Rock reads
From rockers of the 60s to punk icons of the 70s and Riot grrrl bands of the 90s, this is your cheat sheet of need-to-know women who transformed the global music scene. Great for reading and for looking good on a coffee table.
For our Women Who Rock theme, we’ve curated a list of essential biographies and memoirs by iconic female rock stars, including Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, and Debbie Harry. Books about our homegrown rock chicks and icons include Suzanne Lynch and Parris Goebel.
Just Kids by Patti Smith: Known as the ‘godmother of punk’, Patti revolutionised 1970s rock with her 1975 debut album, Horses. Just Kids chronicles her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe and her rise in the New York punk scene. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked her 47th on their list of 100 Greatest Artists of all Time.
Reckless: My Life as a Pretender by Chrissie Hynde: A powerful memoir by one of rock’s most charismatic stars, the American-British singer, songwriter and musician at the heart of the embryonic 1970s punk scene, who formed the Pretenders and went on to give us classics like Brass in Pocket and Don’t Get Me Wrong.
Face It by Debbie Harry: The front-woman of Blondie, Debbie Harry and the band forged a new sound that brought together the worlds of rock, punk, disco, reggae and hip-hop to create some of the most beloved pop songs of all time.
I, Tina by Tina Turner and Kurt Loder: The story of the legendary Tina Turner’s resilience and stardom.
Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk by Kathleen Hanna: Memoir from the Bikini Kill frontwoman.
Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon: The Sonic Youth bassist discusses life as an artist, marriage, motherhood, and breaking ground in rock.
Coal to Diamonds by Beth Ditto: A raw and beautiful coming-of-age memoir, telling the story of the Gossip singer’s journey from small-town, rural Arkansas to
global stardom.
Love, Janis by Laura Joplin: A revealing and intimate biography about Janis Joplin, the Queen of Classic Rock, written by her younger sister. Janis blazed across the 1960s music scene, electrifying audiences and pouring her soul into her music. By the time her life was cut short by a heroin overdose at age 27, she had become the stuff of rock and roll legend.
Yesterday When I Was Young by Suzanne Lynch and Karen Hay: Suzanne Lynch of sisterly singing duo The Chicks shares her life story, covering her rise to fame at age 14 in the 1960s, her long career as a solo artist and backing singer for international stars like Cat Stevens and Sandie Shaw, followed by her work with The Lady Killers, a dream team of New Zealand’s favourite female vocalists.
Young Queen by Parris Goebel: The extraordinary story of a Polynesian girl who grew up in New Zealand and went from high-school dropout to award-winning dancer, choreographer and video director. At just 19, Parris got her big break choreographing for Jennifer Lopez. She has since worked with some of the biggest stars in music, including Janet Jackson, Rihanna and Justin Bieber, creating his record-breaking video, Sorry.
