Jim Morrison: Dark Star

I have every book written about Jim Morrison collected over the past 20-plus years, plus every performance available on either VHS or DVD, including his film HWY. Dylan Jones has written an indepth, detailed account of Morrison's life, in which he was neither glamorized nor trashed. This book shows Morrison as a human being and not the overblown myth created since his passing. "Dark Star" works best as a reality check against the numerous tomes that lauded Morrison and contributed to his icon status. Jim couldn't live up to the sexy rock star image in real life, hence, his sabbatical to Paris to get away from the Lizard King persona he so carefully crafted. Of course, unless Morrison made a 180-degree change in the way he was living his life (and abusing his body), if he were alive today, he would be considered a "washed up" relic from the 1960s. This book is for those of us who lived through the 1960s and remember the decade for all it was, not just peace and love. We had Vietnam and we couldn't vote until age 21... and for many of our generation who had no choice, the end WAS always near....

I bought this book and had it finished in one week. Thomas does and excellent job of describing the life of Jim Morrison, AKA the lizard king, it was one of turmoil and confusion. But Morrison was quite an intellect and poet. Many of the Doors songs spawned from books Morrison had read and he had an unquenched love for the beat generation works, mythology and philosophers. On stage he was an amazing showman and gave the fans what they wanted. But all too many times he would become unruly and downright deplorable. Yet he still was a tremendous thinker, and was the perfect image of a rock and roll star. He truly was a remarkable poet and writer, it is too bad he left the Earth so soon.