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Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend Paperback – Illustrated, June 16, 2005

by Stephen Davis (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 364 ratings
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As the lead singer of the Doors, Jim Morrison’s searing poetic vision and voracious appetite for sexual, spiritual, and psychedelic experience inflamed the spirit and psyche of a generation. Since his mysterious death in 1971, millions more fans from a new generation have embraced his legacy, as layers of myth have gathered to enshroud the life, career, and true character of the man who was James Douglas Morrison.

In Jim Morrison, critically acclaimed journalist Stephen Davis, author of Hammer of the Gods, unmasks Morrison’s constructed personas of the Lizard King and Mr. Mojo Risin’ to reveal a man of fierce intelligence whose own destructive tendencies both fueled his creative ambitions and brought about his downfall. Gathered from dozens of original interviews and investigations of Morrison’s personal journals, Davis has assembled a vivid portrait of a misunderstood genius, tracing the arc of Morrison’s life from his troubled youth to his international stardom, when his drug and alcohol binges, tumultuous sexual affairs, and fractious personal relationships reached a frenzied peak. For the first time, Davis is able to reconstruct Morrison’s last days in Paris to solve one of the greatest mysteries in music history in a shocking final chapter.

Compelling and harrowing, intimate and revelatory, Jim Morrison is the definitive biography of the rock idol in snakeskin and leather who defined the 1960s.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    482 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 16, 2005
  4. Dimensions
    5.31 x 1.16 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    159240099X
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1592400997
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A riveting account... with extraordinary new insights. -- Mojo

[An] exhaustive narrative... [of] the late but still idolized rock god... Let the debauchery begin. -- The Kansas City Star

[Davis] poignantly conveys the tragic quality of a lonely and vulnerable man. -- Mark Kidel, The Times Literary Supplement

About the Author

Stephen Davis’s many acclaimed books include the Rolling Stones history Old Gods Almost Dead as well as the New York Times bestsellers Walk This Way (with Aerosmith), Fleetwood (with Mick Fleetwood), and the Led Zeppelin history Hammer of the Gods.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Publishing Group; 2005th edition (June 16, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 482 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159240099X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1592400997
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 1.16 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 364 ratings

