6 New Memoirs for the Music Lover’s Library

Do you “read enough for school” as it is? Try picking up one of these memoirs to learn more about your favorite artists without having to do any critical analysis afterward.

Written by Carys Anderson

Why are so many musicians venturing into book deal territory? The cynical answer is that it’s a new way to make money — the optimistic answer is that memoirs offer artists whose reputations may have been damaged a way to set the record straight. Often, they reveal what drives artists to create and give readers entry into the world of rock stardom. Many of these artists prove to be great prose writers.

The surprise popularity of Patti Smith’s 2010 memoir “Just Kids” led other musicians like Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth to tell their own stories, and the trend hasn’t let up. Below are six new and upcoming memoirs by musicians. Some are sure to be insightful, and some… may be cash cows.

Debbie Harry, “Face It”

Released on Oct. 1, the memoir by the Blondie frontwoman is as cool-but-nonchalant as Debbie Harry herself. After decades in the music industry and pioneering an entire genre, Harry is sure to have some stories to tell. One in particular that’s made the press rounds since the release of “Face It” recalls the time Harry scored cocaine for David Bowie and he revealed his penis to her as a thank you. Harry told The Sunday Times she was “flattered.”

Liz Phair, “Horror Stories”

Liz Phair approaches her memoir, released Oct. 8, the same way she writes her music: with unflinching candor. Rather than reliving her glory days in a classic rags-to-riches story, Phair presents her memoir in a collection of essays detailing her worst moments. Insights on fame are interwoven with her own personal reckoning, from affairs to the time in college when she failed to help a girl with alcohol poisoning at a party. If you want to get to know Liz Phair, “Horror Stories” says you’re going to know all of her.

Elton John, “Me”

To coincide with his recent extravagant biopic “Rocketman,” Elton John’s Oct. 15 memoir “Me” is a more straightforward look into the struggles John faced before, and amidst, the magic of his music. John recounts his less-than-perfect childhood, discusses in great detail his introduction to cocaine, and reveals he recently struggled with prostate cancer. It gives fans their first stripped-down look into the experiences of an artist who built a career off of being larger than life.

Prince, “The Beautiful Ones”

It may come as a surprise to hear that a memoir is coming from the late, great Prince nearly four years after his passing, but it shouldn’t be surprising that the prolific artist was working on a book before his death — he left behind so many demos of music that his estate could supposedly release an album once a year for the next 100 years. His unfinished manuscript “The Beautiful Ones,” coming Oct. 29, is filled with unreleased photos and lyric sheets. It should be a welcomed physical memento for fans of the icon.

Flea, “Acid for the Children”

Anyone who’s been in the Red Hot Chili Peppers for three decades could easily fill a book with a few crazy stories. In his memoir, set to be released on Nov. 5, slap-bass extraordinaire Flea tells his story with romantic, poetic and humble prose, detailing his life from his Los Angeles street rat days, to his first time meeting Anthony Kiedis, and ending with the band’s first performance. It’ll be interesting to compare Flea’s perspective to the debauchery Kiedis details in his own memoir, 2004’s “Scar Tissue.”

The Jonas Brothers, “Blood”

The Jonas Brothers have come in hot with content since their reunion earlier this year. Their first album in six years, Happiness Begins, came out in June, paired with the documentary “Chasing Happiness,” which chronicled their Disney roots and their ultimate burnout. “Blood” continues this trend. Nostalgia may not go far enough to justify a memoir, set to come out on March 17, but JoBro fans can’t say they aren’t well-fed.

Afterglow ATXOctober 28, 2019