From the gonzo early days of
Rolling Stone to the black beauty-and-Bangs fueled Beat stylings of
Creem, cutting-edge writing and music have always gone hand in hand. But it’s not just in the pages of the rock rags—some stories are so big they needed whole books to fill. Here, we run down a few of our favorite works of rock literature.
Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century by Greil Marcus: As the title may imply,
Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century isn’t exactly a quick read—however if you’re looking for a unique cultural study of punk’s contribution to the cultural zeitgeist, [and oh boy, who isn’t? –Editor] you’d be hard-pressed to find a book that does a finer job. In an idiosyncratic and non-linear fashion, Marcus pieces together his own punk history using obscure essays, transcripts, poetry, and political scrawlings to create a viable manifesto of the movement. Harnessing punk’s history of dissent with passion akin to Johnny Rotten's (who is on the cover of this book and once legendarily proclaimed, “I am the Anti-Christ!” ), Marcus' enthusiasm for his subject keeps the book from coming off as purely academic.
No One Here Gets Out Alive by Danny Sugerman and Jerry Hopkins: Although the Jim Morrison biography
No One Here Gets Out Alive has gotten a lot of flack for not being literary enough, the book captures the spirit of the ’60s, as well as the rise and fall of the Doors.
No One Here Gets Out Alive ultimately humanizes Morrison in a way that Oliver Stone’s film
The Doors never did. From scenes of the band in their practice space writing “Light My Fire” to a depiction of the Lizard King spiraling out of control, the book is a page-turner—and a warning to all aspiring rockers inspired more by Morrison’s lifestyle than his music.
The Dirt: Confessions Of The World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx and Neil Strauss: If you’ve ever wondered what the rock world was like at the height of its insanity, look no further than
The Dirt: Confessions Of The World’s Most Notorious Rock Band. Hard partying, drug addiction, and poor decision-making skills, and oh yeah, there’s a little music in there too. But, surprise surprise, being in Mötley Crüe wasn’t just one long party—and when Vince Neil is recounting the death of his son or Mick Mars is talking about his health and emotional problems, these larger-than-life figures come off as remarkably human. But don’t worry, there are plenty of mud wrestlers to go around. For those readers wondering what it is like to shoot up booze and do a little time in a foreign prison, look no further.
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From The American Indie Underground 1981 – 1991 by Michael Azerrad: Pre grunge and post punk, there was the ’80s indie underground. That’s “indie” as in short for “independent,” which morphed into “alternative” when bands like R.E.M, Hüsker Dü, and the Replacements started getting plucked from local independent labels and signed to the majors. The book features two of those three bands, plus disturbingly hysterical accounts of the “rise” and fall of bands like the Butthole Surfers and Dinosaur Jr. For each of the bands—almost all made up of fiercely creative and emotionally charged musicians—the pay was low and the stakes were high. These are the bands who trailblazed—literally—the path of modern rock and roll, playing for almost nothing and nobody in VFW halls, house parties, dorms, and bars across the country. There are some touching moments, from a teenaged Tommy Stinson of the Replacements, homesick and too young to be in the bars he was playing, to the tragic loss of the great D. Boon of the Minutemen.
Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung: The Work of a Legendary Critic: Rock 'N' Roll as Literature and Literature as Rock 'N' Roll by Lester Bangs: Lester Bangs is arguably the most famous rock critic of all time. Although he died in the early '80s, Bangs’ influence on rock journalism is incalculable—and his work for
Rolling Stone,
Creem, and
The Village Voice still manages to inspire writers everywhere.
Psychotic Reactionsand Carburetor Dung compiles many of Bangs’ most memorable pieces into one Benzedrine-soaked collection of writings that continues in the gonzo tradition of Hunter S. Thompson. Whether Bangs is talking about the impact of Van Morrison’s seminal album
Astral Weeks or slaughtering sacred cows like Mick Jagger, his revved-up rants have few equals. An early champion of the Clash, and a controversial figure on the New York punk scene, Bangs unashamedly exposed his writing for what it was: A bunch of opinions lashed together by an underpaid, hopped-up, and fearless egomaniac who refused to play it safe. Great stuff.
Read Part II Here!