On repeat: 26 of our favorite music memoirs

Written and narrated by The Boss himself, the Audie Award-winning Born to Run is a cornerstone of the rock autobiography genre. From his working-class childhood in Freehold, New Jersey, and "Big Bang" moment—seeing Elvis Presley's debut on The Ed Sullivan Show—through his early days as a bar-band king in Asbury Park and the rise of the E Street Band to headlining Super Bowl XLIII’s halftime show, Bruce Springsteen’s reflections on life, work, dreams, family, and music are as lyrical and authentic as the career-defining album that shares this title’s name.

A standout on this list, Common is a talent in so many fields—he’s a rapper, writer, activist, and actor, with a Grammy, Oscar, and Golden Globe to his name. All of his gifts are on full display in the absolutely stunning Bluebird Memories. In this deeply personal and highly creative work, Common blends various art forms—classic hip-hop, poetry, music, performance, and more—to tell his story. From his childhood spent longing for a loving father to his constant search for a better understanding of life, community, identity, and faith, the superstar bares his soul and offers listeners an invitation to do the same.

Much ink has been spilled on Mariah Carey, but in this memoir the legendary singer tells her story in her own words and voice for the very first time. Carey explores how she found her way out of darkness at different points in her life, and as you might expect, her evocative lyrics and powerful, soulful vocals introduce each chapter to bring context—meaning—to the music she’s written over the past 30 years. Fans will discover that many of the songs they know by heart describe the real pain of isolation and fraught relationships within her complicated, mixed-race family. The Meaning of Mariah Carey is a story of hope, faith, and resilience that—yet again—affirms Carey’s icon status.

Few singer-songwriters are as beloved as James Taylor, and in this Audible Original, the folk icon explores his tumultuous youth with remarkable candor. Unearthing the trials of forging his way through addiction, mental illness, and a turbulent home life at the very outset of his career, Taylor shares intimate details of his life that paint his work in an entirely new light. An innovative audio performance read in Taylor’s own voice, Break Shot also features exclusive unreleased scores and recordings that fans of the "Fire and Rain" musician won’t want to miss.

Winner of the 2010 National Book Award for nonfiction, Just Kids is not only a triumph in rock memoir—it’s a triumph in memoir, period. In her own voice, punk poet laureate Patti Smith tells of her scrappy early days in New York City as a budding artist, supported and enthused by her friendship with the late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. This listen is just as gorgeously written and performed as you’d expect—a delicate, breathtaking rumination on a generation of lost souls.

At once trailblazing and rowdy, the eclectic sounds of the Beastie Boys have stayed with us long after their initial debut (as a hardcore band!) in 1981. Since then, the unlikeliest of hip-hop superstars have become a household name. In this stellar autobiography, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horowitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond detail the band’s history and explore their indelible legacy, including moving tributes to their late bandmate, Adam "MCA" Yauch. Adding to the fun and nostalgia, this listen features cameos from a star-studded cast of celebrity voices—Bette Midler, Snoop Dogg, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Tweedy, LL Cool J, and Rachel Madow among them.

In Sir Elton John’s official autobiography, Me, the pop star-turned-living-legend offers a revelatory look at the story behind his meteoric rise to fame. With narration from Taron Egerton, who delivered a Golden Globe-winning performance of John in the biopic Rocketman, this listen is at once uproarious and moving, exploring moments that range from larger than life—think disco-dancing with the Queen—to more intimate events, like getting sober and finding love.

Alicia Keys is without a doubt one of the most impressive vocalists of her generation. Her control and range are tremendous, and her music rightfully topped the charts throughout the 2000s. But while her incredible talent is no secret, Keys has been rather guarded and private over the years. In More Myself, she shares the story behind her rise to fame, reckoning with her younger self’s need for perfection and likability, which led to a long habit of people-pleasing, and sharing her new dedication to openness. Narrated by the author—with the help of a few guests, including Jay-Z and Michelle Obama—this listen is not only a candid memoir but also a call for each listener to honor their authentic self.

When Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016 for his exquisite contributions to the American songwriting canon, naysayers questioned whether Dylan’s lyrical achievements directly translated to literary greatness. Those cynics may want to take a listen to Chronicles: Volume One, a memoir that illuminates Dylan’s career with rhythm and expression, intertwining taut observations with glimmering, imaginative prose. Actor Sean Penn takes on the role of narrator, and listeners praise his rendition of Dylan's words as an "amazing reading."

