When Giants Walked The Earth by veteran british hard-rock journalist Mick Wall is to date, the best researched and most comprehensive rock music book covering the legendary band, Led Zeppelin. As the undisputed biggest band of the 1970′s, the public fascination with the band has not waned even though the band has released no new material since the untimely death of drummer John Bonham in 1980 and their subsequent disbandment. The interest in Led Zeppelin has been further fueled by the remaining band members, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul-Jones being famously reclusive about the band, it’s history and the Zeppelin enigma.

Where this book works well is when Wall uses his knowledge of the band, including his long friendship with Page to paint an interesting and accurate account of the band and their history. From an in-depth background on all 4 members, their childhood, family influences and early musical careers, the book moves onto the formation of Led Zeppelin and their early performances and recordings. My favorite parts of the book were the comprehensive accounts of the recording of each of the bands studio albums, with events captured in detail from key personel involved in the recording process. Not only was the time and location of the recording of each album covered, but Wall provides and insightful analysis of every Zeppelin song, which his research uncovered a treasure trove of information not covered in any of the other numerous Led Zeppelin memoirs that I have read.

From the humblest of beginnings in post war London to one of the most famous guitarists in the world as a founding member of The Rolling Stones, Life is Keith Richards’s eagerly awaited memoir, covering his life from dirt poor blues lover to rock superstar, his complex relationship with Mick Jagger, his infamous drug busts and addictions, his many relationship but mostly importantly, his undying love of music of all styles and genres.

Keith Richards’s autobiography is unusual in the field of rock music books and memoirs in not only being a blunt assessment of his life and relationships, it is written in a stream of consciousness style in stark contrast to the standard rock music autobiography fare which is heavily edited and polished by ghost writers. Richards’s book appears to be transcribed directly from audiotape which gives it an endearing quality not usually found in this genre. The downside to this style is that it can be hard work to labor through, showing why memoirs are usually ghost written by professionals. In this instance I believe the stream of conscious style adds immensely to the book. It gives an accurate and fascinating insight into this guitar heroes mind and inner working and gives his life story a warmth and character often lacking in self authored memoirs.

I am Ozzy is the stunning autobiography of legendary Black Sabbath front-man Ozzy Osbourne. In his own words, he tries to explain his crazy life, the formation of rock’s first heavy metal band, his subsequent solo career and his resurection as a pop culture icon through the hit MTV reality show, The Osbournes. If the events that recollected in this book were about anyone but Ozzy you would not believe that one human being could experience so much happiness, despair and drug and alcohol abuse in one life time and live to tell the tale. The most amazing thing about this book is that it only recalls the parts of Ozzy’s life that he can remember, it is truly scary to consider what craziness he has honestly forgotten.

Slash (Real Name:Saul Hudson) defined rock music for an entire generation in the late 80′s and early 90′s. Not since the guitar gods of the 60′s and 70′s such as Page, Hendrix and Clapton had any man brought the art of guitar playing back to the masses. Slash helped to redefine hard rock, taking it from the edges to the mainstream and in the process setting the musical direction of one of the most iconic bands of all time, Guns N’ Roses.  Slash: It Seems Excessive But That Doesn’t Mean It Didn’t Happen, is one of the great rock music books that documents for the first time Slash’s entire story, including the rise and fall of Guns N’ Roses, his complex relationship with Axl Rose and his battles with alcohol, drugs and depression.