In the past few years, we have seen a proliferation of wonderfully and wildly insightful biographies and behind-the-scenes looks at life on the road, the inspirations behind the songs, and tales of bandmate antics and debauchery. Here are a few of the old, the new and the never-to-be-forgotten tales of life in the world of music and madness.

Before Robert Plant rocked the Americana world, he was the lead singer of a little rock band called Led Zeppelin. Sex, drugs, and over-the-top exploits are forever captured for the ages in Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga.

Peek behind the scenes into the '60s west coast recording sessions in The Wrecking Crew: The inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret. 

In 2005 Bob Dylan wrote Chronicles, Volume 1. In true Dylan fashion, a dozen years later, there's still no volume 2. Sean Penn reads the audio version.

Ann Powers of NPR recently wrote about “love and sex and black and white” in Good Booty.

Rock and Roll and New Jersey Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen wrote a revealing chronicle of his life, Born to Run. The Boss can write and this title is considered one of the best musician bios ever put to paper.

One of the luckiest musicians to still be alive, Keith Richards, wrote a charming bio titled simply, Life. Richards recalls life on the road with the Stones, life off the rails, taxes, drugs, love and family.

Patti Smith wrote an endearing look at a young artist’s life in Just Kids. She just released a new book, Devotion.

And finally, there’s John Prine: Beyond Worlds, by Nashville’s own recently re-discovered, and rightly revered,  John Prine.