A good music biography (or autobiography) will generally follow the same plot: dreams of taking to the biggest stage, performing in empty bars, a taste of success and then, undoubtedly, the comedown before the artist finds inner peace — or becomes bankrupt! The archetypal rags-to-riches tale can be inspirational to read, but if you fancy something different then you may need to do a bit more research before buying.
So, how do you find the perfect biography to keep you enthralled? To help you decide, we’ve put together a straightforward buying guide as well as a list of the best music-related books of all time. Our picks cover a range of artists in a variety of genres, from contemporary rappers to classic rockstars, and many are conveniently available in eBook or audiobook format. As always, you can buy our recommendations right now from Amazon and eBay!
Before you dive into buying a book, it’s worth thinking about how to choose a suitable tome. In this section we’ll run through how to decide who to read about, the biography vs autobiography debate, and why photographs can enhance your reading experience.
First up, you’ll want to decide who to read about. Most people will opt for buying a book about an artist or a genre that they’re already familiar with. For example, if you’re a big fan of a band such as The Beatles, reading about their personal lives or their artistic process will be incredibly interesting. Plus, you'll have loads of cool anecdotes to share with your friends and family!
Some super fans may find that reading about the same stars and genres can become stodgy though, so we recommend taking a step outside your comfort zone. Heard a chart-topping track by a new rapper and feeling curious about their origins? Check out their latest book and you'll definitely be enlightened as well as entertained!
Next, you’ll want to consider whether to buy a biography or an autobiography. While the title of this article is music biographies, these two terms are generally used interchangeably so we want to explore both in this section.
A biography is a book about an artist’s life that's penned by someone else. This style of book offers a broader perspective of the musician's life and work, as the author can take a step back and see the bigger picture of specific events. However, you’re unlikely to find many exciting revelations, which is what many of us secretly hope for when we read books about celebs!
On the other hand, an autobiography is written by the musician themselves, so it usually covers everything — warts and all! Sometimes the story can be hampered with unnecessary details though, and you might find that you start to dislike the person once you get inside their head. Remember the old saying that we should never meet our heroes? Reading their autobiography can have the same effect!
When it comes to music biographies and autobiographies, photographs are a valuable addition that can really enhance your reading experience. These images may depict our heroes posing in their dorky school uniform or on holiday with their families. Not only do they give us a chuckle, but they provide us with an insight into their personal life.
Sometimes, a book will feature illustrations instead of photographs. These can be used to show the creation process of extravagant stage costumes or might be a musician's personal sketches from their time on tour.
Now that you’ve had a little think about what you might fancy reading, it’s time to take a look at some of the best music books that money can buy. Our list features artists from a range of different decades and genres, so we’re confident there’ll be something to pique your interest!
£4.99
Genre | Rock, pop, singer-songwriter |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Autobiography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | Yes |
Formats Available | Paperback, eBook, audiobook |
Number of Pages | 416 |
£10.20
Genre | Hip hop, gangsta rap, G-funk |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Biography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | - |
Formats Available | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audiobook |
Number of Pages | 433 |
£8.19
Genre | Alternative, noise rock, post-punk |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Autobiography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | Yes |
Formats Available | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audio CD |
Number of Pages | 288 |
£7.15
Genre | Alternative, funk rock, rap rock |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Autobiography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | Yes |
Formats Available | Paperback, eBook, audiobook |
Number of Pages | 480 |
£10.00
Genre | Alternative, grunge, stadium rock |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Autobiography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | Yes |
Formats Available | Hardcover, eBook, audiobook |
Number of Pages | 384 |
£6.99
Genre | Hip hop, trap |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Autobiography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | - |
Formats Available | Paperback, eBook, audiobook |
Number of Pages | 304 |
£10.00
Genre | Pop, R&B, hip hop |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Autobiography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | Yes |
Formats Available | Hardback, eBook, audiobook |
Number of Pages | 368 |
£11.65
Genre | Rock, pop |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Biography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | - |
Formats Available | Paperback, eBook, audiobook |
Number of Pages | 544 |
£9.66
Genre | Hip hop, rap |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Autobiography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | No |
Formats Available | Paperback, hardback, eBook |
Number of Pages | 224 |
£8.99
Genre | Rock 'n' roll, blues |
---|---|
Biography/ Autobiography | Autobiography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | Yes |
Formats Available | Paperback, eBook, audiobook |
Number of Pages | 564 |
Image | 1 ![]() Keith Richards and James Fox | 2 ![]() The RZA | 3 ![]() Hunter Davies | 4 ![]() Mariah Carey and Michaela Angela Davis | 5 ![]() Gucci Mane and Neil Martinez-Belkin | 6 ![]() Dave Grohl | 7 ![]() Anthony Kiedis and Larry Sloman | 8 ![]() Kim Gordon | 9 ![]() Ben Westhoff | 10 ![]() Elton John |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Life | The Tao of Wu | The Beatles: The Only Ever Authorised Biography | The Meaning of Mariah Carey | The Autobiography of Gucci Mane | The Storyteller | Scar Tissue | Girl in a Band: A Memoir | Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap | Me |
Features | The Ultimate Autobiography From the Greatest Living Rockstar | Engaging, Enlightening and Inspiring | The Best Book About the Fab Four | A Tell-All Memoir of Triumphs and Troubles | As Entertaining and Hypnotising as the Man Himself | The Chronicles of the Nicest Guy in Rock 'N' Roll | Nothing Short of a Roller-Coaster | Honest and Raw, Just Like Her Art | Learn About the Origins of Gangsta Rap | Sit Down One-On-One With the Rocketman |
Price | £8.99 | £9.66 | £11.65 | £10.00 | £6.99 | £10.00 | £7.15 | £8.19 | £10.20 | £4.99 |
Genre | Rock 'n' roll, blues | Hip hop, rap | Rock, pop | Pop, R&B, hip hop | Hip hop, trap | Alternative, grunge, stadium rock | Alternative, funk rock, rap rock | Alternative, noise rock, post-punk | Hip hop, gangsta rap, G-funk | Rock, pop, singer-songwriter |
Biography/ Autobiography | Autobiography | Autobiography | Biography | Autobiography | Autobiography | Autobiography | Autobiography | Autobiography | Biography | Autobiography |
Photographs or Illustrations Included | Yes | No | - | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes |
Formats Available | Paperback, eBook, audiobook | Paperback, hardback, eBook | Paperback, eBook, audiobook | Hardback, eBook, audiobook | Paperback, eBook, audiobook | Hardcover, eBook, audiobook | Paperback, eBook, audiobook | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audio CD | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audiobook | Paperback, eBook, audiobook |
Number of Pages | 564 | 224 | 544 | 368 | 304 | 384 | 480 | 288 | 433 | 416 |
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Reading is a great way to unwind, especially if you've been staring at a screen all day! Check out more of our favourite books below for inspiration, from celebrity-authored non-fiction to novels that you can read in a weekend.
So there you have it, our comprehensive guide to finding the best music biography or autobiography around. We truly believe that in the pages of the books on our list, there are enough enthralling stories to keep almost anyone entertained!
Author: Lewis Clark
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