Though you may not know her by name, Sophia Chang is one of the most ferocious, fearless figures in the music industry. Striving past societal expectations, Chang shunned, then shattered, the "model minority" myth, managing hip-hop and R&B stars such as Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, and D’Angelo. In this Audible Original memoir, Chang illustrates the pivotal moments of transformation that preceded and followed her journey as one of the first Asian women working in the genre.

Rush drummer and lyrical maestro Neil Peart passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of musical influence and a legion of loyal fans. In Ghost Rider, Peart also demonstrated a skill for storytelling, chronicling a destination-free motorcycle journey across North America—an expedition that he hoped would bring him reprieve from grief and heartache in the wake of the unthinkable loss of both his 19-year-old daughter and his wife in less than a year. Actor Brian Sutherland narrates with genuine emotion and caring respect.

Practically synonymous with the rock autobiography genre, Keith Richards’s Life is a rollicking, unfiltered look at the life and times of a classic rock paragon. Beyond crafting some of our favorite guitar riffs for the Rolling Stones—from the dreamy, drawn-out whine of "Gimme Shelter" to the jaunty build of "Jumpin’ Jack Flash"—the legendary wild man also shares a great deal of insight into the frenzy of fame, bandmate quarrels, and the highs (freedom) and lows (isolation) of life the road. It's narrated by movie icon Johnny Depp, who worked alongside Richards in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, and the actor effortlessly captures the author’s signature slow, measured drawl.

Underground alt-darlings Sonic Youth spearheaded the experimental noise rock movement in New York City, skyrocketing bassist and founding member Kim Gordon into the limelight. A stylish, rough-around-the-edges artist unafraid to trample over uncharted territory, Gordon details the band’s history, her position as a role model for young women in the alt-scene, and the moments that defined her personal life in Girl in the Band. This earnest, fan-favorite memoir is read by the author.

Laura Jane Grace is best known as the front woman of Florida-founded punk band Against Me! and her solo project, Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers. But in her memoir, Tranny—named to reclaim the slurs hurled at her, again and again—Grace offers a far more intimate look at her life, detailing her search for identity, beating back repression and despondency along the way. Built upon journal entries that date back to her childhood and narrated by Grace herself, Tranny details the difficulties and excesses of the rock lifestyle, pitfalls made all the more complicated by an ongoing search for self-discovery.

In terms of musical legends, there’s no one quite like the late, great Miles Davis. Davis was the most influential and acclaimed artist in jazz, a genius who always seemed to be ahead of the curve on each new development or style. In Miles, Davis is more candid than ever, starkly detailing his struggles with addiction, his battle for sobriety, and the crippling violence of racism in both the music industry and America at large.

With a decades-spanning career and relentlessly energetic stage presence, Tina Turner is nothing short of an icon in the worlds of rock, soul, R&B, and pop. In My Love Story, Turner rebuffs years of tabloid coverage, taking control of the narrative and detailing moments of her life, ranging from the heartbreaking to the chart-topping. Unafraid and as spirited as ever, Turner offers listeners her hard-won understanding of how to draw boundaries in overcoming domestic abuse and how to find love and joy again.

When they first hit the scene in Olympia, Washington, in the early ’90s, Sleater-Kinney found their niche in the Riot Grrrl movement, an underground punk subculture that rejected patriarchy in all forms—beginning with the male-dominated scene. Since then, Sleater-Kinney has moved on to indie rock, but one thing remains consistent: guitarist Carrie Brownstein bounding around the stage, tying everything together with slick riffs and distinct vocals. In the lyrically named Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl, Brownstein shares her history with the label-resistant band, crafting a raw, genuine memoir in the process.

The tragic loss of Prince in 2016 struck a global nerve—after all, there was something about the physically diminutive superstar with an enormous presence that felt eternal. For fans, The Beautiful Ones is a must-listen, a memoir that unravels the famous persona to reveal Prince Rogers Nelson, an observant, bright-eyed kid from Minnesota. While the Purple One passed on before its completion, this pop autobiography is accompanied by scrapbooks of his writing and the original treatment for his definitive film, Purple Rain—resulting in a touching reminder of the talent, spirit, and unbridled genius Prince brought into this world. It's beautifully performed by Grammy-winning jazz artist Esperanza Spalding and accomplished narrator Adepero Oduye.

