Yesterday, I finished reading Geddy Lee's amazing and Diamond Certified autobiography, My Effin' Life. If you have even a modicum of interest in the band Rush - or are seeking a personal account of the toll of the Holocaust on one family - this is a must-read. It is powerful enough that I found myself in tears more than once while reading its 500+ pages. Which went by in a flash, BTW.
Given my knowledge of Geddy, Rush, and his/their continual quest for excellence, my expectations were sky-high.
Yet, they were exceeded. Indeed, it is one of the best autobiographies I have read.
But there have been and are a whole bunch of reviews of this book (here's one), so let's do something a bit different. I thought many at least one or two of you would like to see an annotated list of many of the rock autobiographies I've enjoyed over the years, grouped by band or individual.
And not enjoyed. Unsurprisingly, there are quite a few that could have been left unwritten.
Let's begin with a couple from the latter category.
THE ROLLING STONES
Title: Life Author: Keith Richards Rating: Bogus Notes: Page after page of Keef droning on about how he came up with the riff for "Brown Sugar" and whatnot, as well as regaling us with tales of his frequent enjoyment of pharmaceutical-grade cocaine, grew very tiresome. Even for a big Stones fan.
Title: Stone Alone Author: Bill Wyman Rating: Bogus Notes: This book was long and mostly stupid. Published soon after Bill had married a teenager (1989) and left the Stones (1993), it's a lot like Keith Richards's book. Except instead of riffs and coke, you get to enjoy chapter and verse of Bill's MANY sexual dalliances, both on tour, and off. Boring and Mr. Wyman should have kept this stuff filed away in his dirty old mind.
AEROSMITH
Title: Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? Author: Steven Tyler Rating: Killer Notes: I loved Mr. Tyler's self-effacing prose, the inside-baseball information on what it takes to keep his voice going, and the detail about how a modern superstar act tours. (Example: I learned that, for years, Aerosmith would stay in a Four Seasons or equivalent in a centralized location, and then be driven or flown by helicopter to the concert venue. Think staying in Dallas for shows there, and for those in Austin, San Antonio and Houston, too. Brilliant.)
Title: Rocks Author: Joe Perry Rating: Serviceable Notes: Or, put another way - meh. Hearing more about the drug problems in the band, and the toll it took, was OK and moderately interesting. And listening to your side of the constant battles with Steven over the volume of your guitar (he always thinks it's too loud) was almost compelling. But the whining about how your wife Billie was dissed by the wives of your bandmates grew tiresome. I wonder who encouraged that to be included?
THE BEACH BOYS This situation is slightly different because the genius Brian Wilson has published two autobiographies. But only one is legitimate.
And then there is Beach Boys singer Mike Love, who only graced us with one. Luckily.
Title: Wouldn't It Be Nice Author: Brian Wilson Rating: Bogus and Faux Notes: I really shouldn't give this now-discredited book any sunlight. If you know anything about Mr. Wilson, you know he has been troubled by mental illness his entire life. This book captures Brian's rebound in the 1980s, a rebound facilitated by Dr. Eugene Landy, who was appointed his guardian during this period. While Landy may have saved Brian's life - at the time he weighed approximately 350 pounds and was hooked on any of a variety of substances - Eugene Landy was a charlatan and master manipulator. He turned Brian against his family (i.e., The Beach Boys) and attempted to run his life. The band finally wrested control of Brian away in the 1990s. So, another book was appropriate . . .
Title: I Am Author: Brian Wilson Rating: Killer Notes: Far different than the above, I could literally hear Brian's voice in my head as I read this, a proper and accurate autobiography by a titan of 20th-century music. Anyone interested in this seminal American band, and Mr. Wilson's central role in it, will enjoy this book.
Title: Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy Author: Mike Love Rating: Serviceable Notes: Oh, Mike. Your efforts to set the record straight after all of these years is . . . OK. You do a good job of tamping down age-old rumors that you don't respect Brian much. In fact, in this book, you (on more than one occasion even!) deem your cousin Wilson the genius that he is. And anyone who knows The Beach Boys fully recognizes your contributions already, without you reminding us - over and over. There's a Fredo Corleone-like "I'm smart! I can do things, too!" quality throughout that gets old. And Mike, no matter: Everyone thinks you're a prick, no matter how many times you tell us you're not.
THE WHO
Title: Thanks A Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite Author: Roger Daltrey Rating: Diamond Certified Notes: Named in honor of a school headmaster who told him he'd be nothing in life, Thanks A Lot is unique for a rockstar's memoir, in that it is very humble. Daltrey came from the lower stratum of British society and openly acknowledges throughout the book that it was Pete Townshend's mad skills that made the band. I could not get over the sincerity with which Roger described how seriously he took giving a voice to Mr. Townshend's words. Along with My 'Effin Life, this is my favorite autobiography by a musician.
Title: Who I Am Author: Pete Townshend Rating: Bogus Notes: This book is just like Keef's, in that I love The Who (like I love The Rolling Stones) but this book sucks, too. In fact, I like it less than A Life, which is saying something. God does Pete go on. He covers his wild drug and alcohol abuse, and the creative process involved in most of their famous albums, but with far too much detail on both. Then there are the voluminous pages on their management and contracts. TMI! Most boring was how much of the book circles around him coming out as bisexual. Yawn.
ERIC CLAPTON Title: Eric Clapton: The Autobiography Author: IQ test much? Rating: Bogus Notes: Really, all you need to know is right there in the title. Although Eric Clapton: The Arrogance would have been more accurate. But the book's actual moniker reveals this ego- and bitch-fest from Slowhand for what it is: A narcissistic (even for an autobio) fucking bore of a book. Lowpoint: reading ad nauseam about his disappointment with his new 150' megayacht. Maybe keep that to yourself? Or at least not publish it, you know, in your autobiography?
But let's not end on a sour note. Whoops - sorry.
Here's a fun and easy one - for me to recommend, and for you to read.
TALKING HEADS Title: Remain in Love Author: Chris Frantz Rating: Killer Notes: This is a mostly light and thoroughly enjoyable book written by the drummer of Talking Heads. It is also a love story, as the relationship between Chris and Tina Weymouth, the band's bassist, predates the group itself, and they've now been married for decades. And despite the recent rapprochement during the PR tour for the 2023 release of Stop Making Sense in 4K, Frantz does a great job of highlighting what a general pain David Byrne was. This book is great for any fan of the band or even just adorable and awesome bass players. Although I'm talking about Tina, and not Geddy.
FROM THE UNWASHED MASSES
I try to stay away from things like this, because they inflame me - like instantly. So, thanks, Arthur - who sent this is in via the modern telegraph.
But I share it here, because it's just so true. Objectively m-f'ing true. You know, like the truth.
Nothing new here, but he wraps it up very succinctly.
Rush, but not. Here is their brilliant Feedback. It is an album where some of the best musicians in rock history cover some of the best songs in rock history. Too much Rush on KLUF? You're reading the wrong blog.
