Music journalist Stephen Davis will read from his most recent rock'n roll biography, More Room in a Broken Heart: the True Adventures of Carly Simon, at the South End Library this Thursday, November 1, at 6:30 p.m. It is an unauthorized biography, ostensibly because singer/songwriter Simon feels the book is 'too revealing,' according to Davis, who was interviewed earlier this year on the Emily Rooney show. Controversy also centered on other authors accusing him of using their material in this book. Davis says he'd prefer to recast that criticism as 'copying' of material already published although, he freely acknowledged, without the complete bibliographic attribution by the publisher he had hoped for. "In the paperback, we'll do that," Davis told Rooney.

Davis has a distinguished record of more than a dozen pop and rock biographies, including Hammer of the Gods: the Led Zeppelin Saga (1985), Watch You Bleed: the Saga of Guns 'N Roses (2008), and Bob Marley: Conquering Lion of Reggae (1994). He was the ghostwriter for the autobiography of the late pop star Michael Jackson, Moon Walk, which was edited by Jacqueline Onassis and sold out as soon as it hit the New York Times bestseller list. It was never reprinted or issued in paperback. Davis, whom the Boston Globe described as "the gold standard of rock biographers," began his career at The Boston Phoenix. His articles, written in an engaging and lively prose style, have been featured in Rolling Stone magazine and the New York Times, among other publications.

The author will be introduced by FOSEL board member Courtney Fitzgerald, who invited him to speak at the South End branch. Davis has promised to give the audience "an excruciating evening of R & R lore unfit to print but fun to hear about."

Davis's books will be available for purchase and signatures and, thanks to head librarian Anne Smart, for borrowing, as well.