I have an inordinate love for a good music memoir. Books are far more my thing than music, and I think that’s exactly why I love hearing from singers, composers, and songwriters: I know a lot about how books are put together, but know far less about the art of music. That critical distance deepens my fascination and heightens my appreciation.
Readers often ask me what the best format is for a particular book. When it comes to musician memoirs, there’s a strong case for audiobook, as the musician in question will often sing or include their music. Who would want to miss out on that? And yet, their stories are just as compelling if you’re only reading the written words.
These memoirs give insights about the musicians’ personal lives in addition to their storied careers. I love learning about childhoods and romantic entanglements as much as I enjoy hearing the behind-the-scenes details of what got them started and what life is like on the road. I’m not a musician but the glimpses into their creative process often get me thinking about my own writing life and beyond. That’s why I’ll read a book by and about a musician even if I’ve never listened to their songs before. (But you can bet I’ll do so after reading!)
Today I’m sharing twelve musician memoirs I’ve either read and loved or that are on my TBR. There are so many more amazing options out there than we can include in one list so I hope you’ll share your favorites in the comments.
12 musician memoirs
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Just Kids
This National Book Award winner offers a snapshot of the 1960s and 70s punk rock scene in New York City and the Chelsea Hotel. Singer-songwriter and poet Smith focuses on her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, fulfilling a promise she made to him. Many people describe this as a lyrical memoir; I haven’t read it yet but hope to remedy that soon: Will says he thinks I’ll like it. More info →
Born to Run
I picked this up because I kept hearing from other not-rabid fans that this was a great example of a memoir done right. I was a little surprised at the heavy focus on a few personal relationships ... and then I did a little research, and discovered the one stipulation of his ten million dollar (!!!) advance was that he dish on the details. I admire his career, but I'm not a devoted fan, and that made the narrative a little slow in places. However, I would have read this just for his insights into music as art: how it's made, what makes it work, that indefinable thing all great musicians have—I could listen to those segments over and over again, and probably will. More info →
The Woman in Me
I was aware of the broad outlines of the pop star’s story but had no idea how much I didn't know until I listened to her memoir. Covering her childhood, first forays into stardom, romantic relationships, and the unfortunate events that led to her conservatorship, this turned out to be a compelling and heartbreaking read. I’m glad Britney is finally free to tell her story on her own terms. Michelle Williams's narration, as expected, was superb. More info →
The Meaning of Mariah Carey
This is on my TBR; I’ve heard praise that this is Mariah Carey at her most vulnerable: she opens up about her unstable childhood, abusive marriage, and her experiences as a biracial woman, in addition to dishing about her relationships since leaving Tommy Mottola. She also provides behind-the-scenes on her songwriting process and how she pursued and guided her career over the years. Mariah is an icon for a reason. Word on the street is Mariah sings on the audiobook, in addition to narrating, so I might opt for that format. More info →
Coal Miner’s Daughter
This memoir was such a smash, it was adapted into an Oscar-winning film. It’s no wonder when the details of Loretta Lynn’s life sound straight out of fiction. And yet it’s all too true: an impoverished childhood in eastern Kentucky, a tumultuous marriage at thirteen, her first child a year later, a grandmother by twenty-nine. If that’s not enough, she signed her first record contract when she was 28, had sixteen #1 singles, and went on to become the CMA’s first female Entertainer of the Year. Lynn shares it all in this raw book. More info →
High School
Twin sisters and musicians Tegan and Sara take us back to their 1990s high school experience in Calgary. Tegan and Sara alternate chapters sharing about school pressures, their parents’ divorce, friendship, romance, drugs and alcohol, and their respective queer awakenings. It’s a great glimpse into who they eventually became and what shaped their career. Even if you’re not familiar with their music, the 90s nostalgia factor is real. More info →
Dream More
When Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg from the By The Book podcast recommended this on What Should I Read Next episode 121, I couldn't download the short and sweet audiobook fast enough. This book is an expanded commencement speech Dolly gave at The University of Tennessee at Knoxville about getting more out of life—work, relationships, all of it. There's nobody quite like Dolly Parton—good gracious, I had no idea just how much the woman has accomplished—and I LOVED hearing her tell stories about her life. I grinned like a fool the whole time I was listening. More info →
Crying in H Mart: A Memoir
Indie rockstar Michelle Zauner delivers a heartfelt, poetic memoir about losing her mother and searching for her identity. “Ever since my mother died, I cry in H Mart.” So begins Zauner’s poignant story. After her mother received a grim cancer diagnosis, Zauner realized her mother’s death would also mean losing her only tie to her Korean heritage, so she sought to shore up stories while she still had time. Whether she writes about the intricacies of preparing traditional Korean dishes or a hurtful misunderstanding, she explores moments from her tumultuous mother-daughter relationship with tenderness and love, often returning to the idea that our experiences of home, family and culture are viscerally rooted in what we taste, see and hear. An honest, lyrical, and life-affirming memoir about grief, growing up, and making amends. More info →
Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc.
