It’s difficult to think of a past musician when they’re portrayed in a Hollywood-made biopic that bends the facts for the public’s enjoyment. Sure they’re all great movies and can inspire new ears to the music, but in the end die hard music fans need something more substantial when it comes to telling the tale of who he/she/the band was and why they should be remembered. Written, with a little bit of help from an editor of course, by the artist themselves and telling their story in their own words, the autobiography is what will truly communicate and in ways connect the artist and fan together. You watch the biopic to get the cliff notes. You read the book to find meaning.

Bob Dylan – Chronicles Vol. 1

For someone like Bob Dylan, one of the most reclusive and ambivalent musicians anyone can think of, to come out with an autobiography seems quite audacious, never mind calling it the first volume of three. The book has Dylan talking about his early days as a folk singer in New York City right before he was picked up by John Hammond and Columbia Records. It periodically jumps around to several other points in his career including two chapters about his albums New Morning and Oh Mercy. This might be the first time we get to see a straight account of the freewheelin’ man in plain words without any mixed imagery he incorporates in his songs. He leaves out the latter years of the ’60s, one of the most tumultuous times of his career and for music and something people would want to read about, naturally. Spending 19 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, the book has two audio version read by Sean Penn and Nick Landrum.

Johnny Cash – Cash

Though this isn’t the first autobiography Johnny Cash ever wrote, The Man In Black was released in 1986, it still holds up as one of the best music books ever released and is engaging for fans or non-fans of ‘the man in black.’ Like Dylan’s, Cash travels back and forth between events in his life and the present in a very conversational manner. While reading it’s hard not to think of the old timer speaking to you as if you were sitting right next to him. Written with the help of Country Music Magazine editor Patrick Carr, this book takes music fans and general readers into the world of a musician whose family trouble, run-ins with the law and artistic ability have made him worth remembering.

Anthony Kiedis – Scar Tissue

Taken from the single off his band’s seventh studio album Californication of the same name, Scar Tissue is a detailed account of Red Hot Chili Pepper’s singer Anthony Kiedis’ life. Starting from his early childhood and his relationship with his drug dealing father the book recounts the formation of what would become one of the biggest rock bands with longtime member and friend Michael “Flea” Balzary. It also describes, in great detail, the many drug abuses and sexual relationships Kiedis had with girlfriends as well as his struggle with with recovery and remaining clean. Released in 2004, the book also reached #1 on the New York Times best-seller list.

Kurt Cobain – Journals

Not really an autobiography and published 9 years after his death, Kurt Cobain’s journals have become a necessary item for the hipsters’ coffee table. Whether this intrusion into the life of someone should have been published or not doesn’t really matter now, but any fan of the singer or his band Nirvana needs to take a peek. The journals Cobain wrote, apparently spread out in various notebooks, have been comprised into one with exact copies of the entries in his own handwriting, which is neat and enjoyable for music nerds alike. Similar illustrations Cobain did for album artwork can be seen in the journal as well as letters to fellow Washington band members Dale Crover from The Melvins and Mark Lannegan from Screaming Trees. There are several well written, in-depth biographies of the late singer including Heavier Than Heaven by Charles R. Cross, yet these journals are the only piece of material besides his songs that truly speak from Cobain’s heart and that’s why they’re included on this list, whether you choose to read them or not.

Eric Clapton – The Autobiography

Heralded as one of the greatest guitarists and having been inducted into the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame three times, once on his own and the other times with The Yardbirds and Cream, Eric Clapton’s autobiography already warrants a bit of hype before even reading the first page. Instead of recounting time spent in the studio, which might disappoint some eager axe players or fans wanting to hear of song creations, Clapton tells the stories behind his drug and alcohol addictions as well as his romantic obsession with muse Pattie Boyd, who inspired the song “Layla.” Having lots of fans the guitarist remains modest about his talent and “Clapton is God” graffiti, yet still displays an appreciation for all those who helped him and for the fund-raising efforts for his Crossroads Centre in Antigua. A great read for anyone with an appreciation for rock history.