The paperback book only runs around 300 pages, which may sound a little meager when you considered it’s covering the bands 40 years existence, and their 17 released albums. But there is an awful lot of information, facts, stories behind lyrics/ artwork, rare pictures, and more crammed into it’s pages.  Canadian-born journalist & music writer Martin Popoff has located pretty much everyone connected with band over the years- from past & present band members, to various other related people.  Then he’s condensed it all into a highly readable & constantly intriguing study of the band. He cuts out the normal pre- rambling/ school days part of rock biographies, and goes straight into discussing the meat of the bands work- their albums & the related periods around them.

He writes in a highly approachable & readable manner- meaning this book can be enjoyed by long time fans of the band, those who have just got into the band, or those who only have just a passing interesting in the project. The way the chapters are laid out by album means you can either read it all the way through, or dip in & out of it as you fancy.

The 2009 edition I’m reviewing is the most recent version of the book, and it takes in all the bands work to that date, along with recent band happenings & side projects. And simply put it’s one of the most informative, fact filled, enjoyable & readable rock biographies I can recall reading in recent memory.

The book is only available direct from Mr Popoff at his website- so head over to here if you want to find out more, or fancy picking up a copy.