I’ve enjoyed several Tweedy art-and-craft books but am still looking forward to this Wilco-focused memoir. Tweedy is revered for his talent as a songwriter for the band so it’s no surprise to hear his memoir is equally self-assured and insightful. He opens up about his childhood in Illinois, how the St. Louis music scene launched his career, and his artistic process and collaborators. More info →
Broken Horses: A Memoir
I've long enjoyed Brandi Carlile's music but knew nothing about her personal life until I gobbled up this memoir. From a chaotic childhood to nearly dying from bacterial meningitis at age five to her pastor refusing to baptize her because she was an openly gay teen, Carlile’s honesty about her upbringing was breathtaking. Her life could have gone in so many directions but with the support of her small town, she retained her faith and found solace in music. She shares her musical influences, the inspiration behind her songs, and the highlights of her career, along with how she met her wife and started a family. Each chapter flows beautifully into a song—or more often, two. Because Carlile draws heavily from her life experience when writing lyrics, the exceptional audiobook works beautifully: her stories leave you hungry to hear the music, which often captures the experience she just wrote about in prose. The last ninety minutes consists of all those songs together, as a bonus chapter. More info →
Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story, in Music Lessons
Renowned classical pianist and MacArthur “Genius” Denk combines memoir and music theory, making for a fascinating read. He details his childhood as a prodigy in New Jersey, which was upended when the family moved to New Mexico and he had to find a new piano teacher. At sixteen, he left for Oberlin College and navigated the cruelties and kindnesses of music teachers there. Denk shares the pieces and composers who most impacted him and opines on the benefits of practice and the way melody, harmony, and rhythm function. Music touches every part of his life and, as readers, we are reminded of the ways music functions in our lives as well. More info →
Mo’ Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove
Questlove combines memoir with a meditation about the state of hip hop and music criticism. It is at once an education about his life and about where he believes music is going. The drummer, producer, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon bandleader, and producer shares about his 1970s West Philly childhood and what led to co-founding the Roots. Unquestionably a tastemaker, Questlove’s life and stories are an ode to Black art and hip hop. More info →
What are some of your favorite musician memoirs? Please share in the comments.
P.S. 20 celebrity memoirs read by their authors and 15 engaging and inspiring memoirs I keep coming back to.
57 comments
Oh my gosh, if you remember Bono from U2 you’ve GOT to listen to his book! I started it & had to take a break (darn app with hold list) but it is FABULOUS. Highly recommend.
I loved his book! I was going to mention it in addition to Dave Grohl’s The Storyeller.
I was just going to suggest this! Each chapter is about a song and how it came about. Even though I was not that familiar with Bono, it was fun to listen to the songs as I read!
I second this recommendation. For me it was like an hours long sermon that touched my soul. The blend of music and prose on the audiobook was magical. Oh that voice. Swoony for this Joshua Tree loving girl.
Yes! It was amazing! I loved the audiobook too! The title is Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.
YES!!!!!! I mostly read this list to check to see if it was on the list. I am not even a huge U2 fan, or I wasn’t before, but I feel I am more so now. 😊
I stumbled into his music at age 60, and listened to the book nearly as soon as it came out. While I enjoyed the stories, and loved the musical portions, I seriously think his editor let him down. The quantity of words so far exceeded the number necessary, that at times I hit fast-forward just to move through it. I learned one thing – the guy really does adore his wife. That fact shines through every chapter.
Yes! I’m a lifelong U2 fan, but wasn’t sure how good it would be. Well written, with depth and insight. I loved it.
I opened this mainly to make sure Brandy Carlile’s Broken Horses was included. What a great book and perfect listen! She reads it and there’s a song at the end of each chapter. so so so good!
