Who Is the Best Musician-Turned-Author?
SodaHead Slideshows
2011/01/21 21:00:00
SLIDESHOW: Who Is the Best Musician-Turned-Author?
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Bob Dylan
Dylan got such a good response to his 2004 best-seller "Chronicles: Volume One" that he's signed up to write six more books.
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Bob Dylan
Dylan got such a good response to his 2004 best-seller "Chronicles: Volume One" that he's signed up to write six more books.
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Keith Richards
Richards' new book "Life" is still on best-seller lists, and critics found his tales of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll hard to put down.
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Eric Clapton
The guitar god released "Clapton: The Autobiography" in 2007, in which he opened up about addiction, love, heartbreak and of course, music.
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George Harrison
The ex-Beatle's autobiography "I Me Mine" was published in 1980. John Lennon said he was hurt by how infrequently he appeared in the book, complaining that, "My influence on his life is absolutely zilch and nil."
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Jewel
The folksy pop-country singer published a book of poetry titled "A Night Without Armor" in 1998, which sold over 1 million copies and became a New York Times Bestseller.
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Jimmy Buffett
Buffett has written three No. 1 best-sellers: "Tales from Margaritaville," "Where Is Joe Merchant" and "A Pirate Looks At Fifty."
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Nikki Sixx
Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Six released the best-selling "Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star," in 2007, in which he discusses addiction and the "Girls Girls Girls" era.
Who Is the Best Musician-Turned-Author?
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567 votes
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183 votes
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67 votes
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558 votes
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Ever wanted to know a little bit more about how it feels to be "Like a Rolling Stone"?
Music fans, take note: Legendary folk singer Bob Dylan has inked a deal to write six new books, including two follow-ups to his 2004 best-seller "Chronicles: Volume One" and a collection based on his Sirius XM radio show.
Literary agent Andrew Wylie was seeking an eight-figure offer, Crain's New York Business reported, but it's unclear how much 69-year-old Dylan ultimately wrung out of Simon & Schuster.
We can see why Dylan signed up to write more books -- the singer once told Rolling Stone he was "spoiled" by the positive response to "Chronicles: Volume One."
"The reviews of this book, some of 'em almost made me cry - in a good way," he confessed. "I'd never felt that from a music critic, ever...."
Dylan is not the only musician to enjoy a little love from the best-seller lists. Readers can't get enough of hearing about Keith Richards' "Life" with the Rolling Stones. And back in the '90s, poetry fans were more likely to be studying Jewel than Shakespeare.
Click through our slideshow and let us know: Of all the musicians-turned-writers, which one is your favorite?
Music fans, take note: Legendary folk singer Bob Dylan has inked a deal to write six new books, including two follow-ups to his 2004 best-seller "Chronicles: Volume One" and a collection based on his Sirius XM radio show.
Literary agent Andrew Wylie was seeking an eight-figure offer, Crain's New York Business reported, but it's unclear how much 69-year-old Dylan ultimately wrung out of Simon & Schuster.
We can see why Dylan signed up to write more books -- the singer once told Rolling Stone he was "spoiled" by the positive response to "Chronicles: Volume One."
"The reviews of this book, some of 'em almost made me cry - in a good way," he confessed. "I'd never felt that from a music critic, ever...."
Dylan is not the only musician to enjoy a little love from the best-seller lists. Readers can't get enough of hearing about Keith Richards' "Life" with the Rolling Stones. And back in the '90s, poetry fans were more likely to be studying Jewel than Shakespeare.
Click through our slideshow and let us know: Of all the musicians-turned-writers, which one is your favorite?
Read More: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110116/SUB/...
Top Opinion
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SHER♥ 2011/01/21 23:47:11Keith Richards
song/story line follows some of his Eternal Champion themes. Also, he's listed in the credits.
I like Robert Plant since the minute I heard his voice.
Right now I'm reading Keith Richards "Life", which is page after page of anticipation. An exciting read, very stylish and well done.
So, other than books sold on the basis of his previous fame, what literary skills and works classify him as an "author"??
Largely, their only genuine claim to being an "author" is the fact people will buy what they have to say simply because of their fame - not because of their writing skill. Writing on fame does not constitute an author.
If these are the best there is to offer, I'd place my own name as an optionLOL ... but it's not good enough ... so this means we really only have a blank sheet!!LOL
Interesting ... very interesting...
I wonder how many decent results we have, gone the other way: from Author to Musician?? ... er ... Genuine author to Genuine musician ;)
The best musician who was also a highly skilled lyricist was probably Cat Stevens, as someone else pointed out before me
Her entire career is based on this "asylum" theme. Her most popular/recent album, "Opheliac", is about her struggle with bipolar disorder and how other people treated her. Her book was written to further understanding of mental illness and to show the evils of the mental health system.
The problem is, her book has only been out for a year and is very rare and expensive (she doesn't have a big-name publisher). You have to order it directly from her; it only comes in hardcover and is filled with illustrations by her and personal diary excerpts.
Journalists AND the Like are not authors.
The other point to the Q was that the person made it as a "musician" first ... then became an "author", not mere public diary writerLOL!
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a.The writer of a book, article, or other text.
b.One who practices writing as a profession.
So yes, technically journalists and the like are authors. And someone who makes her diaries and fictional stories public is an author.
An author does not just write 1,2,or3 books ... it is a practice
I have written 2 myself, and although I do a great deal of writing one way or another, I couldn't yet classify myself as an author