Bucket List: 6 Rock 'N' Roll Must-Reads!
- Mar 1
- 2 min read
For anyone who ever wanted to join a band
DAISY JONES & THE SIX: TAYLOR JENKINS REID (2019)
A Fleetwood Mac-inspired story about a fictional 1970s rock band’s meteoric rise, legendary album Aurora, and mysterious breakup after a final, iconic show. Reid focuses on the volatile, creative and romantic tension between fiery singer-songwriter Daisy Jones and brooding bandleader Billy Dunne, exploring themes of fame, addiction, love and artistry.
LIVING WITH THE DEAD: ROCK SCULLY (1996)
In the first memoir ever published by a member of the Grateful Dead family, one-time band manager Scully provides the full story of rock’s longest-running road show. He brings to life two decades of ceaseless touring, wild antics and musical experimentation, in which the Dead transformed from a folksy revivalist quintet to one of the most enduring legends in music history
N&N’S INFINITE PLAYLIST: RACHEL COHN (2006)
Two music-loving New York teens embark on a chaotic, all-night adventure as they search for a secret show being put on by a legendary band. Told in alternating chapters, the story unfolds over a single night as they navigate band drama, drunken friends and their own insecurities, culminating in an unexpected first date that’s fuelled by their shared passion for music.
THE COMMITMENTS, RODDY DOYLE (1987)
Jimmy Rabbitte, an unemployed Dubliner, forms The Commitments to bring Motown-style R&B to Ireland. The novel, the first in Doyle’s Barrytown Trilogy, chronicles the band’s raw talent, energetic rise, internal clashes and sudden collapse. The authentic, colloquial dialogue captures the spirit of 1980s Dublin and the transformative power of music.
THE GROUND BENEATH HER FEET: SALMAN RUSHDIE (1999)
An epic rock ‘n’ roll love story about the tumultuous relationship between Indian rock stars Vina Apsara and Ormus Cama, narrated by their childhood friend, photographer Rai Merchant, as they rise from postcolonial Bombay to global fame. Rushdie explores themes of love, loss, celebrity and alternate realities through a reimagining of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth.
31 SONGS: NICK HORNBY (2003)
A funny, relatable and heartwarming collection of essays in which Hornby discusses his 31 favourite pop/ rock anthems, and what they mean to him. He explores the profound emotional impact of music, and how it serves as a soundtrack to life, delving into why specific tracks resonate, ranging from nostalgic connections to deep lyrical appreciation.
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