While many of the selections on this list focus on the years spent touring and recording, Acid for the Children is a music memoir that deliberately does not focus on the active period of fame. Flea, the bassist for the funk rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers, instead chooses to hone in on his years prior to worldwide fame, exploring his childhood and adolescence. His compelling search for a place to belong and his introduction to the world of music and bohemian life that would inspire his career make for a fascinating, warm listen, narrated in his own voice, that’s full of life.

One of the foremost pioneers of the trap music subgenre, rapper Gucci Mane is known for his tremendous influence on the hip-hop soundscape. But while his authority in the music scene is unquestioned, Gucci Mane—born Radric Delantic Davis in Bessemer, Alabama—first made his name on the streets as a drug dealer, beginning more than a decade of legal issues and a crippling drug addiction that had him struggling to survive. In this autobiography, which he began writing while incarcerated, Gucci Mane details the demons of his adolescence and early career, as well as the fortitude that generated personal growth, allowing him to get sober—and calmer and healthier than ever.

Singer-songwriter Janis Ian’s Society’s Child is the quintessence of the music memoir genre, a Grammy and Audie Award-winning listen that explores an exceptional life with incredibly down-to-earth, human honesty. Named for the controversial 1966 hit that made a teenage Ian a burgeoning star, this audiobook spans from Ian’s days hanging out with her peers—the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin—to her decision to quit and, nearly 10 years later, return to the music business. Graceful, measured, and conversational, Ian’s stories—and voice—will stay with you longer after this listen is over.

Though we lost powerhouse popstar Whitney Houston in 2012, Robyn Crawford, her dear friend and collaborator, crafts a loving, reverent tribute in her reflective memoir, A Song for You. Crawford’s friendship with Houston began before she entered the realm of superstardom with her explosive debut album, but they remained close through years of touring and recording, supporting each other through many of life’s major moments. Intimate and sincere, Crawford’s account is a celebration of friendship and love in the midst of an up-and-coming musical juggernaut.

A raucous tell-all written by the four members of Mötley Crüe, The Dirt was adapted into a film for Netflix. Performed by a quintet of narrators—Sebastian York, Roger Wayne, Fred Berman, MacLeod Andrews, and Hillary Huber—it's no less vivid or shocking in audio. From trashed hotel rooms to boozed-fueled parties, this listen embodies the excesses of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle—sex, drugs, and liquor with the occasional hotheaded fistfight—giving fans a glance into the scandals, affairs, and antics that accompanied the band's rise to fame and notoriety. Wild, reckless, and sometimes difficult to listen to, this metal autobiography is a definite landmark on the more lurid side of music memoir.

From his breakout as the front man of Genesis to an incredibly successful career as a solo artist to crafting one of the most masterful animated soundtracks ever (we’re looking at you, Tarzan), Phil Collins is undoubtedly a talented musician. He's won seven Grammys and an Oscar, plus the Songwriters Hall of Fame's prestigious Johnny Mercer Award. He also has quite the knack for memoir, writing and narrating a listen that’s at turns tongue-in-cheek and deeply moving. In Not Dead Yet, Collins showcases a remarkable sense of humility, outlining his life without varnish and with tremendous wit—merits that fans of the sometimes misunderstood performer are sure to appreciate.

Michelle Zauner is the musician behind Japanese Breakfast and the author of the viral New Yorker essay that shares the title of this memoir. In Crying in H Mart, she expands upon her experience growing up Korean American in an overwhelmingly white town, feeling disconnected from her heritage, and the loss of her mother at a young age—and how that experience led her to rediscover her identity. This moving memoir is narrated beautifully by Zauner herself.

Fat Joe is more than a hip-hop legend—he’s an inspiration. Born into a sprawling Puerto Rican and Cuban family, Joseph Cartagena struggled with a traumatizing landscape as part of his upbringing, grew into himself during some of the darkest times in South Bronx, and turned his life around. The Book of Jose isn’t just a success story—it’s a real-life look at how a young man overcame formidable odds to follow his passion for art and music. Partly laced with a tragi-comedy vibe but wholly compelling, Fat Joe writes and narrates his autobiography in his own voice, telling a thought-provoking story that uncovers the truth behind who he is and who he aspires to be.