Bill Sykes initially took up writing to realise Roger Eagle's biography. He completed an apprenticeship as a welder in 1982 and moved to London from his home town in Derbyshire in 1995 for better employment opportunities. He has been involved in the music industry for over thirty years, variously as singer, harmonica player, DJ and avid fan. Music has always been an abiding passion in his life. He feels the musical knowledge he has accrued should be shared in the same manner as his mentor Roger Eagle did.

"Without Roger Eagle there would be no Manchester music scene" - John Robb

"The godfather of British soul" - C P Lee, Ph.D.

“Finally – a book salutes the Northern musical force of nature that was Roger Eagle.” - Mojo July 2012-07-11

“If we lay aside the Scouse-Manc riavlry we can acjnowledge the north-west of England as one of the world’s musical hot-spots. A staggering proportion of its achievements can be traced back to this one man… this is the first book to place him centre-stage.” – The Word July 2012

“Admirer ad friend Sykes illuminates this shadowy and attention-spurning figure’s life via the testimony of intimates… selfless educator and inspirer who lived and breathed rock’n’roll, soul, dub and other roots music.” – Q Magazine July 2012

“ROGER Eagle, accurately described by author Bill Sykes as a “maverick rock'n'roll evangelist”, will be remembered by many in both Liverpool and Manchester as a local legend. In this book, he's remembered, in more rounded terms, by people who knew the real person… It's to Bill Sykes' credit that this book doesn't just “print the legend”. The picture you get here is mixed: interviewees describe Roger as imposing, kind, scary, aloof, eccentric, forthright, overbearing, formidable, enthusiastic, intelligent, knowledgeable. They call him a rebel, an outcast, a pioneer, and – over and over again – an educator.” – Liverpoolconfidential.co.uk July 2012

"Comparing Roger with Tony Wilson, Bill Sykes says: “Wilson did seek the limelight but Roger preferred to be a little bit more in the background. I think they worked well together and helped each other – Eric’s benefited from Tony telling people about it on TV and Tony’s So It Goes show benefitted by filming gigs at the club.” - But the author believes Roger may have missed out on things because he was a different personality to his Mancunian counterpart, saying: “He really should have had his own national radio show because of his deep knowledge of music.” He adds: “One of the reasons I wrote the book was to try to redress the balance. Having moved away from the North West, I saw the focus just seemed to be on Factory Records – but Tony Wilson started The Factory club because of Roger’s direct influence.” Roger’s story, though, has now been told, and Bill says: “It might not be the best book, but the marker is there – maybe someone could now make a documentary.” Or even a film? “Why not? It would certainly be as interesting a story as 24 Hour Party People.” - Liverpool Echo