Enter Night: A Biography of Metallica

Wall, Mick. Enter Night : A Biography of Metallica, New York : St. Martin’s Press, 2011.

This narrative-style biography is straightforward and fast-paced. The wordy storytelling-style by British music journalist Mick Wall successfully provides an in-depth portrait of the infamous thrash metal group: the personalities of all key—and ex-key—members of Metallica (Dave Mustaine might be a bitter alcoholic jerk but he was kicked out of the band because he was a threat to the leadership Lars Ulrich held within the band), the various incarnations of the LA quartet (James Hetfield, in the beginning, wasn’t all that comfortable being the front man and the face of the band), the bad musicianship (especially the drummer), and many other wild, wonderful, emotionally draining never-known-before and other somewhat uncomfortable truths. Written in two main parts—pre and post And Justice For All—this 480 page Metallisaga is the ultimate chronicle for both old cracks and newbies, young-at-heart adult and young adult ‘tallica fans.

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Meetings with Morrissey

Brown, Len, 1957-. Meetings with Morrissey, London ; New York : Omnibus Press, c2009.

This 324 page book is beautifully written, thoroughly researched, and intimate in style. The former New Musical Express journalist Len Brown has produced a very intelligent and insightful account of the career of Morrissey, covering his 25 years as The Smiths frontman, and onto his solo work. In this biography Brown revisits his own NME-era interview with the English singer/songwriter, explores in detail the extraordinary lyrical content of Morrisey's songs—there’s even a great chapter detailing Oscar Wilde’s influence on Moz’s lyrics. He takes a retrospective look at the singer-songwriter's most distinctive memories—he dyed his hair gold at the age of 13 and it turned purple; he was then sent home from school. It is the personal and socio-political context of the period which Brown weaves into Morrissey’s life and art which makes this biography such a tender and worthwhile exposition essential reading for Morrissey fans.

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Motörhead: Live to Win

Burridge, Alan, 1951-. Motörhead : live to win, Los Angeles : Cleopatra, 2012.

This 220 page chronicle is a first class, serious, in-depth look at the metal band Motörhead. Written by British Alan Burridge, who happens to also be the president of the fan club "Motörheadbangers", he takes the readers back to the beginnings of the musical group who once won the New Musical Express poll for “the best worst band in the world”. The struggles, the hardships, the poverty, many never before published facts and a great deal of rare and early photos are revealed in this full colour, glossy, thick paper biography. Longing for incredible attention to detail about Motörhead since the pre-Ace of Spades era? This is the ace of reads.

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Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd

Blake, Mark. Comfortably Numb : The Inside Story of Pink Floyd, Cambridge, Mass. : Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2008.

Lucidly written, this could arguably be the most comprehensive book ever written about the English progressive rockers Pink Floyd. As meticulous, exacting and ambitious as any David Gilmour-Roger Waters (plus Syd Barret) creation, this 448 page chronicle covers a lot of ground, from a background story and history of the band, to how the albums charted and were received by critics and fans, the meaning of the songs, to musical progression versus creative tension. In addition to this, the book also incorporates hundreds of new and exclusive interviews—with band members, friends, road crew, musical contemporaries, former housemates, and university colleagues. Notoriously private and very guarded when it comes to their past and their personal lives, the British popular music and culture writer Mark Blake very thoroughly disclosed the problems of each Pink Floyd member, which means that, as a reader, you really do feel as if you’re being sucked into the drama. Well researched. Well documented. Accurate. Every chapter is a trove. Indeed.

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The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones

Booth, Stanley, 1942-. The true adventures of the Rolling Stones, Chicago, IL : A Capella, 2000.

“In the backstage doorway Jagger was standing, dressed in black trousers with silver buttons down the legs, black scoop-neck jersey with white Leo glyph on chest, wide metal-studded black belt, long red flowing scarf, on his head an Uncle Sam hat, his eyes wide and dark, looking like a bullfighter standing in the sun just inside the door of the arena, seeing nothing but the path he walks, toreros and banderilleros beside and behind him, to his fate.” Yes, this 416 page book by the American music journalist Stanley Booth, the Stones’ inner circle, is that detailed and engaging, with many more moments in this huge rock band's history captured in similar descriptive detail. A truly entertaining read.

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Wild Years: The Music and Myth of Tom Waits

Jacobs, Jay S., 1962-. Wild Years : The Music and Myth of Tom Waits, Toronto : ECW Press, c2006.

This 336 page biography presents over 30 images and isn’t for those looking for juicy details and scandalous stories. That being said, the Philadelphia-based author Jay S. Jacob exposes the truth about the man with the gravely voice: the details of his music career are recorded here as nowhere else—the most detailed discography on the planet, from his early years, when Waits embraced the beatniks and the grimy realities of life on the streets, to more recent tonal experiments. Overall, the biography is painstakingly researched, clear cut, unapologetic, and highly informative—it gives readers a sense that they could actually know Waits. Those looking for a portrait of Waits, the artist, will be amply rewarded by this newly updated book.

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Neil Young: The Definitive History

Evans, Mike. Neil Young : The Definitive History, New York : Sterling, 2012.

This coffee table book is a quick but entertaining encyclopaedia of Neil Young’s nearly six-decade rock ’n’ roll journey. Written by London based musician-cum-writer Mark Evans, this overly illustrated life retrospective traces the Canadian singer/songwriter’s collaborative work (with Crazy Horse, Buffalo Springfield, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), solo career—highlighting almost every album, his tour—his live performances often used as his stage to advertise his political point, his activism—particularly for green causes and Farm Aid, as well as his personal life—his relationship and his near fatal brain aneurism. All in all, the book is 288 pages of informative and encyclopaedic-like chronicle which will easily appeal general adult readers and definitely hungry-for-more “Neilophytes”.

•Image: Goodreads | Citation: Trove | Annotation: Goodreads, Amazon