Inspired by the post regarding memoirs that Reader's Digest suggest reading, I decided to do my own version. It's completely optional to read the ones I mention. I only mention these because I personally like them and again, it's optional. There are memoirs out there that I wouldn't read only because they don't appeal to me, but that's all. I have nothing against them; they simply don't appeal to me, but they appeal to someone else and that's all that matters.
Here are some of the memoirs / biographies I have read that are worth reading
On the Edge: My Story by Richard Hammond
-Fans of the program Top Gear UK might like this one. It centers on the host most often called "Hamster", "Shorty" (by Jeremy Clarkson). He talks about his early days growing up in and around Birmingham, the early days of him working in radio and finally, getting the role of co-host on BBC's Top Gear. He talks until that fateful day in September 2006, when he was test running a jet engine-powered car called Vampire at an airstrip in York. Then his wife takes over, telling of her days taking care of their daughters Isabella aka "Izzy" and Willow
Red by Sammy Hagar
-Known by most if not all people as the "Red Rocker", because of his habit for wearing red, he has led an interesting life. He's been in both Van Halen and Montrose and led a highly successful career as a solo artist
What Does This Button Do? An Autobiography by Bruce Dickinson
-Known worldwide as the Air Raid Siren, for his unique high pitched vocals, Bruce Dickinson had a rather unique upbringing. Being born to two teenagers, he was sent to live with his maternal grandparents until his parents could get into a more financially stable state to raise a child. As he grew up, music fascinated him and as the years went on, he was in various bands, including Iron Maiden. He even pursued a highly successful solo career before rejoining Iron Maiden in 2000. It was in the mid-2000s that he suffered with a cancerous growth on his vocal cords that silenced him for a while
Run to the Hills: Iron Maiden, The Authorized Biography by Mick Wall
-Mick Wall is a writer at Britain-based magazine Classic Rock Magazine. He was the one who wrote the book with help from the band, former band mates, managers, etc. The band themselves, both current and former members, and management tell the story of how this now legendary metal band got its start in the working class East End neighborhood of Leytonstone, how it started with the idea and hard work of one man-Steve Harris. How he kept it going throughout the various changes in lineup, the ups and downs, what inspired each song and more
Confess by Rob Halford
-WARNING: This might make people a little uncomfortable only because he talks about what it is like to be a gay man. It can be explicit in some parts. Rob Halford knew he was going to be a gay man, even at ten years old, when he seemed to be attracted more to boys than girls. He tried to hide his homosexuality over the years, until it eventually pushed him to drugs and alcohol. Seeking help for his substance abuse issues in the 1980s, his band mates realized this was a cry for help. Later on, he realized the enormity of the situation when he accidentally outed himself on TV. He worried what the fans would think, but was relieved when the fans could care less who he loved. To them, he was still the Metal God
According to the Rolling Stones
-Very similar to the book above about Iron Maiden, this book lets the members of The Rolling Stones-guitarists Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, vocalist Mick Jagger and drummer Charlie Watts-tell the story of how this legendary rock band came to be. They each talk about their upbringing, the various bands they were in prior to The Rolling Stones and throughout the years the band was touring. They even talk about the 1980s, which seemed to be a difficult time for the band, as there was much fighting between vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards
Rainbow in the Dark by Ronnie James Dio
-This is, by far, the shortest one I have ever read. This book is written by former Dio, Black Sabbath and Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. He talks about growing up in a strongly Italian Catholic family in New York, how his fascination with the Italian Mob led to his using the moniker "Dio" as his stage name, and the various bands he was a part of over the years. The stories in this book are taken from notes he had over the years, a sort of diary he had kept. He talks about how he met his wife Wendy, who was a waitress at the Rainbow Bar in L.A. He talks about the ups and downs of each of the bands he was in. Ronnie even thinks of himself as a slight Anglophile because his wife Wendy is from England and his wife's country of birth is even reflected in the choice of words he would speak with
Into the Void by Geezer Butler
-This is a relatively new book I read recently. This is about Black Sabbath bassist Terence "Geezer" Butler. This book is written in his hand and talks about growing up in Birmingham, England. What it was like to grow up poor, in a strictly Irish Catholic house. How he would get made fun of by Irish kids when he would visit relatives in Ireland because he was English. He talks about the various bands he was in over the years, how he met his current wife, his kids and later on, his grandkids
It's So Easy and Other Lies by Duff McKagan