About the author

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Stephen Davis

Stephen Davis

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Stephen Davis is America's preeminent rock journalist and biographer, having written numerous bestsellers on rock bands, including the smash hit Hammer of the Gods. He lives in Boston.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
364 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Linda
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2021
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I've been looking for a book about Jim Morrison for quite some time. This was a good book and I couldn't put it down. I will order other books this author has written.
One person found this helpful
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Michael W. Phrog Dixon Sr.
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read about Jim Morrison and the Doors.
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2022
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I read it to learn about Jim and the band The Doors, very entertaining and I learned a lot about them
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Phil Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars RIP Jim Morrison
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2013
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This book has everything you ever wanted to know about Jim Morrison and the Doors. Stephen Davis did a fabulous job documenting the rise and fall of one of my favorite rock bands of all time. By writing this in chronological order, Davis allows the reader to grasp the many mistakes that Morrison made along the way. The other Doors and the other people around Morrison were basically helpless in trying to control this Wild Child. If only someone could have reeled Jim Morrison in, the outcome could have been so different, but it's sad that his legend seemed to grow stronger after his death. Unfortunately, I guess they needed a lead singer and poet in "Rock and Roll Heaven" and you know they gotta hell of a band up there.
5 people found this helpful
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Lars Christensen
4.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad bargain
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2006
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I was'nt aware of this biography until it sort of jumbed in my lab during a trip around on Amazon, and that for a mere 0,95 cents for a mint hardback copy, so what else was there to do than buy it? It's been many years since I read "No One Gets Out of Here Alive", so I felt like I needed some catching up on the Doors/Morrison history. The big question asked, is if this biography gets under Morrisons skin or not? Who is to tell? Did ANYBODY ever got in under his skin? I seriously doubt it. However, Stephen Davis has done a really good job describing the day-to-day struggle of a band who's front man obvious from early on was on his way to hit rock bottom. Now, writing a biography is more or less an editing process of other peoples material and that's what this book is mostly about, but then again a pretty good editing job! There are quite a few errors (like claiming Jim suggested the name Steppenwolf to John Kay's band Sparrow, when we all know that their producer Gabriel Mekler came up with that idea). Finally, never ever write a biograhy without an index. It's a major crime against us amateur rock archeologists who so much depends on an extensive index.
14 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars could not put this down till I was done with the lizard king
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2014
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It is true that while reading you're wondering how Davis could get all these minute details of how many shots of Whiskey Jimbo had had on one particular night. However, Davis has indeed created a very compelling narrative that got me hooked from the get go so that I simply had to plow through the book (to my wife's discontent) in just a little over two weeks. I believe that Davis took a lot of effort to compile all those various sources and organized in a most appealing fashion. The only thing that shocked me was the vulgar language that the author uses now and them. All in all, this is a great read and I'm glad I didn't read Densmore's lament first since Jim is the demigod that I wanted to get to know better and Davis delivers in many ways.
9 people found this helpful
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Stephen Loomes
3.0 out of 5 stars I believe the author pushes his own agenda of everyone who is talented and good looking being a "latent homosexual" but apart fr
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2015
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One of what will be the endless books about this enigmatic genius, so publicly prominent, yet so privately unfathomable. I believe the author pushes his own agenda of everyone who is talented and good looking being a "latent homosexual" but apart from the author (in my opinion) revealing his own fantasies (because after all, Morrision was an Adonis), the book adds a little more to the history and the myth. To come to grips with Morrison one should start with the music of the Doors, the songs, and then delve into his poetry, most of which was published posthumously.There is, as one could have predicted, not just a market place for books about Morrison's life, but as with Bob Dylan, a deep open cut mine being explored by those seeking academic awards. A veritable avalanche of Masters and Doctoral theses, most of which don't reveal much understanding of his work. I guess, if like Shakespeare you are smarter than everyone around you, not many people can do much more than admire or criticize.
3 people found this helpful
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EDR
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2022
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Of all the Morrison books I’ve read and documentaries I’ve watched, this rings most true. Especially his death, not sensationalize, just so very sad.
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Om
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Buy and a Great Story on one of Americas Most Iconic Rock Figures
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2014
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I am enjoying the reading. I am a great fan of Jim Morrison's work. I feel that the book captures the spirit of his creative life and sheds light on Morrison's path to fame. The service that I got from acquiring the book was very good. The book was delivered on time and in one piece. Overall, the experience of having bought the book was very positive, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Jim Morrison and The Doors music. Thank you.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in Italy on April 10, 2024
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Gorgeous!!!
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Gracie
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Creative man, Wild.
Reviewed in Canada on February 14, 2021
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This is an excellent story of Jim Morrisons young life. Much to sad that he lived, played and died HARD.
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ulda
5.0 out of 5 stars schwere Kost
Reviewed in Germany on September 4, 2020
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wenn Sie viel arbeit haben, sollten Sie dieses Buch nicht zur Hand nehmen, denn es läßt sie dann nicht mehr los; obwohl dieses buch auf englisch geschrieben ist und ich nicht mehr ganz so firm darin bin, kann ich es gut und flüssig lesen, verstehe den sinn und schlage natürlich viel nach. JM's leben wird aufgerollt wie ein Band und je weiter es ausgelegt wird, umso mehr wird mir die lebenslange Tragödie dieses Menschen bewußter und bewußter und mein geist und mein herz sind voller mitleid und ich könnte jetzt während des schreibens ad hoc in bitterliche tränen ausbrechen. JM war zu gut für diese welt und sein "Dämon" hat dem teufel der systemisch geil gierig häßlichen masse den spiegel vorgehalten. ich glaube, er war der einsamste mensch auf gottes erden und wollte nichts anderes, als gesehen und geliebt zu werden als das was er war, ein stehen gelassenes, verwaist verwahrlost lieblos verwahrtes kleines Kind.
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Gaurav Tawade
5.0 out of 5 stars for aspiring poets and the devotees of Jim Morrison
Reviewed in India on July 24, 2017
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You just can't afford to miss this book. Chills on each page, the detailed life of Jim and the stories behind his weird and beautiful lyrics. Journey of a shy kid on becoming the greatest poet and the front man of "The Doors".
One person found this helpful
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John Mccormick
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2007
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By far the best bio I have ever read. It is warts an all and doesn't pull punches in regards to Jim's personality and the often strained relationship with the other guys in the band -- especially towards the end where his relationship with them seems to have totally broken down. This is strength of this book -- it doesn't get sucked into myth and nostalgia. Davis relies on the strength of his research. If you are a fan you will love Jim and the band even more and this incredible tale will stay with you. His last months in Paris are really heart rending.

Only book I have ever picked up and re-read and cannot recommend it enough.

Quite simply a must.
15 people found this helpful
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