Rating: 
Summary: As good as any subjective account can be
Review: I enjoyed this book and found it very believable. John's insight into Jim's character sounds as sincere as any subjective view can be. This book traces the band's rise to stardom and the effect of Jim's tragic death on John. This book is essentially John's perspective of Jim, which is filled with emotions of love, regret, envy and shame. In addition to that, John infuses this book with his own personal dilemmas that consequently take us away from our insight into Jim's highly captivating personality and focuses on John's life, which remains, at times, pretty compelling. I do not find John's divergent moments of personal reflection too intrusive because The Doors was a band comprised of four members-who were certainly overshadowed by their highly charismatic lead singer/poet-and it is refreshing to hear a bit about what was going on in the other member's lives, in addition to how Jim's personality intermingled with theirs. Also, the title of the book is "Riders on the Storm: My Life With Jim Morrison and the Doors," which suggests that John did not intend to make this book a Jim Morrison biography, but probably designed this book to be a John Densmore autobiography that concentrates on his Doors experience and one of his most memorable friendships. Though this book is not a glamorized version of Jim, it is a very frank account of how John perceived Jim, and is therefore a good book to read because it gives us additional insight into Jim Morrison from a man who worked closely with Jim, and who seems to have painfully loved Jim even though he had difficulty with truly understanding him.
Rating: 
Summary: Rudderman on the Crystal Ship
Review: OK, book reviews are subjective. John's John and I'm me. I definitely don't agree with previous reviews where it's stated that John didn't like Jim Morrison or respect him. My take after reading this book in 3 days (I didn't want to put it down, but family and work obligations intervened) is that John loved Jim deeply, was in awe of him and therefore afraid to confront Jim with his concerns about his self-destructive behavior. He felt an extremely strong connection with Jim, hence this long letter to him years after Jim's death. Having played in bands before, I loved the details surrounding the formation of the band and John's drumming roots and understood John's statements about the live creation of music with these other artists as the most intense and greatest moments of his life. Tapping into the primal stream, losing the ego. John was amazingly candid concerning his personal life, his libido, his social awkwardness, his constricted upbringing, and his troubled relationships. Very refreshing. The photos were great. I've always enjoyed the music of the Doors, found it to be unique, unduplicatable. John's book actually shares much in common with the movie, which also fascinated me. 3 cheers for Val Kilmer there. Mention was made in the book about Jim's belief that the spirit of an Indian dying in a desert motor vehicle accident entered him as he as a child drove by the site with his family. Looking at Jim's life, through both movie and John's accountings, sends chills up my spine. Can you see how this event might have been responsible for shaping Jim's life, his soul? Do you like the Doors and their music but wish you knew more about what made them tick, click, and then disintigrate? Then you really can't go wrong reading this book. John's drumming drove that crystal ship right into our souls, and I thank him for sharing his recollections.
Rating:
Summary: John's 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. Actual factuals are very informative and entertaining.
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.
Rating:
Summary: Riders on the Storm
Review: Densmore gave me a great idea of how his life developed into being the Doors' drummer. This book will tell you about relationships between band members, and how tweaked out it must have been to play some of those shows with Morrison. Sometimes gets a little boring with the stuff later in his life, but I still never wanted to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Not Exactly What I Expected As a Doors Fan
Review: As a very fathful Doors fan and after reading countless other book by various authors about the band. I was enthused to finally read a book by someone who actually knew Jim Morrison and who was there for many of the pivotal moments of Jim Morrison's short life. I was excited to read about the formation of the band and many of the other stories behind the Doors through the eyes of the drummer John Densmore. But while I began reading the book I felt as though he resented Jim and didn't truly appreciate him as an artist, a poet, and basically as a human being altogether. Don't get me wrong though, it is a very entertaining book as John describes the time when he was called down to get tested for the army and how Jim managed to get out of being enlisted. But other parts of the book are cold and heartless. John describes how he felt he was the babysitter of Jim and how he always felt he had to worry about what he was going to do next. Their are also portions which are sad as John describes his brother and also his marriage. If you are a true Doors fan, really loved and honored Jim Morrison as I do, and you enjoy reading a book about someone who was extremely close to him, I recommend reading "Light My Fire" By Ray Manzarek instead of "Riders on The Storm"
Rating:
Summary: Drummer writes solid book
Review: I have read most of the books on Morrison and the Doors and I feel this one is the most insightful,interesting and believable. Although John Densmore's short bio on himself isn't very interesting, it focuses mainly on Morisson's demise and how it affected the band and takes you through the Door's amazing journey through fame and tragedy. This book also has several cool photograghs. Densmore's writing feels deep and honest throughout. I read Ray Manzarek's(keyboard) book and it came off to me as highly glamourized. Ray is known for glamourizing his accounts and even contradicts himself in interviewes.
Rating: 
Summary: DENSMORE'S PERSONALITY CLASH WITH MORRISON
Review: Densmore obviously disliked Morrison and the reasons why are obvious, too: Densmore didn't understand Morrison at all. He really didn't know Jim Morrison; what's more, he didn't WANT to understand him. And this runs throughout Densmore's book: if he didn't understand someone or something, he didn't like it. Another theme that permeates this book is jealousy; Densmore was SO jealous of Morrison that he just couldn't stand Jim Morrison. I can understand Densmore's anger and frustration with Jim's drunkenness and crazy antics, but couldn't he have included at least some good things about Jim Morrison in this book? After having read this book, I came to the conclusion that John Densmore really didn't belong in the Doors. Although he is a very talented drummer, it seems to me that he just didn't fit in with the rest of the members of the Doors. This I think was his reason for writing this book, also for coming to terms with the death of his brother (which made me very sad for Densmore). Jim Morrison didn't like Densmore and didn't want him in the band, yet Densmore remained and it was not fun for him. This book, although somewhat well-written, focuses on all the negative aspects throughout Densmore's career as a Door, and if you can manage to read that and enjoy it, well more power to you. But I found it very disheartening.
Rating:
Summary: John's perspective
Review: Who am I to argue with Mr. John Densmore? I take what he says as the truth. Afterall, he was there not I. Anyways the book was fun to read. I recommend it for any Doors fan.
Rating:
Summary: from behind the drums
Review: John gives his viewpoint from behind the drums. This book came out much before Ray's book which created a name-calling match between the two. It is the peotry and the music that we love the Doors. The name-calling can be done behind closed doors. Anyway , John book is good to read as one more viewpoint. But he does seem bitter at times. I personally think John was very umcomfortable with Jim's personality.
Rating:
Summary: Great Counterpoint...
Review: I've read both Ray Manzarek's (Door's keyboardist)book and now this one. Ray's tends to gloss over many of the negative experiences in the course of his story, as well as presenting a more spiritual approach to storytelling. Mr. Densmore however presents a more traditional stroy, along with an "inner-dialogue" with Jim Morrison, often explaining why he reacted in such and such a manner. Anyways, to make a long review short, this book presents an excellent view of the Doors' career, especially the concerts and downsides to being a star. Read this book and Mr. Manzarek's, and you'll have a great idea of what it was like to "be there."
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