Patti Smith at Webster Hall
photo by Stephanie Augello

Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry & John Doe releasing new books

Four founding parents of punk, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry of Blondie, and John Doe of X, each have new books on the way. Patti’s new memoir is called Year of the Monkey and is due out September 24 via Knopf. “I began writing it on New Year’s Day, 2016,” Patti writes on Instagram, “in cafes, trains and strange motels by the sea, with no particular design, until page by page it became a book. It is Year of the Monkey. It will be published by Knopf in September. I’m very excited to have new work to report!”

In more Patti Smith book-related news, her 2010 memoir Just Kids won the popular vote to become the this year’s “One Book, One New York” citywide book club pick, so if you’ve been meaning to pick it up, now’s a good time; 1000 copies will be available at libraries throughout NYC’s five boroughs.

As the title suggests, Iggy Pop’s new book, ‘Til Wrong Feels Right: Lyrics and Photographs collects lyrics and photographs, as well as short essays from Iggy, commentary from T. Rex’s Mark Bolan, Debbie Harry, and others, never before seen notes, and other memorabilia. It’s due out on October 1 via Clarkson Potter.

Debbie Harry is also releasing a memoir, called Face It, due out October 1 via Dey Street Books. It pairs first person essays with interviews done by journalist Sylvie Simmons to chronicle the rise of Blondie, and in a statement to Rolling Stone, Debbie says it might be the first in a series:

There are many more stories for me to tell; some funny, some scary, some warm, some chill to the bone. And if Face It appeals to people then I will get to telling more of the anecdotal bits of the story of Blondie – like the time I met Rita Hayworth and Penny Singleton backstage at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. This book is biographical and covers a lot of years. I know there will be questions asked because, in putting this together, I realized I have led a very full life and couldn’t possibly cover everything in just one volume. I’m prepared for the best and the worst comments, much like when I have released an album or done a big show. I don’t have a thick skin, but I do have a pretty good sense of humor.

John Doe’s new book More Fun in the New World: The Unmaking and Legacy of L.A. Punk is the sequel to his 2016 book Under The Big Black Sun: A Personal Legacy of L.A. Punk and picks up where the first left off, focusing on the years from 1982 to 1987. It’s due out June 4 via De Capo Press, and he’ll discuss it with Blondie’s Chris Stein at City Winery on June 16. Tickets for that signing and discussion are on sale now.

Moby‘s new memoir Then It Fell Apart had a disastrous roll-out, culminating most recently in the cancellation of his book tour. Hopefully Patti, Iggy, Debbie, and John will fare better.