The Ten Best Rock Books

2. Factory Records – Matthew Robertson
This lovingly compiled collection tells the story of Factory Records through its innovative design by artists such as Peter Saville, the man responsible for the iconic artwork on early releases by Joy Division and New Order.
Thames & Hudson, £18.95

3. Bit of a Blur – Alex James
Alex James is a witty, engaging guide to the mad goings-on behind the scenes of Britpop. Blur’s bassist famously estimates that he blew around £1m on champagne and cocaine during the Nineties. Here’s how.
Little, Brown, £16.99

4. Love is a Mix Tape – Rob Sheffield
A memoir by Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield, the book tells the story of his marriage and his young wife’s sudden death. The narrative hangs on the tapes the couple made each other to accompany every occasion.
Piatkus, £9.99 (paperback)

5. Slash – Slash (with Anthony Bozza)
You only need look at Slash to know he’s got some tales to tell, and tell them he does in this rollercoaster account. There are the highs of Guns N’Roses’ success, the lows of drug abuse, and other raucous rock yarns.
Harper Collins, £18.99

6. Tearing Down the Wall of Sound – Mick Brown
Mick Brown had a rare opportunity to interview Phil Spector, the original super-producer, shortly before his arrest for murder in 2003. Brown has built this biography around that wide-ranging encounter.
Bloomsbury, £18.99

7. There’s a Riot Going on – Peter Doggett
Doggett’s encyclopaedic account of Sixties counter-culture is a fascinating history of pop’s relationship with politics, examining the establishment’s skill at assimilating rock’n’roll rebellion into the mainstream.
Canongate, £25 

8. Bring The Noise – Simon Reynolds
Acclaimed music journalist Simon Reynolds has spent 20 years writing about rock and hip-hop. This collection of his essays, articles and interviews charts his journey along the cutting edge of both movements.
Faber, £16.99

9. Redemption Song – Chris Salewicz
Joe Strummer was perhaps the most articulate spokesman for the punk generation, and here, the Clash frontman gets the epic biography he deserves from rock journalist and friend, Chris Salewicz.
Harper Collins, £10.99 (paperback)

10. The Autobiography – Eric Clapton
One of rock’s most revered guitarists, Clapton reveals all in this unflinching confessional, covering his addictions, his romantic entanglements, and his career, taking in Cream, The Yardbirds, and even, briefly, The Beatles.
Century, £20