Spring Reads: Exploring Three Unique Music Autobiographies
- Blair Morgan
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Not content with completing three music autobiographies in winter, three more have been added to the list: Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell, The Silver River by Jim Moginie, and The Harder I Fight The More I Love You by Neko Case. Each offers a unique perspective on the music industry and the personal journeys of these talented musicians, inviting readers to connect deeply with their experiences.
Heartbreaker: The Story of My Life – Mike Campbell (with Ari Surdoval)
A candid and soulful reflection on life in and beyond the Heartbreakers, charting Campbell’s journey from sideman to frontman with humility and grace
Mike Campbell was the lead guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, from the band’s pre-Heartbreaker days in Gainesville, Florida, as Mudcrutch, right through to Petty’s tragic death in 2017.
It took a while to get into this book , perhaps because the early Tom Petty years have already been covered exhaustively in Peter Bogdanovich’s documentary Running Down a Dream and in Warren Zanes’ superb biography Petty, published just before Petty’s death. However, once past the familiar early chapters , and adjusting to Campbell’s laconic audiobook delivery , you find yourself immersed in a world of friendship, creativity, and the profound impact of music.
Co-writer Ari Surdoval has done a sterling job researching the key figures and influences in Campbell’s life: guitarist Mike Bloomfield, manager Denny Cordell, and sidekick Leon Russell, among others. The level of detail is impressive. For the guitar geek, there’s plenty to enjoy in Campbell’s descriptions of his key instruments including the Rickenbacker that Petty famously holds on the Damn the Torpedoes album cover.
A couple of factual quirks stand out, though. A chapter devoted to the 1986 Bob Dylan tour opener in Wellington refers to Wellington Harbour as “Wellington Bay.” Campbell also expresses surprise at seeing Stevie Nicks at the after-show party, although I vividly recall Nicks arriving on the same plane as Petty, Dylan, and the touring entourage (as widely reported in the local media at the time). Similarly, Campbell recalls George Harrison and Ringo Starr reuniting at Harrison’s final UK concert in the early ’90s as “the first time since The Beatles,” overlooking the Prince’s Trust Concert during Harrison’s Cloud Nine era in 1987. Minor quibbles, perhaps , but they do make the reader wonder about other irregularities.
Tom Petty doesn’t exactly emerge as a saint. His ego , constantly stoked as he and the band’s fame soared ,comes into focus around the Damn the Torpedoes period. When new manager Elliott Roberts imposed a rule that Petty would receive 50% of all income, with the rest split among the band, Campbell understandably struggled. Despite co-writing the massive hits "Refugee" and "Here Comes My Girl", he received little recognition at the time, and Petty remained unrepentant. Campbell’s creative redemption arrived later with “The Boys of Summer”, for which he wrote the music before Don Henley added lyrics , a defining moment that cemented his legacy beyond the Heartbreakers.
As Campbell reflects on his long journey, he addresses the pressures of fame and the emotional toll of losing friends. After Petty’s death in 2017, he reveals feeling an immense void and struggling to find his footing in music again including as frontman for the band The Dirty Knobs. These moments of vulnerability give the memoir real emotional depth, reminding readers that behind the glitz and guitar heroics lies a very human story of loyalty, loss, and resilience
The Silver River - Jim Moginie
A quiet yet profound reflection from Midnight Oil’s sonic architect
This memoir traces Jim Moginie’s life as a musician with Midnight Oil, his search for his biological mother, and the impact of adoption on family dynamics. By my reckoning, this is the third book written by a member of Midnight Oil. Drummer Rob Hirst was first, with his account of a U.S. tour in the early 2000s , just before the extended hiatus that followed Peter Garrett’s entry into politics. Garrett later published his own autobiography prior to the Oils’ 2017 reunion.
In truth, these three Moginie, Hirst, and Garrett were the band’s true instigators. Moginie met Hirst first, then Garrett, a law student and surfer, with all three hailing from Sydney’s northern beaches.
