Rockin' Books

In honor of our terrific event for Bryan Charles' terrific book about Pavement's Wowee Zowee (see above for vintage Pavement footage), I've decided to make a list of my most favorite books about rock and roll.

Please Kill Me: An Oral History of Punk
Could this be the best rock book ever written? I certainly think so. So does Iggy.



Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991
Azzerad's writing can be a little cheesy sometimes, but he does such a great job of capturing so many different scenes that this book is a must-read.


Call Her Miss Ross: An Unauthorized Biography of Diana Ross
You can't beat Randy Taraborelli for dirt, and boy does he dish. There's a reason thi 21 year-old supermarket biography is still in print -- for its portrayal of scary ambition and untrammeled egotism that the musical Dreamgirls captures in song.


Just Kids
Patti Smith's memoir is just stunning. If you want a more thorough opinion, check out my official review.


England's Dreaming, Revised Edition: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond
For those confused about the cultural significance of the recently deceased Malcolm McLaren, avail yourself of this giant classic text.