The Best Music Biographies To Come Out During The Pandemic
'The Beatles: Get Back' on Disney+ has been generating a ton of buzz and has put people in the mood to dive into their favorite artists' material. So, just as we looked at the “Biggest Album Releases During The Pandemic” previously, we want to take a look now at some of the best music biographies to come out in the last two years or so.
They may not be eight-hour mega documentaries directed by Peter Jackson, but these books will immerse fans in information about beloved performers.
'Jimmy Page: The Anthology' –– Jimmy Page
This is a companion to 'Autobiography' from 2010. In 'The Anthology,' Page delves into personal archives and adds hundreds of items: stage outfits, memos, diary pages, and of course, guitars. This massive tome gives readers that "a picture is worth a thousand words" feeling, offering an extremely personal look into the life and career of the iconic Led Zeppelin guitarist. This is not merely an obligatory cash grab either (as many biographies appear to be if we're being honest). Page himself promoted the book in an interview with The Times at The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival
'They Just Seem a Little Weird: How Kiss, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and Starz Remade Rock and Roll' –– Doug Brod
This 4-in-1 biography about the titular bands’ careers through the '70s and '80s (and even now), gives us a first-hand look at their influence on rock. It pays tribute to the bands so many of us fell in love with growing up (or even through our parents!). The book places less emphasis on background and personal stories and focuses more on the groups' music relationships with one another and other bands. Kirkus Reviews describes the book as “a fun, compassionate history of arena rock’s finest hour — and the less-fine hours that followed.” All in all, 'They Just Seem a Little Weird' is a great look at famous bands that left a lasting imprint on rock history.
'More Myself: A Journey' –– Alicia Keys
Described as “an intimate, revealing look at one artist's journey from self-censorship to full expression," this book sees Alicia Keys opened up about her family, career, and the sense of having to be someone she's not. It’s a poetic, inspiring piece for anyone in a career that puts them in the public eye (or, of course, anyone who simply admires Keys!). As an added bonus, this is also a particularly fun book to listen to. Scribd notes that the 'More Myself' audiobook is narrated not only by Keys, but also in places by Bono, Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, and Michelle Obama (among other noteworthy figures).
'Music by Max Steiner: The Epic Life of Hollywood’s Most Influential Composer' –– Steven C. Smith
A cinema music career doesn't get much longer or more impressive than Max Steiner's three-decade reign at the top –– and this book is an excellent chronicle of it. Smith brings the focus to Steiner’s complete flexibility with orchestral music, including his work in 'King Kong,' 'Casablanca,' 'Gone With the Wind,' and 'A Summer Place.' As a write-up at Zocalo Public Square stated with regard to the composer, Steinr had a gift for translating human emotion "into music that still works its magic on 21st-century viewers.” It's a lovely way to think of his work, and it's a sentiment that comes through in this book as well.
Although some of these pieces are about artists from the '70s and '80s (and before), they give us a glimpse into the difficult musical careers and decisions that many artists have to make. Hopefully, this list will give you some inspiration, especially if you’re on the musical path yourself!