On the one hand, I concur with the reviews that say that Densmore's book is filled with more than enough whining. And while it is a natural thing for a human being to wish to share their pain and frustration in order to get past it, I often find the public displays of such raw emotional honesty and revealing of deeply personal feelings to be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Even something perilously close to emasculating. Densmore was the embodiment of the weakness and vulnerability of the 60s counterculture that permitted itself to be ruined and exposed to forces that exploited and perverted it. Fortunately for Densmore, he survived with his emotional scars and an interesting tale to tell.
That said, I must say that the book provides an interesting and honest view of a perspective of that legendary rock group that needs to be seen. Morrison was a complex character: brilliant and talented, yet troubled. A lunatic, if I were to speak bluntly. His early death was inevitable.
The book also showed the complex dynamics in the Doors; especially between Morrison and Densmore. The friction between them was instrumental in producing some brilliant music; but also contained the seeds of the project's self destruction.
The cover of this book is perfect. To the left, Densmore, looking young, vulnerable, inexperienced, and terrified; wanting only to please others and be loved. A California flower child utterly incapable of understanding the dark, atavistic side of human nature. To the right, Morrison, looking like a demented satyr, unpredictable as a Tasmanian Devil, the Dark Side incarnate. Two seconds away from plundering, raping, and beating anyone in a street fight or a philosophical debate. A greater contrast cannot be imagined.
It's worth reading. Once.Get more detail about Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors.
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