10 Essential Rock Music Memoir Audiobooks

Rock stars aren’t exactly known for holding back—and when they sit down to tell their stories, especially in their own voices, the result can be unforgettable.

These rock music audiobooks go beyond the headlines and stage lights. They dig into the chaos, the creativity, and the moments that shaped the music we still blast today. It’s a chance to hear the story behind the sound—straight from the source.

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

Bruce goes deep in this one. He talks about his childhood, depression, band dynamics, and what it actually took to become “The Boss.”

It’s long, but the guy delivers—his narration has this mix of preacher, poet, and guy-at-the-bar energy that makes even the quieter moments land. You don’t have to be a hardcore Springsteen fan to appreciate the craft here.

Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono

Bono structures this like a mixtape—40 chapters, each tied to a U2 song, with stories ranging from his chaotic childhood to global activism to band life. He’s self-aware, occasionally a bit much (it’s Bono), but also unexpectedly funny and reflective.

The audiobook adds some original music and sound design, which makes it feel more like a performance than a straight reading. It’s one of the more ambitious rock memoirs out there—and somehow, it works.

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl

Grohl comes off exactly how you’d hope—funny, down-to-earth, and genuinely stoked to be telling his story. He jumps around a bit, covering everything from punk clubs to playing with Paul McCartney, but it never feels scattered.

His narration is full of personality, and you can tell he actually loves sharing these stories. It’s a solid reminder of why so many people in music genuinely respect the guy.

Alanis Morissette: Words + Music, Vol. 8 by Alanis Morissette

This one’s a mix of memoir and stripped-down performance, exclusive to Audible. Alanis opens up about the stories behind her biggest songs, including the ones that hurt to write—and she doesn’t hold back.

It’s raw, thoughtful, and intimate in a way that makes you want to go back and relisten to Jagged Little Pill with fresh ears. Not your typical rock memoir, but definitely worth the hour.

Life by Keith Richards

Keith’s story is as wild and sprawling as you’d expect—and somehow even better when he’s telling it (with help from Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley on narration). There’s plenty of sex, drugs, riffs, and fights, but also moments of real insight into songwriting, loyalty, and survival.

It’s messy in all the right ways and full of that dry Richards humor. If you’ve ever wondered how he’s still alive, this won’t exactly explain it—but it’ll make you glad he is.

Heartbreaker: A Memoir by Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell doesn’t shout—he just quietly lays down some of the most iconic guitar parts in rock history. This memoir is low-key but deeply personal, especially when he talks about his decades with Tom Petty and the heartbreak of losing him.

His narration isn’t slick, but it’s real, and that makes it land harder. A must-listen if you care about the craft behind the songs.

My Effin’ Life by Geddy Lee

Geddy covers a lot here—his childhood as the son of Holocaust survivors, the evolution of Rush, and his deep dives into bass gear (fair warning: it gets nerdy in spots). But what stands out most is how thoughtful and self-aware he is.

His voice is dry, funny, and surprisingly emotional, especially when talking about Neil Peart. It’s a big story told with heart—and a little Canadian weirdness.

Somebody Saved Me: Words + Music, Vol. 27 by Pete Townshend

This one focuses on a specific window in Townshend’s life—the late ’70s and early ’80s—when things were getting dark, both personally and professionally. He reflects on grief, addiction, and trying to hold The Who together while also questioning what it all meant.

It’s stripped-down and serious, with acoustic versions of a few songs woven in. Feels more like a confessional than a rock memoir, in a good way.

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

Kiedis lays it all out—his chaotic childhood, nonstop drug use, and the rise (and repeated near-collapse) of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It’s raw and relentless, sometimes frustrating, often fascinating.

The audiobook’s not read by him, but the voice still captures the messy intensity of the story. It’s not polished, but neither is the life he’s describing.

Just Kids by Patti Smith

This one’s less sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll—more poetry, poverty, and Patti figuring out who she is in 1970s New York. It’s about her friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe, but also about being young, broke, and chasing art.

Smith narrates it herself in that hypnotic voice of hers, and there’s something honest and rough around the edges that fits perfectly. It’s not a rock memoir in the usual sense, but it hits just as hard.

What makes these audiobooks essential isn’t just the fame or the hits—it’s the honesty. Some are loud, some are quiet, but they all pull back the curtain on the lives behind the music. You hear the cost of chasing it, the joy of finding it, and the weird, human stuff in between.

If you care about rock—not just the sound, but the stories—these are worth your time.