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Quick answer: If you liked I Am Ozzy, read Motley Crue's The Dirt, Anthony Kiedis's Scar Tissue, Keith Richards's Life and Patti Smith's Just Kids. All are frank, funny rock memoirs about fame, excess and survival.
Ozzy Osbourne's 2010 autobiography, written with Chris Ayres, tells the story of the Black Sabbath singer's life from a poor childhood in Birmingham to fame, addiction and reality TV. It is funny, chaotic and surprisingly warm. The books below offer similar rock autobiographies and music history.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dirt | Motley Crue and Neil Strauss | Adult | outrageous rock memoir |
| Scar Tissue | Anthony Kiedis | Adult | Red Hot Chili Peppers |
| Life | Keith Richards | Adult | Rolling Stones memoir |
| Just Kids | Patti Smith | Adult | art and friendship |
| Born to Run | Bruce Springsteen | Adult | rock star's life |
| Chronicles: Volume One | Bob Dylan | Adult | musician's memoir |
| Slash | Slash and Anthony Bozza | Adult | Guns N' Roses |
| Me | Elton John | Adult | pop star's story |
| Girl in a Band | Kim Gordon | Adult | indie rock memoir |
| Hammer of the Gods | Stephen Davis | Adult | Led Zeppelin |
| Please Kill Me | Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain | Adult | punk oral history |
| Beastie Boys Book | Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz | Adult | band history |
| Heavier Than Heaven | Charles R. Cross | Adult | Kurt Cobain biography |
| Cash | Johnny Cash and Patrick Carr | Adult | autobiography |
| Beautiful Boy | David Sheff | Adult | family and addiction |
1. The Dirt by Motley Crue and Neil Strauss
The band tells its own story of excess and fame. Wild and grim.
Best for: outrageous rock memoir.
2. Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis
Kiedis recalls addiction and music. Honest and gripping.
Best for: Red Hot Chili Peppers.
3. Life by Keith Richards
Richards recalls decades in the Rolling Stones. Rambling and magnetic.
Best for: Rolling Stones memoir.
4. Just Kids by Patti Smith
Patti Smith writes about her friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe. Lyrical and moving.
Best for: art and friendship.
5. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen tells his life story with candour. Thoughtful and well written.
Best for: rock star's life.
6. Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan
Dylan recalls pivotal moments in his career. Strange and brilliant.
Best for: musician's memoir.
7. Slash by Slash and Anthony Bozza
Slash recalls fame, addiction and music. Direct and funny.
Best for: Guns N' Roses.
8. Me by Elton John
Elton John writes about fame, addiction and love. Warm and funny.
Best for: pop star's story.
9. Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon
Gordon writes about Sonic Youth and her life. Cool and reflective.
Best for: indie rock memoir.
10. Hammer of the Gods by Stephen Davis
A notorious biography of the band. Lurid and fast.
Best for: Led Zeppelin.
11. Please Kill Me by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain
An oral history of punk rock. Raw and funny.
Best for: punk oral history.
12. Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz
The band tells its story with photos and essays. Funny and warm.
Best for: band history.
13. Heavier Than Heaven by Charles R. Cross
A biography of the Nirvana singer. Sad and detailed.
Best for: Kurt Cobain biography.
14. Cash by Johnny Cash and Patrick Carr
Johnny Cash tells his own story. Honest and moving.
Best for: autobiography.
15. Beautiful Boy by David Sheff
A father writes about his son's addiction. Painful and honest.
Best for: family and addiction.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with I Am Ozzy: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more rock memoirs choose The Dirt, Scar Tissue or Slash. For more thoughtful stories pick Just Kids, Born to Run or Me. For classic rock read Life or Hammer of the Gods. For history try Please Kill Me. For the family side of addiction read Beautiful Boy. I Am Ozzy contains drug use and strong language, so check content notes. I Am Ozzy has the distinct comic voice of its subject, so music fans often enjoy it alongside a few Black Sabbath albums. Check current listings for audiobook details. Rock memoirs are best enjoyed alongside music, so a playlist of the band in question adds to the pleasure. If you want funny and chaotic, try The Dirt or Slash. If you want thoughtful and artistic, Just Kids and Born to Run are stronger. If you want cautionary tales, Scar Tissue and Beautiful Boy show the cost of addiction. Ozzy's wife Sharon has her own memoir, Extreme, which gives another view of the family.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is I Am Ozzy about?
Ozzy Osbourne's life from Birmingham to Black Sabbath, solo fame and reality TV.
Who wrote it?
Ozzy Osbourne with Chris Ayres.
When was it published?
2010.
Is it funny?
Yes, often absurdly so.
Is it explicit?
Yes, with drug use and strong language.
Who is Sharon in the book?
Ozzy's wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne.
Is it a good book for heavy metal fans?
Yes, with stories about Black Sabbath and metal history.
What should I read next?
Try The Dirt or Scar Tissue.
Is I Am Ozzy accurate?
It is Ozzy's recollection, with help from a co-writer, so some details are told in his own comic way.
Did Ozzy write a second book?
Check current listings for any follow-up memoirs.
Is I Am Ozzy suitable for teens?
It contains drugs and language, so it is best for older teens and adults.
Is Ozzy still touring?
Check current listings for news.