Wishing On The Moon: The Life & Times Of Billie Holiday - Donald Clarke; My FAVE.
Divided Souls: The Life & Times Of Marvin Gaye - David Ritz
I, Tina - Tina Turner & Kurt Louder(sp?)
Music Is My Mistress - Duke Ellington
The Hungry Heart - Jean Claude Baker(Josephine Baker bio)
Through The Fire - Chaka Khan
Brother Ray - David Ritz
I Put A Spell On You - Nina Simone
DMSR:The 1st 10 Years - Per Neilson

And yes, ALL of them are dysFUNKtional
[Edited 10/10/06 13:26pm]

Harlepolis said:

I read someone on another site sayin Mr gaye had something in common with icke turner; ya dig? Is that true?

mikek1 said:

He gave Nona's mother hell(Janis, I think thats her name) abusing her verbally.

At the end of his life, he used to beat women publicly.

God rest his soul though.

1)Dreamgirl: My Life As A Supreme by Mary Wilson

2)Dez Dickerson's book on his time with Prince

3)Quincy Jones' book


GO GET ALL THREE!!!!!

James Brown & Aretha Franklin biographies ain't to go home for they're full of lies and self-built bullshit.

Wait till they die or lose power over their surrounding,,,then check out their new-to-come bios. Something about them put a fear on anybody they meet, intimidation? I think its deeper than that.

They're VERY secretive about their lives and when they had the chances to speak on it, they only gave half-truths.

Although yes, James was abusive to women(Tammi Terrell had her shares from him, so did his other female vocalists; Lynn Collins was tired of his possessive nature - he'd go low as to tap her phone anywhere she went).

Aretha is just a complex woman; period. From the way she was raised, to the gap her mother left when she died so early, to the self-distructivness.

Naturaly, a RELIGIOUS person who sings secular songs will always have deep troubled issues about the way he/she lives their lives(Sam Cooke went through it, Marvin Gaye went through it, Ray Charles went through it and Aretha went through it).
[Edited 10/10/06 13:53pm]

Harlepolis said:

yes religion is the root of all evil.

Grace Slick's autobiography was really good, so was Anthony Kiedis'.
I like "Love Janis" the book Laura Joplin wrote for her sister, though it did gloss over Janis' lesbianism. Guess Laura wasn't too proud.

shockadelicaa said:

why should sexuality even be an issue?

mikek1 said:

if it's a biography of a person's life... it kind of bears mentioning, especially when it's a gay or lesbian person. the kind of opposition you face as a gay/lesbian person tends to alter for better or worse who you are as a person.

now if the book were jsut about her music, not her life, i agree.

There's a good book about Jimi Hendrix called Room Full Of Mirrors.

Harlepolis said:

why is this trait always common in the best artists?

It's disheartening to know. I mean lennon, icke, biggie, axl rose, john bonham, keith moon, hendrix, james brown, mingus, davis ; DAMN!

mikek1 said:

omg John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix used to beat women?

Natisse said:

Yes!
Especially Hendrix; he was extremely violent. Towards the end of his life lennon was all about peace and he even said he's ashamed he beat his girlfriend in an interview.

Jimi was still acting out against women; there is diaries from 1970, after jimi fucked two groupies he got violent banging their heads together while they slept and threw them out while naked.
he also sent his gf carmen to the emergency ward on two occasions after smashing glass vodka bottles in her face for no reason; she nearly lost an eye the first time.

I know; DISSAPOINTING AND DISTURBING BUT TRUE.

mikek1 said:

very disheartening ...but it's the truth and therefore needs to be known

Natisse said:

Exactly. It seems though people don't want to admit it and get mad if i mention it. Sorry but i'm real and we are talking about bios/autobios.

I read Possesed. Great book.

The Dirt about Motley Crew. A MUST READ!!!! They hold NOTHING back!!!

And the Arrow Falls about Morrison.

Natisse said:

Exactly. It seems though people don't want to admit it and get mad if i mention it. Sorry but i'm real and we are talking about bios/autobios.

mikek1 said:

But didn't you just say Janis' sexuality was unimportant?
That's real, too.