Books make a wonderful Christmas gift. For music lovers, autobiography, and other writings by or about musicians are especially captivating, as they reveal the deeper stories behind their music. Musicians are often great at telling stories, behind every lyric, there are many experiences, challenges, and successes that shape who they are.
“Musicians personal stories bring their music to life, making their experiences compelling reads for music fans” says Simon Bennett, Managing Director of musicGuard.
There are many great books for musicians written by musicians. Leading UK’s musical instrument insurer musicGuard shares their favourite ones:
Year of the monkey – Patti Smith
Cultural icon Patti Smith was a vital component of the 1970s New York punk movement, infusing its raw, primal energy with a poetic thoughtfulness. Year of the Monkey is her third book, and takes us up to more recent times. It concerns her own personal journey through 2016 – the year of the monkey, and is part travelogue, part diary, part photographic journal. Smith decided that year to write each day as she travelled, and the result is a fascinating stream of consciousness observation.
Broken Summers – Henry Rollins
Like all of Rollins’ work, this 2004 book is deeply personal and chronicles the time he spent raising money to clear the names of three boys, The West Memphis Three, wrongly convicted in an infamous murder case. Rollins called on a diverse range of his musical heroes and contemporaries to record a CD, as well as embarking on an ambitious world tour to raise the money. This book covers it all in vivid detail, whether it’s management issues and red tape wrangling or just the practical problems of knowing the neighbours and keeping in shape on tour.
Strange things happen – Stewart Copeland
This hugely entertaining memoir from the legendary Police drummer is far more than an average autobiography. Copeland takes the reader on a compelling journey through his life. From exploring his rhythmic roots with pygmies in Africa to rubbing shoulders with royalty on the polo field, it’s an engrossing look at a man who never wants to stop learning.
Bennett adds: “There are many great books written by musicians, which help us understand the meaning behind their music.”
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