More comments on The Night the Music Died

​‘Congratulations to everyone who helped in producing such a fabulous read and enabling those stirring events of forty years ago to come alive once again. It’s one of the finest books I’ve ever read on sport.’ — Ian Proctor, Sky Sports (UK)
 
‘The rugby league book of the year.’ — Paul Kennedy, ABC News Breakfast
 
‘A story so incredible it reads like a movie script.’ — Craig Norenbergs, ABC Grandstand
 
‘One of the great yarns in Australian sport.’ — Peter FitzSimons, Sydney Morning Herald
 
‘A riveting book by the doyen of Australian sporting writers.’ — Malcolm Andrews, Total Rugby League
 
‘It’s not often I get excited about rugby league books, but this one looks terrific.’ — Joe Gorman, The Guardian (Australia) soccer correspondent
 
‘Exceptional …. magnificent … it chronicles one of the great stories of knockout rugby league.’ — Phil Caplan, Forty-20 magazine (UK)
 
‘Heads has captured the mood of that era in rugby league magnificently. The characters almost jump off the page.’ — Ben Ikin, NRL 360 (Fox Sports)
 
‘League fans, read this book.’ — Steve Cannane, The Drum (ABC)
 
‘A fine book [that] brought back great and otherwise long-buried memories.’ —John Coffey, New Zealand rugby league journalist, author and historian
 
‘One of the greatest underdog tales in Australia in sport has been immortalised by Ian Heads.’ – Katie Burgess, Cowra Guardian
 
‘Do yourself a favour and get a copy of Ian Heads’ new book. It is a truly incredible read, one of the best rugby league books. Heads is rugby league’s greatest living author and this is a story that few know and all must.’ — Nick Tedeschi, author and journalist
 
‘The Night the Music Died pieces together one of the most romantic fairytales in Australian sporting history … it’s a ripping rugby league read.’ — Nicholas Janzen, NSWRL media
 
‘I know all the supporters will go mad over the book.’ — Terry Fahey, Western Division winger
 
‘Absolutely fabulous, it brings back great memories.’ — Nelson Smith, Western Division second-rower
 
‘The book is unbelievable. Once you start reading it, you can’t put it down.’ — Bob Pilon, Western Division halfback
 
‘This book is really true to life. For us to win was impossible but it was an impossibility that was achieved.’ — Paul Dowling, Western Division five-eighth and captain
 
‘Heads succeeds in recapturing the way we were in rugby league and society generally 40 years ago.’ — Newtown Jets News
 
‘The deeds of this team are still the stuff of legend. For any rugby league fan, this is a story to be read and treasured.’ — Tony Webeck, nrl.com
 
‘Get this book, it’s a fantastic read.’ — John Gibbs, 2UE Sports Today
 
‘This is a great history, one of rugby league’s great stories. It’s got “movie” written all over it.’ — Peter Psaltis, 4BC Sports Today
 
‘[The Western Division players] are now immortalised in the new release, The Night the Music Died.’ — Paul Kent, Daily Telegraph
 
‘A wonderful story of courage, determination and the will to win.’ — Terry Fearnley, former Australian rugby league coach
 
‘I read it in one sitting. Whether you like sport or not, it’s a fascinating story.’ — Michael Croke, ABC Central West
 
‘I have never given a book review before, but after reading my latest book I am compelled to give it a five-star rating ... This is a must-read for any rugby league fan who enjoys an underdog winning.’ — Anthony Breeze, The Queensland Times
 
‘A great read written by a true gentleman.’ — James Knight, sports journalist
 
‘The profiles of the players are a reminder of why we love the game.’ — Wayne Bennett

‘Spun around the extraordinary core story of the success of the 1974 Western Division team from country NSW — a tale that takes on the qualities of a fable the further it sinks into history — Heads conducts a multi-layered examination of bush footy, the men who played it and its lamentable recent swoon ...
 
‘The outstanding results achieved by Western Division made for the ultimate rugby league underdog success story but, as importantly, the squad oozed grit and personality ... We get to know the individuals and the collective on and off the field and ride along on one of “old-school” rugby league’s last great adventures.’
— Greg Truman, The Weekend Australian Review

‘The Night The Music Died is written by rugby league’s poet laureate Ian Heads and is a compelling read — from the wonderfully written preamble set in the beautiful village of Carcoar in the Central West of New South Wales to the biographies of all of [coach] Johnny King’s men ...
 
‘This is the time of Gough; Number 96; the transmogrification that was the end of black-and-white television; Lillee and Thommo; big bushie sideburns, even in the city; flares; cork heels. It was the time of a motley bunch of rugby league players from over the Blue Mountains who took on the city slickers (if people from Penrith could really be called that, but it is a fable) to win a trophy named after a company that holds its own place in Australia’s story: the name on everyone’s hips!
 
‘The Night The Music Died is published by Stoke Hill Press. Give them a round of applause for giving Heads the chance to put his fingers to the keyboard. Now do yourself a favour and read it!’
— Warwick Hadfield, Radio National