Books
Books about rock music are a lively genre in the publishing industry. Our reviewers report on the latest artist biographies and autobiographies as well as books about the music and its history, and other reads of interest to classic rock fans
‘Rise and Fall of Classic Rock’: A Must-Read
Kent Hartman’s book, Goodnight, L.A., sheds light on the city’s recording scene in the ’70s and ’80s, with scores of interviews with the stars
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Review: The New Bio That Jann Wenner Hates
It’s “an ambitious, dishy, well-written biography, with a backstory worthy of its subject.” So why is the Rolling Stone magazine founder so unhappy with it?
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Lou Reed ‘A Life’: An Exemplary Biography
“The Lou Reed that inhabits this book is powerfully drawn, from moment to moment deeply appealing and appalling,” says our reviewer.
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Woodstock: Mecca That Gave the Festival Its Name
In Small Town Talk, author Barney Hoskyns examines the upstate NY town, the spiritual – and literal – home to dozens of rock greats
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Los Lobos Get a ‘Dream’ of a Book
Los Angeles music writer Chris Morris authored a musical biography of the Mexican-American rock group, “Dream In Blue,” that honors their notable stature.
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How Music Got Free: The End of The Biz
How did the recorded music industry go from raking in big bucks to imploding? How Music Got Free tells the whole sordid tale like a gripping mystery.
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So Many Roads Brings The Grateful Dead Into Sharp Focus
In So Many Roads author David Browne delves into the “long strange trip” of the Grateful Dead and makes sense of it all in a “smart & satisfying” band bio
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Viv Albertine’s ‘Fascinating’ Punk Rock Memoir
Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press) In A Word: Unsparing If you were a fan of the Slits and their sui generis, serrated, feral music, it should come as
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Mick Fleetwood’s ‘Play On’ Book: All About the Love
The Mac leader’s bio a very touching love story about his deep and abiding affection for music, drumming, his band and its current and past players
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