Top Five On Friday - 8/14/09

Another Top Five:

Top 5 Rock Bios that you want to read or have read (or a combination of both)

I have read all of these:

1) The Beatles by Bob Spitz. This is a huge book, and we don't even get Ringo in the band until halfway through it. It reads mostly as the story of John Lennon (there's even a similar-looking huge Lennon biography out there), but if you want to know about the greatest band ever, this is a good place to start. I've heard rumors of incorrect information, but the author must have got something right.

2) Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan. This is good even if you're not a fan of Dylan. It's not a standard biography, but who cares? It's worth reading for the language alone, and I hope there are many more volumes to come.

3) Cash: The Autobiography by Johnny Cash. I suspect most the words in this one are straight from Johnny's pen. This is a very good read, and you'll come to love the wit and wisdom of the Man in Black.

4) Dream Brother by David Browne. This is the tale of Tim and Jeff Buckley. The book alternates between the stories of the two men. You'll probably like one story over the other, depending on how big a Tim or Jeff fan you are.

5) Hendrix: Setting The Record Straight by John McDermott with Eddie Kramer. This one is more about the music, thankfully.