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Summary: John' Demons
Review: This is well written book of John Densmore's experience growing personally and as a drummer, and his life with Jim Morrison and the Doors.
John bravely reveals his fear, his pain and his guilt over Jim's self-abuse and ultimate demise. Definitely worth the money and the time for any Doors or rock-n-roll fan. Thank you John.
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Summary: Great Book
Review: Riders on the Storm is an autobiography written by, the drummer of the Doors, John Densmore. This autobiography goes in depth of John's life as a jazz loving teen catholic schoolboy through present times. The main focus on the book is the years of the Doors, and odd life of Jim Morrison in particular. John's descriptive writings on the controversial rock band makes it an interesting read for any Doors fan. John puts a lot of emphasis in his writing about his personal life, He wrote a quite a bit about his struggle to maintain a relationship with his schizophrenic brother and with women in general. John wrote quite a bit more about the love-hate relationship between the self-destructive Jim Morrison and all the troubles with keeping the band together. Densmore's crafty writing style uses some of Morrison's lyrics to portrait him as a tragedy rather than a worshipped idol as many put him out to be. Riders on the Storm is a great book, those who like happy endings should stray far from this book.
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Summary: Riding the storm out
Review: I enjoyed this book immensely. Densmore has a personable, clear, consise style of writing and expresses himself very well. I felt I was there as he described events that happened 30 years ago. I laughed out loud at certain anecdotes in the book, especially when he describes avoiding the draft. For being the "uptight" one in the Doors, Densmore does have a sense of humour that comes through in his writing. He neither trashes Jim, nor does he gloss over Jim. He just tells it like it was. I never sensed any jealousy, just frustration, intimidation, fear, anger, but also admiration and brotherly love. Complex feelings. Clearly that's what Densmore is trying to get through, he wants to explain himself and isn't trying to hide or gloss over. There are many great anecdotes in this book, some funny, some sad, some plain scary! I could understand why Densmore felt the way he did at any given time, he explains it so well. The Doors were 4 very different personalities, obviously. I don't see any of them as being "the bad guy", but they obviously bumped heads due to personality clashes. That's life! Densmore was a teenager when he joined the Doors, so he pretty much grew up with them as well. That's another thing I found so interesting, Densmore sharing his growing-up with the reader, the things he learned along the way. He often addresses Jim directly in the book, telling Jim he learned integrity from him. I couldn't put this book down, very addictive reading.
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Summary: An honest account of Densmore's feelings
Review: John Densmore offers to the world what only an insider can: a glimpse into the inner workings of one of the most influential musical groups of this century. This book displays Densmore's inner turmoil as he lives a public life during a period of social and political unrest. He writes clearly and honestly about his feelings, especially his feelings toward Jim Morrison. Readers are exposed to Densmore's internal battle between what appears to be love and hate for the singer. This book is not a sugar-coated tribute to Morrison, but a means for Densmore to let the fans better understand the ups and downs of the Doors as a whole. From his beginnings learing music, to the band's formation and through the band's rise and fall, Densmore explains, as only a member could, the causes and effects of every movement of the band. I am only twenty-two years old; I missed The Doors completely. But I am able to appreciate the music better now that I have been exposed to Densmore's work. It's hard for me to remember that most of the band was my age when they rose to stardom. Thank you John, you're a fabulous drummer and an excellent writer.
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Summary: Good Read about life in the Doors.
Review: Densmore offers a down to earth view of life behind the scenes with The Doors. He very poignantly expresses the duality at work within the band. Offering harsh critisim of Morrison's outrageous behavior while at the same time expressing his deep love of the music, the band and even Morrison himself. Both honest and enlightening this book is a must read for anyone wishing to develop a better understanding of The Doors.
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Summary: Very candid, yet occasionally whiny
Review: John Densmore, the drummer for the Doors, expresses practically everything in his book Riders on the Storm. He brings up his Catholic-based childhood, forming the Doors, dealing w/ rock stardom and Jim's Hedonistic behavior, the groups dissolution, failed marriages, Jim's death, family problems, and moving toward the future. It is evident that John had a lot of feelings towards Jim, like love, hate, anger, sympathy and sadness, and the part where he's at his grave in Paris is very poignant. He also recalls many of the events that shaped the Doors' brief but influential career as a rock band probably more accurately than anyone else who wrote a bio on the band or Jim Morrison. Yet, despite all of this, he does sound like he's complaining about life occasionally, and it is obvious that he had jealousy issues towards Jim, understandibly since he was such a sex icon, and his actions almost threatened to eat the group from inside out. Otherwise, this was a pretty good book, and should be considered for doing research on the band's, because who would know better about it than the guys in the band?
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Summary: Intrigue
Review: Travel through the life of John Densmore and the band the Doors to experience the adventuresome world of fame in the 1960's. Riders on the Storm is a biographical story of the journey through which each person took whom associated with Jim Morrison. Jim Morrison's temerity and lack of sobriety made working and living with him an adventure in itself. This book is an intriguing and interesting look at an amazing human being. A glimpse at Jim Morrison's life from an insider. Turmoil, addiction, alcohol, drugs, women, insanity, and immeasureable intelligence all represent the life and experience associated with Jim Morrison. John Densmore portrays the dark world of Jim Morrison and the Doors in such a way that you feel compelled to find out more of what really went on.
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Summary: A good read but
Review: This was a good read but not particularly juicy or revealing. Densmore dwells often on his guilt at not being able to stop Morrison's downward spiral. I wasn't sure from reading the book whether Desmore and Morrison were just bandmates or also friends. At times they seemed somewhat close but at others, they seemed to have little more than a working relationship in a band. The author seems like a gentle, introspective soul. At times it seemed like he was a bit out of the loop as to what his bandmates were up to. I enjoyed the glimpses into his life with Jim--e.g. Jim pulling Ray's hair in the car or Jim swallowing a quarter--and Densmore's own life--his relationships and music. I do wonder about the tension between Densmore and Manzarek, as this wasn't really mentioned. I guess I'll be reading "Light My Fire" next for Ray's perspective.
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Summary: The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse
Review: The best aspect of this book is John Densmore's reading of Jim Morrison's poetry. Acute and illuminating, he gives a new slant on a lyric here, a lyric there. What really comes through is Densmore's appreciation of Jim's work. It's a great tribute by one great artist to another. The passages where John writes directly to Jim are very poignant and, well, sad. The only problem I had with the book was Densmore's tendency to whine. Yeah, okay, Jim was "crazy" but, as they say: "If you can't stand the heat, then get out of the Soul Kitchen." Other than that, the book was excellent. And I'd just like to say to anyone who hasn't realised it yet, John Densmore is/was a drumming genius. Just listen to the guy play! For me, The Doors were a Sagittarian Axis. Not to say Ray and Robby were entirely useless!
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Summary: The drummer speaks
Review: This is Doors drummer, John Densmore's account of life with and without Jim Morrison. His feelings and relationship with Morrison from the beginning of the Doors to the end of Morrison's life. He never holds back his thoughts on Morrison and the Doors as a whole. A wonderful read.
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