mikek1 said:

Maybe it doens't define her character as much but it is still an important part of who she is.
I think it's something a biographer should at least mention.

shockadelicaa said:

AGREED

mikek1 said:

Haha, okay, great!

Somehow I never read that DMSR Prince bio.

CinisterCee said:

Don't read any bio on prince becuase they all point the same picture; HORRIBLE HUMAN BEING!

The Neil Young biography "Shakey" is fantastic.... definitely worth reading.

I also love the Nick Drake book by Patrick Humphreys... I can't remember the name of it at the moment.


Also, "So You Wanna Be a Rock n' Roll Star" by Jake Schlicter (formerly drummer in the band Semisonic) is an AMAZING book about the ins and outs of the music industry, and how it sucks bands up and spits them out.

CinisterCee said:

This is the single MOST subjective book about Prince's career/life. Possessed is one diminsioned(sp?).

Folks will believe the bad,,,but he talked about BOTH in a very fair treatment.

Per capture Prince essentially, like he really knows him from a close up(wait, I think he does ).

And he let all the voices of the people he interviewed really come across. You can tell that he put his sweat, blood and every hard working muscle he invisted in making the book. Thats why he said he'll never make another volume.

Believe me, you won't regret reading this book.

tori amos - piece by piece

you don't have to be a fan of her music, or even a casual listener. she has a very unique philosophy of life and method of work which is just as unique. she also has some interesting things to say about her experience in the industry, especially as a female artist.

Harlepolis said:

Thanks Harle.

I read some other bio called Purple Reign, but I gather it's quite a fluffy read compared to the all-encompassing DMSR.

CinisterCee said:

Yeah I read Purple Reign too. By Liz Jones or something?
Besides the fact that she actually spoke with Prince and interviewed him, it wasn't spectacular.

hammer really should do one. I bet more people then u think would read it. Everyone knows about his fall from grace. Even kids now know about him.

Bob Dylans Chronicles Vol 1 is a wonderful read.

I read Roomful of Mirrors too. I thought it was excellent as it dove into Jimi's pre-fame life, and kind of explained what made him tick. That's why it's no surprise that he had a violent temper. He had an awful childhood.

Magic And The Madness

Call Her Miss Ross

Elvis And Me

...

electric gypsy (read it a couple times when i was younger...don't remember much about it)

the fabulous sylvester (i dug it)

dancemusicsexromance (cool beans...now if only mr. nilsen would pick up where he left off and do the other half)

my time with prince (fun book!)

long hard road out of hell (don't remember much about it)

purple reign (patchwork of a book)

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

where can i order this? for some reason, i find it hard to even do a search on

CinisterCee said:

amazon has it. i bought mine from b. dalton booksellers when it first came out.

CrozzaUK said:

It was excellent! I believe it even got nominated for a book award or two. I can't wait for the next installments.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

thanks!

dustysgirl said:

I think it's one of the most in depth, objective accounts of Hendrix's life to date. Reading about his childhood was heart wrenching.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I totally ordered it after you posted this, Deja Thanks

CinisterCee said:

Harlepolis said:

Ray Charles seemed *not* to have troubled issues with it. From "Brother Ray", p. 151:

". . .At the time this was happening, not everyone approved. I got letters accusing me of bastardizing God's work. . .Many folks saw my music as sacrilegious. . .Must tell you that none of those reactions bothered me. I'd always thought that the blues and spirituals were close. . .and I was happy to hook 'em up. I was determined to go all out and just be natural. . .I really didn't give a shit about that kind of criticism."

I agree with Sassy on Tori Amos' Piece by Piece

She gives you her gold in that book. It's almost as good as her music.

I don't have any to recommend but I do advise everyone to avoid anything by Rick Sky or J. Randy Taraborelli...

Bob Marley- Catch A Fire
Tupac Shakur-Holler if you hear me
Nina Simone-I put a spell on you

I'm really curious about this topic. What I am interested in, however, is artists who speak about their creative process, how they developed their art, what their discipline is, etc...

Can anyone recommend good bios that focus on this rather than just their life story, relationships, etc.?

heartbeatocean said:

The Rolling Stones' "According to the Rolling Stones" does delve into their creative process more than in does their personal lives (though I admit it does do some of that)

Dylan's "Chronicles" doesn't really delve much into anything and yet it still manages to be fascinating. If you're a Dylan fan, I definitely recommend it. And if you're a HARDCORE Dylan fan, it does delve into "New Morning" and "Oh Mercy".

shockadelicaa said:

Wow, I'm a major fan of both. Thanks.

heartbeatocean said:

No problem.
Love your taste in music.