-Guns N Roses fans might like this one. Written by and about their bass player Michael "Duff" McKagan, he talks about growing up in the area of the Pacific Northwest we know of as Seattle. He talks about how punk was massive when he was young. How he had a dream of being a punk rocker. When he moved to L.A., he joined forces with the band that would now be known as Guns N Roses. Unfortunately, unlike the other band members, who developed drug addictions, Duff's drug of choice of alcohol. As the years went by, the alcohol took a toll on him. One day, he decided to leave his past self behind. Meaning, getting rid of the lock around his neck, that he wore as a homage to Sid Vicious, quit drinking and get himself in a healthy state. To this day, he is clean and sober
Glenn Hughes: From Deep Purple to Black Country Communion
-This is a straightforward look at drug addiction at, no pun intended, its highest power. Glenn talks frankly about drug addiction and what it did to him and what it cost him. He talks about the various bands he was in over the years, from his years in Trapeze to Deep Purple to the various collaborations he's done with Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. He talks about making a comeback with a successful solo career and what it was like to finally get clean and sober for good
Black Knight: Ritchie Blackmore by Jerry Bloom
-One would think that, after reading this book, that Ritchie enjoys being moody and miserable. Some think he's simply misunderstood while others think he's moody and arrogant. And those who do not agree with the majority think he's simply an intensely private person. This book goes into detail of his early life, growing up with his parents Lewis and Violet Blackmore and his brother Paul in Weston-Super-Mare, in Somerset. He pestered his father to get a guitar and was already playing professionally, at 15 years of age. Some were amazed this little 15 year old was already playing with the then big names. As the years go on, Ritchie would be famous for his role in Deep Purple and Rainbow. Later on, with his current wife Candice, they would form Blackmore's Night, specializing in medieval-type music. Which they both seem to enjoy
Rocks: My Life In and Out of Aerosmith by Joe Perry
-Joe Perry is the lead guitarist for Boston-based hard rock band Aerosmith. Some think that Brad Whitford, the other guitarist for the band, is a far better guitar player and that Joe Perry only gets the attention because he looks like a "rock star". Joe Perry grew up in a working class family in Lawrence, Massachusetts. As he grew up, he worked hard to earn money for a guitar and tried his hand in various bands until he met Steven Tyler. Together, they formed what would be one of the biggest hard rock bands to come out of the East Coast-Aerosmith. As time went on, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry would become known as the Toxic Twins, because they were the hardest to wean off drugs. Joe has had slight relapses over the years, but was able to finally get clean and sober for good
Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol
-He grew up William Albert Michael Broad. He only take the name "Billy Idol" because he was told that he was often "idle" in school. Considering Eric Idle, the famed Monty Python actor, already had a last name spelled "idle", this punk rock musician chose to spell it as "I-D-O-L". He grew up in New York because his family moved there for work, and for a while, he spoke with an American accent and was enamored with all things American. When he and his family moved back to the UK, he was made fun of for his American accent. So he chose to start speaking the Queen's English again and slowly regained his English accent. As he grew up, punk rock exploded and was the biggest thing in England. As time went on, he developed a dangerous drug addiction and was able to kick it for good later on
The Lives of Brian by Brian Johnson
-The veteran AC/DC front man talks about growing up in Newcastle, England. How his grandmother would make swimsuits for him and relatives, not realizing that knitting a swimsuit and going in water would result in the swimsuit being so heavy with water that they would fall down, resulting in Brian and relatives showing people their bare backsides. Later on, his brother would suggest Brian wear a hat that has now become iconic with him. A hat some call a "newsboy" hat. When he got the invitation to join AC/DC, he was worried his vocals would be wiped off after recording Back in Black. But, thankfully, he was able to stay. Later on, he had to have surgery on his ears and in his place, was Guns N Roses vocalist Axl Rose.
Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath by Tony Iommi
-This book is written by and about Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. He talks about growing up in Aston, Birmingham. Having parents who used their own home as storage space for a store they ran. As he grew up, music became a fascination. He wanted a guitar and played quite well, even professionally in a local band until an industrial incident at a factory he was working at. He was working a machine he was unfamiliar with and the tips of two his fingers were sliced off. Thinking it was the end, his manager gave him a record of gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhart. Basically, it was his way of saying "If this guy can play guitar with missing fingers, so can you." Tony found a way to play that did not hurt. It involved using light weight banjo strings and, not intentionally, he invented light weight guitar strings. As time went on, he would play a stint in Jethro Tull and would help run Black Sabbath, throughout all of the changes in lineup. He would also go through a bout with Non-Hodgkin's Lyphoma
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