Product Description

Jim Morrison's electrifying live performances, and appetite for sexual and psychedelic experience enflamed the spirit of a generation. In Jim Morrison, critically acclaimed journalist Stephen Davis brings together insights gleaned from dozens of original interviews, long-lost recordings, and Morrison's own unpublished journals to create a vivid portrait of a misunderstood genius. Each page brims with new details on every phase of Morrison's life, from his troubled youth in a strict military household, to his coming of age in the avant-garde scene of 1960s LA, his epic alcohol and drug binges, and sexual affairs. In a gripping final chapter, Davis synthesizes new evidence recently uncovered in Paris to resolve at last many of the mysteries surrounding Morrison's death, and reconstructs the final days and hours of America's greatest rock star. Compelling and harrowing, intimate and revelatory, Jim Morrison is the definitive biography of the rock god who defined the 1960s.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #68526 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Review
'As near-definitive as we are likely to get. Detailed, shocking and scrupulously researched, it is an addictive and often harrowing read', Sunday Telegraph

Synopsis
Jim Morrison's electrifying live performances, and appetite for sexual and psychedelic experience enflamed the spirit of a generation. In Jim Morrison, critically acclaimed journalist Stephen Davis brings together insights gleaned from dozens of original interviews, long-lost recordings, and Morrison's own unpublished journals to create a vivid portrait of a misunderstood genius. Each page brims with new details on every phase of Morrison's life, from his troubled youth in a strict military household, to his coming of age in the avant-garde scene of 1960s LA, his epic alcohol and drug binges, and sexual affairs. In a gripping final chapter, Davis synthesizes new evidence recently uncovered in Paris to resolve at last many of the mysteries surrounding Morrison's death, and reconstructs the final days and hours of America's greatest rock star. Compelling and harrowing, intimate and revelatory, Jim Morrison is the definitive biography of the rock god who defined the 1960s.

From the Publisher
The riveting and shocking new biography of the singer, poet, and icon who changed rock history and defined an era

Customer Reviews

Jim Morrison; The Definitive Biography.
Of the numerous biographies on Jim Morrison that I have read in recent history, I have to say that Stephen Davis' effort is undoubtedly superior to the rest of the field.
It is written with an honesty that only a, (as far as possible), neutral party could do. In contrast, i found the productions by other members of the band to be tainted by personal agendas with an eye on retaining a scrap of dignity after the shameful way they efffectively flogged their cart-horse to death. This biography is also written with an impressive degree of research and where appropriate the author has gone to pains to emphasise whether or not each facet of the tale actually occured or was part of the smoke-screen of myths that often make up the majority of Rock 'n' Roll stars personae. The author presents information arguing both sides of the case leaving the reader to decide.
This book is also written in an easy going prose with the emphasis on substance over style and is, in my opinion definitely the most balanced, informative, and more importantly entertaining biography of The Lizard king.

"An acid evangelist on a suicide mission"
This is the first rock bio that I have read, and the style did sound a little strange to me at times. Stephen Davis adopts a tone that, at times, seems to abandon objectivity to be sycophantic to Jim Morrison while being antagonistic, to varying degrees, the the rest of the Doors. It becomes clear that Davis does not like Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and co-founder of The Doors. This, therefore, is the story of the man, not the group, and Davis makes it clear that Jim was in a state of conflict with his partners for much of the time.

The book is sympathetic but not uncritical. Jim's self-indulgence in drink and drugs is catalogued ruthlessly:this is the story of a tortured genious destined to die young. Davis relates how, at a party thrown by Elektra Records for his 25th birthday, he attempts to trash the building because "he paid for it" and commenting at the end "Hey, I made it to 25 - wonder if I'll make 30".

Morrison's aspirations to poetry are analysed, and his early study of Nietzsche and his philosophy that "that which does not destroy you, makes you stronger" is offered as an explanation for his self-destructive behaviour. Sadly, as Occam might have said, the truth is simpler.

Davis' book is comprehensive on Morrison's life. I would have been interested to learn a little more about the writing of his songs and the imagery behind them - which is explained for a few. Davis does not point out just how many of the Doors' songs were in fact covers of others' earlier works - but perhaps he expected people to know that. He covers Jim's death dispassionately, clinically, but with compassion. He doesn't doubt that he did indeed die - he was writing 30 years after his death - and put the blame on heroin, although hinting at the possibility of murder.

Before I read Davis' book I loved the music but knew little about Jim Morrison and the Doors. Having read it I am much more knowledgable about both, but, while I can empathise with the band and sympathise for Jim, I don't think I can say I like them. If you like the music, and you want to know what went on behind it, read this book.

Magnum Opus
I read this book not long after discovering the doors, I found Jim's lyrics particularly interesting and this book re-kindled my interests in him. Not only did it do this but it was very readable and the content was good, I can safely say that this was indeed a life changing book for me. Fantastic read.