Same! I love her. She’s a great storyteller. I’ve seen her in concert a few times – she tells various stories about her life during her shoes. I’ve never heard her repeat one. Loved the book.
I too loved her book!
Thank you for including Every Good Boy Does Fine! My favorite! I wish there were more memoirs like this by classical musicians.
Check out Renee Fleming’s memoir, “The Inner Voice”. It’s one of my favorites!
100% agree about Just Kids. So good, and so many rabbit holes to explore after reading it.
Dave Grohl’s memoir was also wonderful — what a writer and what a life. (And I’m not even a huge fan of Foo Fighters or Nirvana.)
Keith Richards’s book is much like he seems — meandering, funny, fascinating.
Thanks for the reminder about Keith Richards’s book!
Stephen Tyler of Aerosmith wrote a well-received one a while back, and I started reading it in the bookstore, and found it highly readable.
Life by Keith Richards was GREAT – on many top ten lists the year it came out.
Also the Beastie Boys book was very good
David Grohl’s memoir was scattered but repeatedly laugh out loud funny!
Ditto on The Storyteller
Agreed! This one was entertaining on audio.
My favorite part was looking up the videos he mentioned! I still think about the coffee pots one 😄
I consider The Beastie Boys Book to be the perfect music memoir! It is also one of the best books I’ve read on creativity too.
Fun list, I added a few to my TBR. I like to listen to through their albums while I make my way through a music memoir.
I agree, Gloria-the Beastie Boy Book was great!
I see a few of my favourites in your list, Anne, and in the comments above! (Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Dave Grohl, Keith Richards). Off the top of my head, a couple of others:
* “My Effin’ Life” by Geddy Lee. I’m not a HUGE Rush fan, but being Canadian, I know their music and have a certain affection for them. And I absolutely loved this memoir. It’s full of great storytelling and self-deprecating humour, and it’s especially moving to read about his parents — who met at Auschwitz and were married there after the war ended!!
* “Clothes Clothes Clothes Music Music Music Boys Boys Boys” by Viv Albertine. I had NO idea who this woman was (from a 70s all-girl punk band called The Slits) but I remember the era and a friend recommended it to me. Amazing, raw writing.
* “All I Ever Wanted” by Kathy Valentine (of the Go-Gos). The usual sex, drugs and rock & roll, but a depth of introspection that’s not always present in some memoirs plus great writing.
* “Me” by Elton John. Just a really fun read. 🙂
“My Effin’ Life” by Geddy Lee is my top pick, even if you’re not a Rush fan or have never heard of them. A must-read!
I loved Neneh Cherry’s recent memoir Threads. It’s a fascinating account of her bohemian childhood and time spent living in Sweden, London and New York. There are some great stories about the 1980s music/club scene too!
I’m not usually a big audiobook person, but I really enjoyed listening to Cherry’s narration of her story.
Thank you – this immediately went in my audiobook queue! I loved the song Buffalo Stance as a kid and have always been curious her. I think this will be a fun listen!!
About 25 years ago, now, I picked up “The Inner Voice,” the memoir of America’s pre-eminent soprano, Renee Fleming. I was attracted to it because I loved to sing (jazz and show tunes) and the summary on the book jacket said that she it’s a personal memoir as well as a memoir of her voice. This intrigued me, so I read it.
Fast Forward to now and I’ve taken opera lessons, attended oeras at the Kennedy Center and the Met, met Renee numerous times, deep-dived into opera history, and more. Her memoir actually changed my life. Clearly, I would highly recommend it!!!
I really enjoyed Ben Folds’ 2019 book A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons.
Jewel’s memoir “Never Broken” is excellent on audio. She narrates it. Her life is pretty fascinating and I’m not a super-fan.
Second this one!
Surrender, by Bono, definitely needs to be included here! Incredible.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned Elton John’s memoir Me yet! It’s superb! He’s got some wild stories about sex drugs and rock n roll and also very tender stories about recovery, losing friends to AIDS, and his family. I listened to the whole thing in one day on a road trip and think of it often.
It’s not a memoir, but “Petty: the Biography” by Warren Zanes was an amazing account of Tom Petty’s life.
For anyone who loves The Eagles: Heaven and Hell: My Life with the Eagles by Don Felder. It’s a great read and Don gets to tell his side of the story.
I really liked Testimony by Robbie Robertson who has since died. Robbie grew up in Toronto and started playing with Ronnie Hawkins and then he met Levon Helm and formed The Band. They played as backup band to Bob Dylan and lived near Dylan in Woodstock, collaborating on music. Robertson discloses the problems with drugs that all The Band’s members, including himself, had.
