Reading on Rock: four books for when the “artist bio” section simply isn’t enough

By Grace Roberts

Sometimes an obsession with a band or artist is so great that listening to their discography on repeat isn’t enough — we need to know everything, from when they played their first gig in college to the never-before-disclosed information about a bandmate’s sudden disappearance. And the best way to do this isn’t through looking through Apple Music’s description on their Essentials Playlist, or scouring Pitchfork, though those are great places to start. In this instance, we turn to biographies and memoirs, of which there are an ever-increasing amount, often taking the concept of music industry marketing to a whole new level.

Much like releasing promotional material such as merchandise or special vinyl editions, books which chronicle the careers of music-world icons promote the subject’s work and serve to provide a more comprehensive portrait of their impact on the industry. This often has the effect of driving music sales and spiking streaming, not to mention the advantage of selling a la carte when contrasted with the minimalism of streaming royalties. But in particular genres like rock, the release of memoirs and autobiographies serves to illuminate a genre and a certain kind of lifestyle which has been glorified for decades, bringing the reality a little closer to the surface. There’s no lack of recognition that life often looked like a movie for some of these beloved artists, but these books go beyond the stage and into the recording studio, the houses, and even the relationships of their authors and subjects.

There is also something to be said for releasing works which serve to highlight the craft, not the gossip. While the salacious tidbits tend to do well for trendability and shock factor, there are many details about the inner workings of artistic creation that are largely unknown until memoirs like these get released. Whether it’s the process of making music, the tools used to do so, or the inspiration behind the creation, this is a different kind of storytelling. Below, four books about rock icons which contain more than just the history of their hit singles.

Set the Boy Free: The Autobiography by Johnny Marr

Considering The Smiths finished when legendary guitarist Johnny Marr was only 23 years old, the 500 plus pages of this book boast a lot more than just the tour stories of the legendary British guitarist. Despite containing a rapid-fire deluge of story after story, Marr’s concentration is not on gossip or industry drama, but on his process, the development of his technique on stage and in the studio, and his evolution of inspirations.

This autobiography is not a recounting of the gory details of The Smiths’ downfall, making it personal but not full of gossip, and it’s clear that its intended audience is those interested in the making of his music, not every detail of the fame and pitfalls that came with it. It’s comprehensive and direct, though Marr’s deep love of his craft is what makes this tome so readable. Whether you want to know how Marr wrote three hit songs in one weekend or how he collaborated with so many other artists, this autobiography is a fantastic look into someone who essentially had a career’s worth of music by his mid-20’s — and then simply kept going.

My Effin’ Life by Geddy Lee

The forward momentum of Canadian prog-rock band Rush came to a screeching halt in 2015 with the retirement and subsequent tragic death of their drummer, Neil Peart, though the band hadn’t enjoyed the same kind of musical production since around the early nineties. But this memoir is about frontman Geddy Lee, known for his insane vocals and stage presence, going all the way back to his childhood and family struggles. The book is candid and enlightening because it goes so much deeper than simply what shot a couple of Canadian rockers to fame.

This is not an autobiography but was produced by Lee nonetheless, making it incredibly personal and additionally containing some thinly-veiled jabs at various industry people who Lee sparred with, and plenty of raucous gossip about the kinds of things that went down in the trailers after shows. At nearly 500 pages, this is a tell-all that puts the focus on how Lee’s personal life affected and was affected by his presence in Rush, and how the band evolved over four decades of rock.

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl may very well be one of music’s most interesting characters — with a career that includes both Nirvana and Foo Fighters, it would be difficult to find an element of Grohl’s life that isn’t steeped in music iconography and lore. The tone and cadence of this book mirrors Grohl’s stage presence: unfiltered, comic, and poetic without trying. It carefully recounts both the mundane (how KFC is best paired with champagne) and the glamorous (there are plenty of name drops) which has the effect of making this an incredibly engaging and heartfelt read.

Given his affinity for writing lyrics, it’s unsurprising how easily the humor and introspection shine through in Grohl’s writing, whether in discussing his personal process or a whirlwind night post-show. Considering this was released recently, in 2021, the response and popularity of this autobiography in particular has been enormous, and if there’s any piece off of this list to pick up first, it’s certainly this one.

Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono

With one of the most dedicated fan bases in music, U2 and their rise to fame is candidly and painstakingly recounted in Bono’s autobiography. One of the most unique aspects of the book is Bono’s description of his history with social issues, and the ways in which his art and music have been able to support non-profit organizations and raise an extraordinary amount of recognition and money for charities. It’s an essential aspect of his personal history and a massive element of the band’s popularity and brand, and it’s worth noting the time this book spends on it.

Managing the balancing act of chronicling his own rise to fame and personal ups and downs with the frankly meteoric rise to fame of U2, Bono really does surrender a great deal in this piece. The audiobook version has received much acclaim, given it’s narrated by Bono himself, so if you want to consume this in the same way you consume your music, you can’t go wrong.