I really don’t read books very often, but when I do it is typically Rock Autobiographies. As the topic was hinted at by a few others I’m thinking I’m not the only one with this passion. If you’re into this sort of thing, please share what some of your favorites are.
A few of my favorites . . .
“I Am OZZY”
“12 Days on the Road with the Sex Pistols” by Noel Monk (one of the tour managers and band handlers)
“DIRT” by Motley Crue
“Shut Up and Give Me the Mic” by Dee Snider
Honorable Mention:
“White Line Fever” Lemmy
“Save Me From Myself” Brian ‘Head’ Welch
“Got The Life” Fieldy
“CASH” by Johnny Cash
I’m still working on “Rotten” (Johnny Lydon) and “MUSTAINE”.
Gene Simmons’ is predictably tired and lame.
Also “Run To The Hills” (the authorized biography of Iron Maiden) is for only the geekiest of geeks and will put even the most hopeless insomniac into a coma.
I also like the Chuck Klosterman books quite a bit (“Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs” and “Fargo Rock City”). Not written by a rock star, but still good sarcastic first hand telling of tales and spitting of venom.
“Hellbent for Leather” by Seb Hunter is really great too! It’s written by a guy who became obsessed with metal as a kid and then was determined to make it in some crappy glam band. It’s a hilarious account of what it was probably like for the other 99% of wannabes that just “never got their big break”.
I’ve heard this is an eye opening and engrossing read - even for those (like myself) who HATE The Crue. The details of Nikki Sixx’s abusive family history are supposed to be somewhat intriguing.
Any fucked up shit happen in the book that you can remember? Did they really party that hard and out of control?
Have you considered reading “Scar Tissue” by Anthony Kiedis?
I’ve heard this is an eye opening and engrossing read - even for those (like myself) who HATE The Crue. The details of Nikki Sixx’s abusive family history are supposed to be somewhat intriguing.
“Dirt” is a really unique and special variant of the rock autobiography in that you get 4 perspectives in one book. This makes things really funny where you have, for instance . . .
Mick Mars: “I’m drinking vodka on stage but I put it in a plastic water bottle so no one knows.”
Vince Neil: “There’s Mick again, drinking his vodka out of a water bottle as if we don’t know what he’s doing.”
Stuff like that. And yes, the EARLY accounts of the members is really cool for really all of them.
Any fucked up shit happen in the book that you can remember? Did they really party that hard and out of control?
Everyone remembers, if they read it, the “gross out contest” they had with Ozzy Osbourne (classic stuff), but the other part that always cracked me up is when they’re all living in some ramshackle dump off Sunset Blvd and they are all cheating on their girlfriends but banging a bunch of other skanks. They’re basically broke, but before they go home they buy a cheap burrito at Noggle’s and all dip their rods in it to throw off the scent of the other ho’s.
Have you considered reading “Scar Tissue” by Anthony Kiedis?
I’ve read it. I liked it a lot, especially the accounts of him growing up with his dad, Blackie.
I’ve heard this is an eye opening and engrossing read - even for those (like myself) who HATE The Crue. The details of Nikki Sixx’s abusive family history are supposed to be somewhat intriguing.
Any fucked up shit happen in the book that you can remember? Did they really party that hard and out of control?
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Indeed, NS’s family story is sad, including that of his sister.
They were completely out of control, over indulged in anything and everything they could ever want or need leading to one disaster after another (in some cases, very lucky they lived to tell the tale). There are some good things that happened along the way too.
Big fan of non-fiction, and I’ve noticed a lot of my reading habits dwell with those who are degenerates.
I have read some of the above, but also recommend:::
The Long Hard Road Out Of Hell (Marilyn Manson)
Red (Sammy Hagar)
Get In the Van (Henry Rollins)
The Soft Parade (John Densmore - The Doors)
Somebody to Love (Grace Slick)
Does the Noise In My Head Bother You (Steven Tyler)
Between a Rock & A Hard Place (Pat Benatar)
I also recommend The Dirt, on Motley Crue. I am not a Crue guy at all, but it is a disturbing, entertaining and actually quite humorous read. Neil Strauss is great at translating a lot of musicians thoughts to pen and paper.
Indeed, NS’s family story is sad, including that of his sister.
They were completely out of control, over indulged in anything and everything they could ever want or need leading to one disaster after another (in some cases, very lucky they lived to tell the tale). There are some good things that happened along the way too.
I honestly don’t remember the part about Sixxx’s sister.
But yes, there was some really heavy stuff in that book along with the predictable and often hilarious debauchery.
I really loved the honesty of that book. Vince made no qualms about the crap with him having killed Razzle from Hanoi Rocks in a drunken car wreck. He confesses that he was loaded as he went on to speak to kids about the dangers of drunk driving and talks about even in the midst of having killed someone continued to be a self-absorbed piece of crap.
Vince especially seemed to really be doing some soul cleansing with that book. But everyone was pretty open and spilt their guts with an admirable integrity.
I’ve come very close to buying this one many times and read short bursts of it in the book store. I’m kind of cautious of it, though, as it seems sort of like a bunch of hyperinflated bullcrap and hyperbole.
Do you think the non-fan (I’m not a hater of MM, I’m just kind of apathetic about his music, though I find him interesting as a person) would like this book as well?
I’ve come very close to buying this one many times and read short bursts of it in the book store. I’m kind of cautious of it, though, as it seems sort of like a bunch of hyperinflated bullcrap and hyperbole.
Do you think the non-fan (I’m not a hater of MM, I’m just kind of apathetic about his music, though I find him interesting as a person) would like this book as well?
It’s worth it. If you liked The Dirt, you’d most likely dig it. You can find pretty much all these books in this thread cheap on Amazon, I’m sure.
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It’s worth it. If you liked The Dirt, you’d most likely dig it. You can find pretty much all these books in this thread cheap on Amazon, I’m sure.
Thanks for the tip![/reply]
First half of Long hard road is bad ass. the last half is kinda meh.
if you can get it for 5 bucks with shipping I’d say do it. if not don’t bother, one day when you’re back at my pad I’ll loan it to ya.
You all have sold me on the Dirt though. One of my students read it and said it was great, but he’s a big old quiet metal head though so I took it with a grain of salt.
Slash’s Bio was ok probably disappointed with it because I knew a ton of that stuff already.
I think Adler’s Bio was better and I haven’t read Duffs yet. I probably won’t unless I can get it on the cheap.
Would love to read an Izzy stradlin bio if he ever wrote one. I would imagine the quietest dude in that band would have a ton of shit to say.
May pick up Kiedis’ book too based on the eye candy that you all have mentioned is in it… Lord knows I have no interest in the chili peppers
Connelly’s book Concrete, Bulletproof, Invisible + Fried: My Life as a Revolting Cock. LOVE IT. So Good.
I really enjoyed Hellbent For Leather too. Lots of fun. And I’m hardly a metal guy.
Trying to think if I’ve read any others and I’m coming up blank. I did read Kitty Kelley’s unauthorized biography of Frank Sinatra though. That’s good for a laugh. His mom did back-alley abortions in their basement if you didn’t know.