Rating: 
Summary: Same old song and dance...
Review: ...we've heard it before; we've read it before: young man goes to the West Coast in search of direction, drugs and girls, stumbles into a dream job and then spends the next 30 years with drugs and girls. The book is another 'insiders' look at the crust of the Dead pie (when will someone tell us about the magic filling?)..and what's truly sad is reading about everyone just standing around and watching their friends/musicians/employers die. Shame on you Parish.
Rating: 
Summary: Some interesting stories, but ultimately disapointing
Review: As an avid reader of all Dead-related literature, I was pleasantly surprised to find this book in a big chain bookstore in NYC. Talk about no publicity. The people who were supposed to be marketing this book should be fired because none of the Deadheads I know had ever heard of it (for proof just note that this is the first Amazon review after more than a year in print).
While there are a number of cool stories about life on the road with the band, this is just as much a book about the author's life, and frankly, who cares? It's very poorly written, even with a ghost writer. Parish provides endless details about how many groupies he and the rest of the crew consumed and equally endless details about how much pot and other drugs they ingested. Don't get me wrong, I actually like reading that kind of stuff, but I kept hoping for deeper insight and it never came.
This is a guy who spent 30 years with the most creative musical genius (Garcia) and band (the Dead) ever to come down the rock and roll road, yet strangley there isn't a single story about the MUSIC itself, and what made it so special, or about the creative activities of the band as they made songs and uplifted several generations of fans. I think there may be only one song title mentioned. Perhaps he smoked so much pot that he forgot a lot of the good that happened.
It's better than Rock Scully's turd, but only because it came from a place of real love for Garcia. At the end it was a sad feeling that it left with this reader.
Having said all that, Deadheads will find it worth reading, it's just not a book about the thing that really mattered: the music. Fortunately, the music survived, and the spirit carries on.
Rating: 
Summary: Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll
Review: Be aware that this book is about Steve Parish, not the Grateful Dead. Parish was a long-time roadie for the Dead. As his employer, Parish does tell some interesting "work" stories but this book is mostly about his reckless lifestyle, i.e., sex, drugs and rock and roll. I was disappointed there wasn't more talk of the music, the touring, the work involved and stories of the band members. Garcia and company are nothing more than extras in Parish's tale of drug abuse and sexcapades.
Rating:
Summary: Dud Before Daylight
Review: BORING. You can read this book in about three sittings. If you've ready anything about the Dead, skip this book. This is a total rip off. There is nothing new here. None of the stories that you may want to hear about. None of the backstage secrets are revealed. Parish manages to cover the Dead/Dylan tour and rehearsals of '87 in a one sentence reference to his couch. Boring. Want to know what it was like to have Branford sit in, read another book. What was it like at red rocks? Read another book. Broadway? Another book. Woodstock? Another book. The hiatus and comeback in '75/76. Not here. Brent dying? Keith? Pig? Not here.
Rating: 
Summary: Steve Parish does a fine job here
Review: Bought it and read it all and I enjoyed it very much. Steve Parish does a great job of describing behind the scenes at what happens on tour with the Dead - escpecially during the 70's. The book was very good to read and not to hard to understand.
Rating:
Summary: Worth It, but....
Review: For any long time deadhead, this book is worth the price of admission. There are some cool stories from an inside perspective.The only downside, but a big one in my opinion, is the continual rehashing of the sexual conquests. I didn't purchase the book to hear about how many times Mr. Perish and the other rodies scored, but unfortunately a good deal of print was dedicated to this subject. I'm from the sixties as well and have had my share of free spirited times, but to be honest, I found some of this material offensive. Offensive in both content and substance.
Rating:
Summary: Friend of the Devil...
Review: Great outstanding, finally a book from a real insider. I've been in the dead scene for over thirty years, and like most deadheads can't get enough. I especially liked the stories about the odd happenings on the road that only a true roadie would know. Terrific stories, told in an exciting and humerous way. I read it in one sitting and finished it just before daylight.
Rating:
Summary: I'm Glad He Came Home Before Daylight
Review: I am not and never have been a deadhead but I was very entertained by these road stories. Initially it was very hard for me to read as I am a little too close to the author... but as I continued reading I distanced myself and found I could not put this book down. What an unusual life this guy had - I laughed, I cried, then I kissed the author. Enjoy it, it's quite a ride.
Rating:
Summary: a unique look behind the scenes
Review: I enjoyed this book for what it was, however, Im a fanatic about soaking up any perspective or information about the band that I have not yet learned. Yes, this book is about the life of Steve Parish but, given his role in the band, the book is ultimately, about the Grateful Dead and Jerry. If you want other information, there are plenty of books about the band to choose from which provide more historical detail. I enjoyed, despite the writers shortcommings as a "writer", the glimpses at life behind the wheel of the truck hauling equipment all night long, the drug abuse, sex abuse and various Hell's Angels characters, that until now, have not been written about with any detail. My only complaint is that this book is not longer, with more detail..(should have been at least 1000 pages) because, Im sure it could have been, given Steve's role and experiences. I very much appreciated the details about Jerry's death, wake and cremation. Even though I feel a bit short-changed by this book, whats in it is better than nothing at all, so...I would recommend it to the true fan that wants to add that extra bit of perspective.
Rating:
Summary: A deeper look
Review: I found this book to be a deep, insightful look into the world of rock and roll from a very different and very personal perspective. This is not, nor does it purport to be another "Grateful Dead history". Steve was uniquely situated to both participate in and observe the Grateful Dead as a band and as an institution. His perspective allows us to catch glimpses of the real action behind the scene that was often the basis for the magic (or sometimes lack of it)in the on-stage performances. Of far greater impact to me, however, was Steve's willingness to share his personal travails, passions, successes and failures over the past 30 years. He reveals one very involved, very sensitive and very insightful man's interaction with the power and impact of rock and roll on people in and around the scene, both the famous and sometimes the infamous. In telling his own story, Steve often challenges conventional and traditional assumptions about who are really "good guys" and who are "bad". He shows us the humanity that drove the unfortunately unrealistic desire of Jerry and others to make it only "all about the music". Through his unparallelled access Steve is able to the efforts of those in and around the Band to enjoy normal lives and meaningful interpersonal relationships while fending off, or all too often sucumbing to the dangers of hard drugs, greed and the many other down-sides of "fame" in 20th Century America. He accomplishes all of this with humility and well-placed humor. I have read many rock and roll biographies of both individuals and bands, and I strongly recommend Steve's book as offfering a truly "one of a kind" perspective.
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