[PDF] Phish: The Biography by Parke Puterbaugh in Arts-Photography

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. lazy bookBy Buddy IodineAs little as I knew about this band before reading the book. I know not much more after reading it. Random internet surfing got me half of whats in here before I read it. Especially hilarious is the appendix -- pre-retirement setlists which did not make it into the tapers compendium in 2004! Thanks a bundle. PP. I thought I would have to look for these in my paper copy of Deadbase X! Would anybody look these up in print form after the year 2000? DId the author have a page quota to meet or something?There are probably a lot of interesting stories to be told about the bands formative years. before they descend into behind-the-music sadness and routine. Those stories really are not here. There are some stories told by Amy Skelton(?). OK. but those 200-odd people who saw Phish in VT in the 80s and early 90s must want to talk. The guy named Nancy. who wrote Halleys Comet. was interviewed elsewhere. and he is interesting. I heard about the Boston Paradise gig in (89?) in much more interesting detail from a RS interview years ago.Worse than this. it reads like an authorized biography -- a bit too respectful where the principals would rather not go into detail about their conflicts or sins. I cannot blame them. but I blame the author: who is the book for. the band or the readers?The author needed to do some more research. some more interviews -- some more work. This book adds a little but not really enough for the price.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Somewhat entertaining light readBy NCCThis book was somewhat entertaining. but if youve done any poking around the internet or know a friend of a friend of the band. youre not going to learn much you dont already know. The part I enjoyed the most and that filled in the most holes for me was the early stuff. i.e. some of their back stories. how they met. context around some of the things/people mentioned in the early songs. and their early grind to reach popularity. Once the story gets to the early 90s or so (the watershed period for the band). the book seems to speed up and gloss over a lot of things. which is somewhat surprising since that when the author supposedly jumped into the scene. It feels like the author researched pretty hard the period for which he had no direct experience. then skates through at a surface level the part he was there for. Either way. I dont regret reading it. but its nothing groundbreaking.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Easy Read for Any Phish FanBy Christopher B.Id consider myself a "seasoned" Phish fan and I really enjoyed this book. If youve followed the band for a good amount of time a lot of the information presented here will be familiar. but there was also plenty of new information that made this a quick and fun read. Most notably was some behind the scenes details regarding the 2004 breakup and the situations that surrounded that time.Another aspect I enjoyed was the commentary from Phish inner-circle folks like John Paluska. Chris Kuroda. Tom Marshall. Amy Skelton and others. I really appreciate their unique insights into early Phish history.Having worked for the band and likely having lots of insider information. I do think the author toed the line of giving away some seldom-heard details but shied toward not ruffling any feathers and remained largely uncritical. even if subtly so. Its apparent that he has a friendship with. and high admiration for. the band members and likely doesnt want to ruin those relationships. So in that sense I think the outcome is a little soft. Personally. Im first and foremost a fan of the music and dont care too much for gossipy features so that suits me just fine. But if youre looking for juicy. in-depth details this book doesnt really give them up.I finished this in a couple days and found myself wishing there was more to read. Definitely recommend it as a fun. light read for any Phish fan.