. So that was my agenda for writing that book. I wrote it to fulfill my vow to him, which was on his deathbed. In finishing, I did feel that I’d fulfilled my promise.”
3. ‘Many Years From Now’
This memoir is technically an authorized biography, meaning its subject Paul McCartney likely didn’t contribute much if anything to it. Still, Many Years From Now by Barry Miles deserves a spot on this list simply because of how crystal-clear the depictions of McCartney’s life with The Beatles are in this book.
If you’re a songwriting nerd, you might just love all of the insider tidbits and notes in this memoir, considering many of them deal with the concepts and origins behind some of the Fab Four’s best works.
4. ‘Life’
For lovers of pulpy novels and excess, this is one of the top classic rock memoirs to read. Life by Keith Richards details the debauchery, hedonism, and wild times of the legendary guitarist from The Rolling Stones.
He’s a man full of stories, and decades of those stories and explored in depth throughout Life. It’s not the most vulnerable piece of work, but it is incredibly entertaining.
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