Inspiring musician autobiographies for summer

A list of reading recommendations for any getaway this season

Musicians' autobiographies are often captivating summer reading material. Here, I have included some selections I believe will inspire creative minds to follow their own muses. These books reveal the obstacles the artists overcame to achieve success. Though most of these authors are currently approaching the twilight of their careers, their musical legacies are certain to outlive them.

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Thanks A Lot Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story by Roger Daltrey (2018, Henry Holt and Company)

Daltrey has been the lead vocalist for England's The Who since 1964. His working-class upbringing in Shepherd's Bush, a suburb of West London, England was tough and challenging. Born during World War II, his quick temper and eagerness to defend himself got him into trouble at school. After one particular incident, he was expelled by his headmaster, Mr. Kibblewhite, who told him he would be a failure in life. Ultimately, after years of hardships, he became one of the most renowned singers in rock. Daltrey's frank and cleverly worded book details his self-determination as well as life within rock's most volatile band. He describes The Who's complicated relationships through the good times and the bad, and as the interpreter of songwriter Pete Townshend's output, he also describes their singular partnership.

Reckless: My life as a Pretender by Chrissie Hynde (2015, Anchor Books)

Hynde details her upbringing in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of a Marine and a secretary. Her disinterest in school is overshadowed by her friendships and early love for music, specifically rock bands. Eventually moving to England in 1973, she lands a job working as a writer for the magazine New Musical Express. This leads to her befriending many members of the early English punk rock movement after working for designer Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren in their clothing store. These and other experiences inspire Hynde to form a band to play the songs she is writing. This band would become The Pretenders, and the remainder of the book details their exhilarating rise to fame and the profound losses associated with it.

Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs with the Grateful Dead by Bill Kreutzmann with Benjy Eisen (2015, St. Martin's Press)

Kreutzmann was the original drummer for The Grateful Dead, and his autobiography is an insider's look into the San Francisco band who became a counter-culture phenomenon but also eventually became a mainstream success. The book is his first-person account with all the direct observation and humor that a survivor of a uniquely successful rock band can deliver. He does not shy away from the reality of being in a group with complex dynamics, personalities, and struggles. If readers want to know how the Grateful Dead navigated their singular career, this is a must read, but it is also a very enlightening story about Kreutzmann's thoughts and feelings about his life's work. He also offers some sage advice within the book's final chapter.

I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne with Chris Ayres (2009, Grand Central Publishing)

John “Ozzy” Osbourne, Black Sabbath's original lead singer has lived one of the most decadent lives in rock and roll. His autobiography details his working-class formative years in Aston, Birmingham, England with is parents and sisters. In Osbourne's imitable forthright manner, he tells of his early mischievous behavior and his later purchase of a power amplifier for singing in order to entice potential bandmates. He describes Black Sabbath's first ten years and his eventually firing from the platinum-selling band. His ensuing solo act is also detailed, along with his issues with fame and substance abuse. He also talks about his mainstream popularity via the cable television series “The Osbournes” which led to his career's resurgence. Often witty and frequently shocking, “I Am Ozzy” leaves few questions unanswered.

One Train Later: A Memoir by Andy Summers (2006, Thomas Dunne Books)

Summers is revered among fellow guitarists not just for his tenure in The Police, but also for the music he has performed before and after that million-selling band. As a young man in England, he honed his skills as a member of Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, The Animals, The Soft Machine, and the Kevin Ayers Band. It is when he meets American drummer Stewart Copeland and Newcastle bassist Sting that his fortunes change for the better, though at his first meeting his bandmates he is non-plussed. Summers includes a wealth of insightful detail about his personal and professional relationships, both in the good times and the bad. He also tells of his other creative love, photography, and the visual art he captures on his worldwide travels. The book was the basis for the 2012 documentary film, “Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police.”