Riders on the Storm
My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors
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4.3 • 83 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
“This book is the real story.”—Robby Krieger
“[John] Densmore's is the first Doors biography that feels like it was written for the right reasons, and it is easily the most informed account of the Doors' brief but brilliant life as a group. . . . Densmore is a fluent, articulate writer who both comprehends the Doors' unearthly power and is on familiar terms with their antecdedents in literature, theater, and myth.”—Rolling Stone
“Well-written and touching . . . tells it all and tells it honestly.”—The New York Times Book Review
“John Densmore's Riders of the Storm is as good an account of the history of the Doors as has been printed to date.”—USA Today
“Riders on the Storm is very enjoyable, especially its homespun and self-experienced insights. John Densmore is a survivor and a seeker.”—Oliver Stone
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Indispensable for fans of one of rock music's most flamboyant and controversial groups is Doors drummer Densmore's insider's look at hard-living singer Morrison, who died of a drug overdose in 1971. Like the trashier (and bestselling) biography No One Here Gets Out Alive by Jerry Hopkins and Daniel Sugarman, the book in hand provides numerous examples of Morrison's self-destructive behavior. But Densmore's love-hate relationship with the self-proclaimed ``Lizard King'' leads him to paint a more sympathetic picture of the doomed superstar, whose rebellious rock-poet persona is still worshiped today by fans (``Jim's decay was the dark side of an already very dark vision''). Densmore's detailed account of the Doors' rise and fall is often narrated in a glib style. But his extensive use of Morrison's lyrics thoughtfully reinforces his main concerns: Densmore's belief in music as a ``new religion'' on a par with his rejected Catholic upbringing; his ongoing attempt to build ``an inner life'' to match what he depicts as a heady and confusing musical career; and his ``guilt over failing to save Jim.'' Photos not seen by PW.
Customer Reviews
Until The End
Thank you John. A great book. I found it very interesting. I was sorry to hear of the passing of Ray. Can you lobby Robby to write a book from his perspective? You 4 were the greatest! I really enjoyed reading your book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the Doors and this very unique time in history. I've been to Paris many times and Jim's grave site is still a memorial to him and the Doors' artistry. (Sometimes to the annoyance of the Gendarmes!)
An excellent piece.
John Densmore, being my favourite drummer, is now one of my favourite writers. As a drummer, it was interesting to learn about his life and background. How he got started, how jazz influenced him, his methods and techniques used in The Doors, etc. At the same time, it was interesting to see a biography of Jim Morrison that isn't just facts pasted together to form his life. Instead, we read what he was like from a close friend. We got to see how he acted and talked to his friends and band members, which is different from any other Doors novel. Also, we got to see what John's head is like. How he deals with emotions with anger and how he can't decide whether Jim Morrison was his worst enemy or his best friend.
So, in conclusion, it is an excellent read and really captures the lifestyle of the '60s and one of the most iconic bands of all time, The Doors.