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Rating: 
Summary: The Best Thin Lizzy Book Available.
Review: Absolutely awesome book--done in true detailed journalistic style with tons of quotes and anecdotes by literally every Thin Lizzy member, as well as managers, roadies, friends and bands that toured and hung with Lizzy. Great read for any Lizzy fan.
Rating:
Summary: Gone too soon!!! (Philo, R.I.P.)
Review: I love this book! It's that simple. Being in the business myself (and was on tour with Lizzy), I can honestly say that what is written here is, by and large, how it went down. I found the candor of the people interviewed refreshing. I don't think it puts Phil down in any way, but, just like Elvis, some people have their ideas of how things were and don't want that picture messed with."The Rocker" tells it right from the early days, takes you through all the ups and downs, and leaves you with the feeling that you were there by the time you get to the end. I think Mark Putterford did a wonderful job of putting this book together. He obviously got access to just about anyone who was involved in the Lizzy set-up over the years, and left no stone unturned to bring you every insight he could get his hands on. Philo/ Lizzy........we're all still in love with you!
Rating:
Summary: Gone but not forgotten
Review: I was too young to be a real Lizzy fan when they were in their prime, but have come to appreciate them, and Philo through all the reissues and compilations. This is a great read and serves as a tragic example of the highs & lows of success. It is basically a straight forward transcription of one-on-one interviews with all of the many band members and other key figures. We get an amazing insight in to the effort involved in trying to achieve, then maintain success and how the trappings of this success eroded the life of a hard working rocker from Dublin. Sad, but again an excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly candid and insightful - I could not put it down
Review: My brothers and I have been Thin Lizzy fans for decades now. I was curious about Phil and especially what went wrong at the end. Newspapers at the time gave conflicting reports of where he was hospitalized and what was wrong (according to this book, Salisbury in Wiltshire ... not far from where I grew up -- and not London as newspapers reported). I was surprised by the amount of detail and candidness of this book (although it remains tasteful and respectful) -- especially given how quickly it was written. I have only one minor gripe, I think not enough emphasis was given to just how incredible the band were in their prime ... the Fighting/Jailbreak/Bad Reputation/Live and Dangerous period. I saw them much later than this on there farewell tour and even then they were by far the best band I have ever seen live. They had such great songs. Also, Phil's unique writing style (which Mark nailed: tough, streetwise rocker/cowboy one minute and romantic hero the next -- which was probably as big a draw for me as the their incredible live energy. I had not realized that hard drugs had been such a part of Thin Lizzy (although the songs certainly hint at it: Opium Trail, Got to Give it up (that stuff). I always felt Lizzy never got their full recognition (party due to bad luck, bad timing and illnesses and injuries) -- they are as great as any other band of their era: Led Zepplin, Genesis, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, etc. The story inevitably ends very sadly. By the way, in the US some thought Phil sounded like Bruce Springsteen (who was not at all well known in the UK at that time). Personally I still do see any resemblance but the book explains a possible reason -- a common influence: Van Morrison (or "Van the Man" as Lizzy called him on Black Rose).
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly candid and insightful - I could not put it down
Review: My brothers and I have been Thin Lizzy fans for decades now. I was curious about Phil and especially what went wrong at the end. Newspapers at the time gave conflicting reports of where he was hospitalized and what was wrong (according to this book, Salisbury in Wiltshire ... not far from where I grew up -- and not London as newspapers reported). I was surprised by the amount of detail and candidness of this book (although it remains tasteful and respectful) -- especially given how quickly it was written. I have only one minor gripe, I think not enough emphasis was given to just how incredible the band were in their prime ... the Fighting/Jailbreak/Bad Reputation/Live and Dangerous period. I saw them much later than this on there farewell tour and even then they were by far the best band I have ever seen live. They had such great songs. Also, Phil's unique writing style (which Mark nailed: tough, streetwise rocker/cowboy one minute and romantic hero the next -- which was probably as big a draw for me as the their incredible live energy. I had not realized that hard drugs had been such a part of Thin Lizzy (although the songs certainly hint at it: Opium Trail, Got to Give it up (that stuff). I always felt Lizzy never got their full recognition (party due to bad luck, bad timing and illnesses and injuries) -- they are as great as any other band of their era: Led Zepplin, Genesis, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, etc. The story inevitably ends very sadly. By the way, in the US some thought Phil sounded like Bruce Springsteen (who was not at all well known in the UK at that time). Personally I still do see any resemblance but the book explains a possible reason -- a common influence: Van Morrison (or "Van the Man" as Lizzy called him on Black Rose).
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