Just Kids
Just Kids by Patti Smith is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
The top 50
Memoirs by musicians
Fifty researched picks for the memoirs by musicians, selected for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
How we choseVoice, candor, music history and storytelling. Rankings balance consensus with lasting ownership value and current buyability.
Why it belongs →
Chronicles: Volume One
Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Life
Life by Keith Richards is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Born to Run
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
The Storyteller
The Storyteller by Dave Grohl is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Slash
Slash by Slash is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain
Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain by Charles R. Cross is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Clapton: The Autobiography
Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
It's So Easy: And Other Lies
It's So Easy: And Other Lies by Duff McKagan is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Who I Am
Who I Am by Pete Townshend is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
No One Here Gets Out Alive
No One Here Gets Out Alive by Jerry Hopkins is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician
Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician by Christoph Wolff is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
John
John by Cynthia Lennon is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Autobiography
Autobiography by Morrissey is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Scar Tissue
Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me
Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me by Pattie Boyd is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Cash
Cash by Johnny Cash is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Girl in a Band
Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix
Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix by Charles R. Cross is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daughter
Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daughter by Loretta Lynn is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl
Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys
Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
My Cross to Bear
My Cross to Bear by Gregg Allman is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Rocks: My Life in and out of Aerosmith
Rocks: My Life in and out of Aerosmith by Joe Perry is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
The Long Hard Road Out of Hell: A shocking, candid memoir tracing Marilyn Manson's rise from frightened Christian schoolboy to feared rock superstar
The Long Hard Road Out of Hell: A shocking, candid memoir tracing Marilyn Manson's rise from frightened Christian schoolboy to feared rock superstar by Marilyn Manson is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Jimi Hendrix: Black Legacy
Jimi Hendrix: Black Legacy by Corey A. Washington is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Dolly Parton Songteller: My Life in Lyrics
Dolly Parton Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Not Dead Yet: The Memoir
Not Dead Yet: The Memoir by Phil Collins is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Book of Longing
Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream
Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream by Neil Young is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography of B.B. King
Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography of B.B. King by B.B. King is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band
This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band by Levon Helm is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
I Am Ozzy
I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Me
Me by Elton John is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Leonard Cohen: A Remarkable Life
Leonard Cohen: A Remarkable Life by Anthony Reynolds is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd
Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd by Mark Blake is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
And A Voice to Sing With: A Memoir
And A Voice to Sing With: A Memoir by Joan Baez is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll
Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll by Ann Wilson is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley
Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir
Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir by Dave Mustaine is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Somebody to Love?: A Rock-and-Roll Memoir
Somebody to Love?: A Rock-and-Roll Memoir by Grace Slick is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
A Natural Woman: A Memoir
A Natural Woman: A Memoir by Carole King is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke
Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke by Peter Guralnick is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
It's a Long Story: My Life
It's a Long Story: My Life by Willie Nelson is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
Hellfire
Hellfire by Nick Tosches is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.
A Pirate Looks at Fifty
A Pirate Looks at Fifty by Jimmy Buffett is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.