By contrast with the more flamboyant Hirst and Garrett, Moginie is the archetypal introverted muso , a home-recording boffin and multi-instrumentalist. His stone-faced onstage persona (a nod to The Angels’ Rick Brewster) is hilariously recounted as a response to Garrett’s request for more “visual energy” from his bandmates. Hirst obliged with his trademark arm-up, stick-twirling drum moves before another thunderous snare shot, while guitarist Martin Rotsey countered with punkish prowling.
A highlight of the book is Moginie’s hilarious account of Midnight Oil’s first New Zealand tour in 1979 ,twenty-five dates in twenty-five days , which included a stop in Hamilton, “the most boring place on Earth.” He captures the country perfectly at the time, recalling the Goodnight Kiwi closing one of only two TV channels at 10 p.m. each night.
Moginie’s storytelling is both poetic and reflective, often drawing on the Australian landscapes that inspired so much of his music. He speaks candidly about the tension between creative freedom and industry expectations, offering practical insights into his songwriting process and how he balances personal vision with commercial reality.
The audiobook format adds extra depth, with Moginie’s calm voice infusing the narrative with warmth and introspection. His passion for both music and the environment is palpable, urging listeners to reflect on their own impact on the world.
Moginie’s philosophy is perhaps best summed up in his recollection:
“Teaching myself to play and make music made sense of the world.”
In the end, Silver River isn’t just a memoir about music , it’s about finding one’s voice and using it to make change. That theme runs throughout, making this an inspiring and resonant listen for anyone interested in the power of art and purpose.
The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You – Neko Case (2024)
A fearless, funny, and fiercely honest memoir from one of indie rock’s most distinctive voices
I vividly recall seeing Neko Case around 2014 in Wellington as part of the International Arts Festival. She was touring in support of her then-latest album The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You , almost the exact title of her new autobiography. What stands out in memory was the short set (about an hour) and Case’s reluctance to engage much with the audience, in contrast to her easy onstage banter with her bandmates. She clearly delighted in their company but seemed slightly ill at ease before a crowd.
New Zealand even gets a mention in a chapter titled “What Lives on the Road”:
“Fruit in shapes and flavours I never knew existed in New Zealand. What a staggeringly beautiful world.”
I first discovered Case’s music through 2006’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, an album that showcased her powerful, resonant voice and singular songwriting style. In The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, Case takes a raw and unflinching approach, offering a deeply personal exploration of her childhood and creative journey. The book addresses themes of trauma, resilience, and the healing power of music.
Her writing is direct and heartfelt as she recounts growing up in a deeply challenging family environment an understatement, given some of the harrowing experiences she shares. Rich with vivid imagery, her prose draws readers deep into her world, reflecting on how those early struggles shaped her artistry. Unlike Mike Campbell and Jim Moginie, who weave their musical journeys around band histories, Case’s story is firmly rooted in her personal life, with music emerging as her salvation.
Throughout, she emphasizes how songwriting became both a refuge and a form of reclamation , a way to process pain and rediscover her voice. Her honesty makes the book both heartbreaking and uplifting, a testament to the redemptive power of creativity.
There’s also plenty of grim humour about life on the road:
“You haven’t invested in your own microphone yet because you don’t have the money or time or both. Fortunately, the club will usually provide a trusty Shure SM58 at no additional charge… unfortunately, it smells like a fish’s asshole.”
One standout story involves her quest for a tenor guitar, the instrument that shaped much of her songwriting style. In a Boston music store, she fell in love with an electric model — only to discover it was on hold for Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick. Bassist Tom Petersson, who happened to be in the shop, intervened: “C’mon, man, he’s never going to buy it. Just let her look at it!” The tale takes a twist when Case later finds a repair receipt with Ry Cooder’s name tucked into the case and let’s just say it ends happily for Neko and the guitar.
Ultimately, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You is both heartbreaking and redemptive, tracing Case’s path toward self-acceptance and healing. Her vulnerability and fierce intelligence shine through every page, reminding readers that strength often begins in the act of sharing one’s story
Final Thoughts
Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell, The Silver River by Jim Moginie, and The Harder I Fight The More I Love You by Neko Case each provide unique perspectives on the lives of these talented musicians. While Campbell and Moginie offer insights into the music industry and the creative process, Case's story dives deeply into personal struggles. However
music connects us all, and these autobiographies remind us of its profound impact on our lives.
Comments