The Doors FAQ: All That's Left To Know About The Kings of Acid Rock, by Rich Weidman

While reading The Doors FAQ: All That's Left To Know About The Kings of Acid Rock (Backbeat Books), I was prompted to break out my two-CD best of compilation of the legendary band. It had been some time since I listened to their countless hits, including "Touch Me," "Riders on the Storm," "The End," and, of course, "Light My Fire." I was left with a much better impression of the band, and especially singer Jim Morrison, after reading the nearly 300 pages of information about the still iconic and revered quartet. The FAQ books are non-linear, so readers can browse around to the information they are most interested in reading and maybe skip the chapters that do not look as intriguing. While I have done that very same thing in the past, I read The Doors FAQ in its entirety and would encourage potential readers to do the same. Yes, there is some overlap and repetition, but it is worth it.

One of the primary reasons why I read the book cover to cover is due to Rich Weidman's writing, which is outstanding, and with this material, often provocative. I gained a new appreciation for the late Jim Morrison, who clearly deserves to be remembered as more than a trouble-making bad boy. Indeed, there was much more to Morrison, who was extremely well read, intelligent and even sensitive. Weidman explores Morrison's back story and family life, along with his encounters with the legal system, including the infamous 1969 performance by The Doors at the Dinner Key Auditorium in Miami, Florida, which led to Morrison's arrest and conviction for indecent exposure (which evidently never happened and has since been expunged). That incident marked the beginning of the end for the band and Morrison would die less than two years later.

The author focuses on all of The Doors, not just Morrison. Ample time is given to keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger, especially in the decades since the group disbanded. Interviews with the trio are also notated extensively throughout the book. The Doors FAQ also provides information about the bands early influences, how they formed, their most notable concert performances, the real story behind the aforementioned Miami concert and much more. Most of the chapters are very brief, but they are interesting and informative.

I also enjoyed learning about Jim Morrison's love for poetry. He was greatly influenced by Arthur Rimbaud, Jack Kerouac, Franz Kafka, Friedrich Nietzsche and many others. The information about Rimbaud reminded me of the 1995 movie Total Eclipse, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Rimbaud, and David Thewlis (Harry Potter), as his mentor and occasional lover, Paul Verlaine. Morrison wrote and recorded poetry and would incorporate lines or ideas from some of his favorite poems into his songwriting. However, as talented as he was, Morrison battled the demons of alcohol and drug addiction, which led to his early demise. He is a member of the infamous "27 club," which has taken so many talented musicians over the years at far too young an age.

Rich Weidman includes a chapter on The Doors biographies, which I suspect many readers will be enticed to follow-up on. I know I want to learn more about the band and the relationships between the four members. In addition, having a background in psychology makes me curious to learn more about Morrison's early days and what may have prompted his later self-destructive behavior. Say what you will about him, but Jim Morrison never seemed to do anything without going full tilt. That is not a judgement, simply an observation. Finally, any fan of The Doors should find this book fascinating and integral to learning more about this amazing and unforgettable band.