You might also like This Wheel’s on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band written byThe Band’s drummer Levon Helm.
I would add “Sounds Like Me” by Sara Barielles. I listened to it and it was so moving and relatable and beautiful! I loved her music before, but I just love her now more!
Chronicles: Vol. One by Bob Dylan – knowing nearly nothing about him going into it, learning about him and his music was fascinating. Beautiful prose, almost lyrical – no surprise there.
I’ve been waiting for Vol. 2 ever since this one came out. The title suggests there should be another but with Dylan you never know… Well, reading The Philosophy of Modern Song in the meantime.
I recommend “Boys in the Trees” by Carly Simon.
I really enjoyed Mikel Jollet’s memoir “Hollywood Park”. I wasn’t familiar with his music prior but found his life fascinating.
Yes, I second this – was one of my favorite books of 2024!
Searching for the Sound by Phil Lesh, bassist for the Grateful Dead
Garcia: An American Life by Blair Jackson
The best musician memoir or biography type book I’ve listened to is “Miracle and Wonder” by Malcom Gladwell and Bruce Headlam. They discuss Paul’s music and he JOINS THEM AND PLAYS SAMPLES OF WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT! It is so fascinating to hear how his process for writing and arranging songs works. Highly recommend this audiobook!
For classical music lovers, the operatic soprano, Jessye Norman’s book, Stand Up Straight and Sing! is lovely.
Barbra Steisand’s memoir was 48 hours on audio, but worth the time!
Babs memoir is EPIC. Perhaps not everyone’s cuppa, but I thought it was like buttah.
Also great – Cher! What an incredible life story.
The best musician/celebrity memoirs are the ones where you really hear the artist’s voice come through the page (or speaker) in the writing and this was true in spades for both these megastars.
I was just scrolling through the comments to make sure Barbra got a mention! Haven’t read it yet, myself — 48 hours!!! — but am trying to work up a head steam to make that commitment.
Well, this isn’t a memoir, but if you like magical fantasy intersecting classical music, I would recommend “The Kingdom of Back” by Marie Lu. A wonderfully written story about Nannerl Mozart (Wolfgang’s sister), her difficulties being a female performer and composer (better than her brother?) and the mysterious person who could change all that. Grounded in history, but goes way beyond!
I think Keith Richards’s Life is one of the best books I have read. Honest, funny, and it’s like Keef is in your living room talking. One book I highly recommend that I haven’t seen here is Keith Emerson’s Pictures of an Exhibitionist. (No, I do not have a fixation on musicians named Keith.) Emerson was the supremely talented keyboardist from Emerson, Lake and Palmer. He played every kind of keyboard sometimes two at a time, and wrote a classical concerto for piano. His book is incredibly funny, self-deprecating (I didn’t expect this) and opinionated. His decision to adopt a wild fox is one of the funniest things ever. Spoiler: it did not work out too well for him, but it was fine for the fox.
Great list, but I’d definitely add the Tom Petty book by Warren Zevon. So, so good!
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Jessica Simpson’s memoir, Open Book, yet.
I really enjoyed it!
Bruce and grew up at the same time. Listening to him read his story was awesome. I think I listened at regular speed cause I wanted to drive around with him for another day! I will never forget spending the nite outside for Born to Run tix. Concerts seemed more fun and the ticketing process certainly seemed more fair, everybody got X number of tix and websites didn’t crash and 2 tix did not equal a mortgage payment. Plus, let’s not forget, the dude was quite the snack in those jeans!😉
I can’t believe Alicia Keys autobiography: More Myself, Journey hasn’t been mentioned. Gosh it was amazing! She reads it and broke out singing a few times. It was so good!
Same! And even though her Tony-award winning musical “Hell’s Kitchen” isn’t directly taken from her life story, it’s easy to see the inspiration for it in this memoir. Loved it!
Folk singer, Mary Gauthier’s Saved By a Song is deeply moving and inspiring. The audiobook includes the song each chapter is built around. Highly recommend!
I’ll add Sting’s memoir Broken Music because, for me, it was lyrical and beautifully written. Also just finished Cher: The Memoir Part One and enjoyed the ride, cover to cover. Thanks for another great list (including the comments) with some new-to-me titles to explore.
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